Medical Malpractice Lawsuit for Failure to Order Anticoagulants After Surgery By Moody Law | Personal Injury Attorneys on September 10, 2014

Lake Wales Medical Center is currently being sued over a patient's death after surgery and an alleged failure to administer anticoagulants.  Kenneth Steadman died from complications of a pulmonary embolism, a condition in which a blood clot creates a deadly blockage.  Steadman had surgery for a fractured hip after he fell and broke it.  Dr. Reddy performed the surgery and is reported to have given Lovenox, a blood thinnner (anticoagulant) two days after the procedure.  The lawsuit claims that the record indicates that Lovenox was needed for the next 10 days.  Dr. Oropeza thereafter signed an order that specified the medications to be continued upon discharge but Lovenox was not one of them.  Steadman was never given Lovenox by home health care nurses and he was re-admitted to Lake Wales Medical Center with a large bilateral pulmonary embolus.  Despite the administration of heparin, Steadman went into cardiac arrest as a result of an embolus and died.  The plaintiffs for Steadman claim that Dr. Reddy failed to follow procedure in discharging the patient after surgery.  Blood thinners are standard of care to administer following most invasive surgeries because the incision or something that was operated on may bleed and cause a clot to form as is part of the body's natural healing response.  Patients are also usually advised to maintain some degree of physical activity following most surgeries in order to prevent clots from forming.  Clots can form due to inactivity as it can cause a lack of blood flow.  If a clot has formed, it can be a fatal condition if not treated timely and appropriately.  If a clot moves to the heart or lungs, that clot can effectively stop the heart or lungs from functioning and cause death.  If you or a loved one has a concern about the medical treatment that you or a family member has received, please contact a Florida medical malpractice lawyer for a free consultation.

Related to This

Daniel D. Moody, J.D., B.C.S.

Moody Law, P.A.

Moody Law was founded by Daniel D. Moody for the sole and exclusive purpose of representing the injured. Our main office is centrally located next to the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow, FL, serving Lakeland, Winter Haven, and all the other communities of Polk County.  Some of Mr. Moody’s honors, memberships, and associations include:

  • The Florida Bar Board Certification – Civil Trial Specialist
  • AV PREEMINENT Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Ratings
  • Life-member Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Best Attorneys of America – Rue Rating Lifetime Charter Member
  • National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers

To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, contact us online or call (863) 733-9090.

Contact Us Today



“Our experience with Moody Law has been awesome, from the first day of calling and talking with the front desk staff and meeting with everyone through the whole process, everyone has been helpful in helping us to resolve this matter.”

Rate, Review & Explore

Social Accounts Sprite