As an Eagles fan, my first concern is that Jalen Hurts gets healthy. As a personal injury lawyer, I also understand why people are asking whether his doctors should have handled his blood clot differently and whether he has a viable Medical Malpractice claim.

A clot was found in Jalen Hurts’ calf in London. He was cleared to play, flew home, and was later diagnosed with blood clots in both lungs, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.

That is enough to raise questions.

But whether Jalen has a Medical Malpractice case depends on what qualified doctors say about his care.

This is not the first time medical care involving an Eagles player has raised serious legal issues. I previously wrote about the $43 million medical malpractice verdict involving former Eagles player Chris Maragos and the challenges of proving damages in professional athletes’ cases.

What Happened to Jalen Hurts

According to the Eagles’ October 15 statement, Hurts sought treatment for his calf on October 8 after being struck by a cleat during the October 4 game against the Rams. He received treatment and continued practicing.

The clot was diagnosed after the team arrived in London. An ultrasound on October 10 identified a superficial blood clot in his calf. The team said its medical staff and doctors in London reviewed the results and cleared him to play against Jacksonville the next day. He then flew back to Philadelphia.

A follow-up ultrasound on October 14 showed movement in the clot. Further testing identified deep vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, meaning blood clots in both lungs.

The Eagles and his agent announced the more serious diagnosis on October 19. Reports indicated he was expected to miss the rest of the season. The statement described him as clinically stable and said he would receive blood thinners. They expected a full recovery without long-term effects.

The NFL has defended the care he received, but the players’ union has requested a full investigation. Neither position settles whether a doctor committed Medical Malpractice.

What Medical Decisions Deserve a Closer Look

If Hurts asked me to evaluate a claim, I would start with the original ultrasound. I would want to know what symptoms he reported before the flight to London, what the doctors found when they examined him, and whether those findings called for earlier testing for a blood clot.

The ultrasound itself would be important. Where exactly was the clot? How extensive was it? Did the study adequately evaluate the deep veins? Was a deep vein clot already present, or did it develop later? The public description of a “superficial blood clot” does not answer those questions.

I would also ask an expert to review the decision to let him play. Was contact football appropriate given the findings? What medication did he receive, and when? Did he need different treatment or closer monitoring? Was the return flight safe under the circumstances, and what precautions were taken?

The timing of the repeat ultrasound and the response to its findings would also need review. We would have to reconstruct the decisions as they were made, using the information the doctors had at the time.

These are questions for medical experts. The fact that Hurts later developed a more serious condition does not, by itself, mean his doctors made a mistake. Sometimes bad things happen, even with appropriate medical care.

I have written about medical malpractice and other medical errors that can give rise to claims, but each case turns on its own medical facts.

What Hurts Would Have to Prove

Under Pennsylvania law, a Medical Malpractice case requires proof that a provider owed the patient a duty, violated the standard of care, caused harm through that violation, and left the patient with actual damages. In a case like this, expert testimony would be essential.

As I explain in my article about Chester County medical malpractice claims, an expert review is a critical part of evaluating whether a provider departed from accepted medical standards.

Jalen would need a qualified doctor who could review the records and explain specifically what should have been done differently. That might involve the diagnosis, medication, monitoring, or clearance to play or travel. The expert would need the training and experience required to testify about the particular care at issue. Depending on the claims, more than one expert might be needed.

Proving a mistake would only get Jalen part of the way to a viable Medical Malpractice claim. He would also need medical testimony connecting that mistake to an injury. Did a delay allow a clot to extend or contribute to the clots in his lungs? Would different treatment have reduced the severity of his condition? Or would the same complications have occurred anyway?

Pennsylvania’s increased-risk-of-harm rule can matter in a delayed diagnosis or treatment case. If expert testimony establishes that negligent care increased the risk of the harm that actually occurred, a jury may decide whether that negligence was a cause of the injury.

Then Jalen would have to identify the losses the malpractice actually caused. Those could include additional treatment, pain, emotional distress, restrictions on daily life, and lost income or earning ability.

For Hurts, the distinction between the original clot and any additional injury would be especially important. If proper treatment of the original clot would have kept him out of football for the same period, the entire missed season could not automatically be blamed on malpractice. And if he continues receiving his salary, missed games do not necessarily mean lost wages. His contract, incentives, and any lost endorsements would need review.

If negligent care permanently ended an elite quarterback’s career, the financial losses could be enormous. But there would have to be evidence supporting that claim. The team’s stated expectation of a full recovery gives us no basis to assume his career is over.

Before I could tell Hurts that he had a case, I would need a medical expert to explain what went wrong and how it made his condition worse. I would then need proof of what that additional injury cost him. Those are the questions I would ask for any patient considering a Medical Malpractice claim.

If you have questions about a serious medical mistake in Pennsylvania, you can learn more about Tim Rayne’s medical malpractice practice and how he evaluates potential claims. For over 30 years, Tim has been helping injured accident victims understand their legal rights and receive fair compensation. Tim has law offices in West Chester and Kennett Square and can be reached at 610-840-0124 or trayne@macelree.com or you can check out his website at www.TimRayneLaw.com.