Misdiagnosis of Stroke
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts causing blood to spill into the spaces surrounding brain cells. Also when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted a stroke can result. Ultimately, the brain cells do not get sufficient oxygen and nutrients from the blood and die. Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache with no known cause. There are two types of stroke: ischemic - blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic - bleeding into or around the brain.
When evaluating a malpractice claim involving a stroke there are a couple of considerations. Number one, could the stroke have been prevented. Next, was the stroke properly and promptly diagnosed. Getting prompt treatment is critical decreasing any long standing adverse effects from a stroke. Treatment to prevent a stroke are based on treating an individual's underlying risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and prior strokes. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot causing an ischemic stroke or by stopping the bleeding of a hemorrhagic stroke. In order to prevent significant additional injury the doctor or hospital staff must recognize the signs of a stroke and take immediate action. The medial chart should provide a time line for determining if the response by the hospital staff was deficient. For example, what was the time between presentation of symptoms and the ordering of a CAT scan or MRI. Our team of legal and medical experts can help determine if your injuries were preventable.
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