Delayed Stroke Diagnosis: Can I sue because my stroke diagnosis was delayed? A stroke can have serious and life-altering consequences for the victim and their loved ones. In some cases, stroke victims will have permanent injuries that impact their ability to function and communicate for the rest of their lives. When a stroke is correctly recognized and treated, the victim has a greater chance of recovery and rehabilitation. By contrast, with a delayed stroke diagnosis, an individual could suffer severe and even irreparable physical and cognitive injuries.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when something blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing a lack of oxygen supply. When blood flow is interrupted, the brain is deprived of oxygen, and parts of the organ can become damaged or die. Depending on the severity of the stroke, a person can suffer serious and even permanent brain damage impacting their speech, movement, and ability to process and recall information. In some instances, a stroke can be so severe as to result in death.
Signs of Stroke
There are a number of signs that a person may be having a stroke. Some of the signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness to the leg, arm, or face
- Confusion and difficulty comprehending or speaking
- Sudden confusion or inability to understand others
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden dizziness or vision impairment in one or both eyes
- Problems with walking and speaking
- Sudden and severe headache
These and other symptoms can mean that a victim is having a stroke. Time lost during a stroke and a delayed stroke diagnosis can be detrimental to a patient’s health and chance of recovery. Getting proper medical treatment under these circumstances is vital. If an emergency room or doctor fails to identify a stroke victim’s presenting symptoms, the patient could suffer brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
Delayed Stroke Diagnosis
With a stroke, every second counts towards reducing the long and short-term medical impact. As with any serious medical condition, prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential to supporting and protecting a patient’s health and chances of recovery. Unfortunately, untrained or understaffed emergency department doctors and staff often ignore or fail to recognize the signs of a stroke. When a patient has a delayed stroke diagnosis, it may be due to medical malpractice.
Delayed stroke diagnosis medical malpractice can occur when a doctor or other medical providers:
- Fail to evaluate their medical condition properly
- Misdiagnoses a patient’s stroke as another condition resulting in delayed or improper treatment and care
- Neglect to order appropriate medical testing
- Fail to timely and properly treat a patient’s condition
A delayed stroke diagnosis can result in significant medical consequences for the patient, including paralysis and death. In addition, patients can be irreparably harmed when a medical provider fails to recognize or improperly responds to stroke symptoms. If a delayed stroke diagnosis has harmed you or a loved one, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your claim. You and your medical malpractice attorney can review your case and determine the extent of your delayed stroke diagnosis injuries.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., our medical malpractice attorneys are willing and able to face doctors and hospitals in NYC in court and hold them accountable for serious injuries caused by a delayed stroke diagnosis and other medical negligence. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars from doctors and healthcare providers on behalf of injured clients.
If you are concerned that your stroke diagnosis was delayed due to medical negligence, you should contact us for a free consultation to evaluate your case. We are ready to help you fight for the damages you need and deserve for your delayed stroke injuries. Call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.