Stroke Malpractice & Delayed Diagnosis of Stroke

Stroke malpractice is serious. When someone suffers a stroke, the medical consequences can be severe. Strokes can cause permanent brain damage and even death. Every second after a stroke is critical. Therefore, it’s essential that healthcare providers make an accurate and timely diagnosis.

When a medical provider fails to promptly and correctly diagnose a stroke, the victim can be deprived of life-saving treatment and essential healthcare options. In addition, someone harmed by this type of negligence may have extensive medical and rehabilitative expenses, lost wages and time at work, pain and suffering, and other damages.

At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we understand the devastation and stress that can occur when someone is harmed by a delayed stroke diagnosis. Our team of experienced medical malpractice attorneys knows how to investigate and present evidence of medical malpractice and will fight for you to get the compensation you need and deserve!

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a medical condition that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells can begin to die. When a person suffers a stroke, their condition can lead to brain damage, paralysis, and other cognitive impairments. A delayed stroke diagnosis can exacerbate this harm and even be deadly. Therefore, immediate diagnosis and treatment are crucial to a patient’s health and well-being.

Types of Strokes

There are multiple types of strokes that a patient can suffer due to medical negligence. Some of these include:

Ischemic strokes which occur when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off due to a blocked or clogged blood vessel.
Embolic strokes which occur when a blood clot breaks free and blocks circulation to the brain, depriving it of blood and oxygen.
Hemorrhagic strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain leak or rupture, causing blood to build up and put pressure on surrounding areas, resulting in the death of brain tissue.

Regardless of the type of stroke, rapid diagnosis and treatment are key to reducing long-term disability and preventing death. When a patient is the victim of a delayed stroke diagnosis, their treating medical provider should be held accountable. If you or a loved one have been injured due to a delayed stroke diagnosis, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

Signs of a Stroke

In order to prevent a deadly stroke, it is important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke in progress. Common symptoms of a stroke include:

Severe headache
Vision loss
Paralysis
Muscle weakness
Slurred speech
Lack of voluntary coordination of the muscles
Altered consciousness
Inability to speak or understand language

A doctor treating a patient with a stroke will typically order an MRI or a C.T. scan to deduce whether there is a stroke and what type it is. When a doctor misdiagnoses a stroke, they may believe that the patient is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. They may also think the patient is suffering from a migraine headache. A delayed stroke diagnosis can lead to irreparable medical harm for a patient.

Strokes Require Prompt Treatment

If a stroke is properly diagnosed, a patient may receive medication that can break down a clot in the brain. This medication must be administered as soon as possible to be effective. As a result of this short window of time, every action by a medical professional matters, and there is very little room for error. If a patient presents with the symptoms of a stroke and the doctor fails to implement the correct stroke protocol, it can result in serious injury or death.

Stroke Treatment

If a victim of an ischemic or embolic stroke seeks help within a 3-6 hour window, a doctor can administer a medication called TPA which reverses the effect of a stroke and breaks up blood clots. The sooner the TPA is administered, the better the outcome. Hemorrhagic strokes may require prompt surgery to reduce pressure on the brain. The longer the bleeding goes on, the more damage there will be to the brain. Prompt treatment is essential to saving lives and functioning when faced with a stroke. That is why it is essential for medical professionals to recognize stroke symptoms and properly treat a person who is having a stroke. Failure to do so may be stroke malpractice.

Looking for help?

Contact an Experienced Delayed Diagnosis Lawyer for Help

If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligent delay in the treatment of a stroke, Bonina & Bonina P.C. can help. With over 100 years of combined experience in the medical malpractice field, our team of highly skilled stroke malpractice attorneys will listen to you, explain your options, and help you decide what action to take. Schedule an appointment to consult with an experienced delayed diagnosis lawyer today.

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