Stroke (cerebrovascular accident) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, though it is entirely preventable in many cases. By properly screening and diagnosing their patients, doctors are able to prescribe a variety of medications—including calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and thiazide diuretics—potential stroke victims can avoid the debilitating or deadly effects of a stroke. Unfortunately, not all physicians order the correct tests or notice the symptoms of a potential stroke victim. Tragically, diagnostic errors can lead to paralysis and death. If you or a loved one were the victim of medical malpractice, the Tampa failure to diagnose stroke lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help you file a claim for compensation.
How Stroke Misdiagnosis Happens
Physicians must abide by a strict standard of care when treating their patients. By violating this standard of care (such as failing to diagnose the warning signs of an impending stroke, or failing to diagnose a stroke after it happened) they breach their duty to their patients and can be held accountable in a medical malpractice claim. Examples of diagnostic negligence include the following:
- Failure to notice early warning signs and symptoms
- Failure to perform a neurological exam
- Failure to promptly perform a thrombectomy
- Failure to promptly administer tPA
- Failure to diagnose heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or atrial-fibrillation
- Failure to communicate with the patient about risk factors
- Failure to order proper tests, or failure to interpret test results
- Delayed referral of patients to neurologists other specialists
- Delayed MRI or other tests
- Failure to transfer patient to a better equipped facility
As such, the patient’s primary care doctor is not the only party capable of medical malpractice when it comes to diagnosing stroke risks, diagnosing a stroke, or providing proper treatment for a stroke victim. Potential defendants can include neurologists, neurosurgeons, ER doctors, PAs, nurses, radiologists, cardiologists, and others.
Injured by a Stroke Misdiagnosis? Reach Out for Legal Help!
The Three Most Common Types of Strokes
Treating a stroke victim quickly is vital to their outcome. The sooner a stroke victim is diagnosed and treated, the more likely they are to retain brain function and survive the event.
- Ischemic Stroke—A clot obstructs blood flow to the brain. These clots can form in the heart or brain blood vessels.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke—A blood vessel in the brain ruptures, shutting off blood flow to the brain.
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)—A TIA is often called a mini stroke because a blood clot only temporarily cuts off blood flow to the brain. TIAs are a warning sign that more serious strokes are likely to occur.
Call a Tampa Failure to Diagnose Stroke Lawyer Today
Stroke victims or their families (whose injury, disability, or death is caused by a diagnostic mistake) are entitled to damages. These damages include medical expenses, lost joy of life, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and much more. Freidin Brown, P.A. has extensive experience handling stroke misdiagnosis claims, and will fight for what you are owed. Call our Tampa stroke misdiagnosis lawyer today to schedule a free consultation.