Maryland Failure To Diagnose Stroke Lawyer
A stroke is a major medical event, much like a heart attack. The main difference is that a stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Strokes affect hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Strokes happen quickly, with immediate effects. Brain cells start dying within minutes, which makes a quick, proper diagnosis so critical. A person has a chance of survival with quick treatment. Most strokes are ischemic strokes, which are caused by a blood clot that is blocking the blood supply to the brain. A treatment called Alteplase IV r-tPA can dissolve the clot and improve blood flow to the brain. However, it needs to be administered within three hours to be the most effective. Blood thinners and other medications can also be given to the patient.
If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke that was not diagnosed in a timely fashion, and it led to severe complications or death, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages. The Maryland stroke diagnosis lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you with this process.
Signs of a Stroke
If you are suffering from the following symptoms, it may be a stroke. Seek medical attention right away if you experience:
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, particularly in the arm, leg, or face
- Sudden severe headache
- Sudden confusion or difficulty speaking
- Sudden vision issues with one or both eyes
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
- Sudden trouble walking
What is Failure to Diagnose?
In many cases, strokes can be predicted and they can result in minimal damage if caught and treated quickly. Doctors can detect, diagnose, and treat an imminent stroke by:
- Recognizing the warning signs
- Taking a thorough patient medical history
- Conducting a physical exam
- Performing an ultrasound of the carotid arteries
- Administering appropriate treatment
- Following all established protocols
When a doctor fails to follow the above procedures, it can be considered medical malpractice. Other common mistakes include:
- Laboratory errors
- Improper reading of tests
- Failure to consult neurological specialists
- Failure to order necessary tests in a timely manner
- Failure to consider stroke in younger patients and those who are seemingly healthy
Besides death, failure to diagnose a stroke in a timely manner can cause a variety of complications, such as:
- Paralysis on one side of the body
- Seizures
- Brain injury
- Loss of motor skills
- Memory problems
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty reading and writing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Depression
- Behavioral changes
Contact Us Today
A stroke can happen to anyone of any age and a diagnosis needs to be made quickly. Time is of the essence to avoid brain damage, paralysis, and other medical complications, including death.
Failure to diagnose a stroke can mean negligence on behalf of the doctor. If you or a loved one has been affected, seek legal help from the personal injury lawyers at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. We are ready to fight for your rights. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (410) 567-0800.
