Baltimore Failure to Diagnose Stroke Lawyer
A stroke occurs when any of the blood vessels carrying blood to or from the brain bleed out, or when a blood clot causes a blood vessel to become clogged, which prevents oxygen from reaching the brain. Strokes are incredibly dangerous and they require a timely diagnosis so patients can receive the immediate treatment they need. Strokes always have the potential to be fatal, but this risk increases dramatically when they are left untreated.
A failure to diagnose a stroke is unfortunately, a very common form of medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a failure to diagnose stroke, it is important to speak to a Baltimore failure diagnose stroke lawyer that can help you claim the compensation you deserve.
What Causes Strokes?
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of strokes because the very nature of this condition increases the risk of a blood vessel rupturing. Poor diet and lifestyle choices also contribute to the risk of strokes. For example, it has been found that smoking greatly increases the risk of suffering a stroke. High stress levels can also increase a person’s risk of stroke, as stress raises a person’s blood pressure.
It is not uncommon for individuals to suffer a transient ischemic attack (TIA), more commonly known as a mini stroke. Approximately one-third of individuals who experience a TIA will go on to suffer a full-blown stroke. Aside from prescribing individuals with medication for high blood pressure and advising on lifestyle changes, there is little doctors can do to prevent a person from suffering a stroke. However, when healthcare professionals fail to diagnose a stroke, it is considered medical malpractice that has some of the most devastating consequences.
How are Strokes Diagnosed?
Diagnosing a stroke starts with listening to the symptoms of the patient. Some of the most common symptoms include sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg, difficulty speaking, and sudden coordination issues. After listening to the symptoms, a doctor should order certain tests. They will likely perform a physical exam, which will include checking the patient’s blood pressure, and they may order blood tests, a CAT scan, an MRI, or they may perform a carotid ultrasound.
Unfortunately, doctors do not always listen as carefully to their patients as they should, particularly in busy emergency rooms where many strokes are diagnosed. This can lead to a failure to order the necessary tests that are used to diagnose a stroke. When doctors fail in any of these regards, they breach the duty of care they owe patients. Any time medical professionals breach the duty of care owed to patients and do not provide adequate treatment, it is considered medical malpractice and injured individuals or their families can take legal action.
Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Baltimore Can Help Your Family
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a failure to diagnose a stroke, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can help you claim the full financial compensation you deserve. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, we are dedicated to helping patients that have sustained serious injuries due to someone else’s negligence and we can help you, too. Call us today at 410-998-3600 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.