Medical Negligence: Stroke Misdiagnosis

Stroke is the third common cause of death among Americans. 

It is also a leading cause of serious and long term disability among adults in the US. Statistics available show that over 150,000 people are killed due to Stroke in United States, and several hundred thousands are rendered permanently disabled. Only timely diagnosis and management of the condition can help minimize the damage. 

 

Failure to diagnose and treat stroke, or misdiagnosis of its symptoms can cause serious health problems, and in worst cases, may even cause death. According to recommendations provided by American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, a patient with symptoms of a stroke should be given tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), a clot busting drug within three hours of the onset of symptoms. However, there are many cases of medical negligence in which the doctor’s negligence lead to delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of stroke, and the patient had to suffer serious, long term implications. 

Medical malpractice attorneys feel that a little more education about stroke can go a long way in helping timely diagnosis and treatment. Some common stroke signs that one should watch out for are:

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body especially in the face, arm or leg

• Sudden trouble speaking or understanding, state of confusion 

• Sudden trouble walking 

• Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes

• Severe headache that cannot be explained

• Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination or balance

The most common type of stroke accounting for almost 80 percent of the cases is known as Ischemic stroke. It occurs when a blockage develops in one of the arteries carrying oxygen and blood to brain. Blood clots are commonly responsible for the blockage. The blood clots that cause Ischemic stroke can be caused by several reasons including a recent invasive surgery or hereditary conditions. Blood clots can be avoided with timely diagnosis and medication. Any delay in treatment can cause anoxic brain injury, which can lead to serious physical, mental, and behavioural disability. The more the delay in diagnosis and treatment of the condition, higher will be the chances of brain damage. 

The other type of stroke is known as hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by breaking of blood vessels, which in turn causes bleeding in the brain. Failure to identify the correct type of stroke and provide appropriate treatment can lead to further complications. 

Some common medical errors that cause stroke complications include:

•  Misdiagnosis of stroke and consequent failure to provide appropriate treatment

• Failure to diagnose symptoms of a stroke by way of diagnostic tests to identify blockage by blood clots

• Failure to give anti coagulation treatment to patients with indications of preventable stroke

• Surgical errors that lead to hypotension, which can cause stroke

• Failure to provide tPA in a timely manner

If you or a loved one have experienced an instance of medical malpractice, it is important to seek immediate legal assistance. At the Zevan and Davidson Law Firm we have over 20 years of experience and offer free consultations. To speak with one of our St. Louis medical negligence attorneys call us at (314) 588-7200 or contact us online.

photo credit: bulliver via Flickr