Strokes can occur when the blood supply to the brain is limited or completely stopped. This lack of blood flow denies the brain of the nutrients and oxygen needed and the cells in the brain begin to die within just a few minutes. Having a stroke is a very serious complication and requires immediate medical attention. The harm caused by a stroke can range all the way from a relatively mild transient ischemic attack (which can last anywhere from a couple minutes to twenty-four hours) to a full blown stroke that can cause permanent damage or even death.
Without medical treatment, the frequency and severity of strokes often increases over time. If a physician negligently fails to recognize and diagnose a stroke, when the symptoms are present, the physician can be held liable for any injury caused to the patient.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The symptoms of a stroke can come on slowly or all of a sudden with no warning at all. It is very important for everyone to know the symptoms often connected with a stroke so that medical attention can be sought right away for the person experiencing the stroke. Here are some of the symptoms that can occur:
- Difficulty walking.
- Difficulty speaking (slurred speech or trouble thinking up the right words).
- Numbness or paralysis on one side of the body
- Difficulty seeing clearly (vision may be blurred or completely lost)
- Headache (severe, abrupt headache that seems to come out of nowhere)
- Vomiting
If you or a loved one has experienced any of these symptoms and feels that he/she may be having a stroke (or had a stroke in the past) is it crucial that you consult with a knowledgeable physician immediately.
Duty to Standard of Care
It is the duty of all medical professionals to uphold a standard of care for every patient seen. The physician must provide the same patient care that any other physician would in a similar situation. Failure to comply with the established standard of care is negligence and puts patients at risk for injury.
Probable Causation
Negligence, in and of itself, is not enough to prove medical malpractice. It must be shown that the negligence of the physician directly caused harm to the patient. For example, if you went into the emergency room with the symptoms of a stroke and the physician said you were fine when you were in fact having a serious stroke, then the physician would be acting negligently. Since you did not get the treatment necessary while having the stroke, damage was caused and the physician can be charged with medical malpractice.
Getting Legal Help
If you are considering a claim against a physician or medical office because of medical malpractice related to a stroke, then it is imperative that you contact an attorney who can help you file a lawsuit and recoup on damages. The attorney will be able to represent your case and fight for justice.
