A stroke is a serious medical condition in which brain cells deteriorate due to a lack of oxygen. When elderly people suffer from a stroke, the effects can be devastating. An elderly person may become disabled and unable to communicate with others. He or she may no longer be able to take care of daily needs.
Taking preventative measures against the development of a stroke is crucial for elderly people, and it is a doctor’s medical responsibility to proceed with finding preventative measures for those who are at risk of developing a stroke.If a doctor fails to take any preventative measures to help a person who is at risk for experiencing a stroke, then a person may eventually develop stroke and suffer from the dire effects of a stroke.
Stroke can also cause a person to suffer from permanent brain damage. If a person does suffer from permanent brain damage from a stroke that could have been prevented, then a doctor may be liable for medical negligence. Family members of a loved one who has suffered from a stroke can get in touch with failure to diagnose stroke lawyers to receive immediate help for a potential case against a physician or hospital. A failure to diagnose stroke lawyer may be able to help family members claim damages so that the medical expenses of a loved one can be covered as well as any damages recoverable under the Wrongful Death Act of Illinois.
The Signs of a Stroke
There are some signs that an elderly person can be at risk of suffering from a full-out stroke. When a patient experiences a Transient Ischemic Attack, this is a sign that one may ultimately suffer from a lengthy stroke. A TIA is a temporary stroke that only lasts for 10 to 20 minutes. When this type of temporary stroke is treated, then a doctor may be able to prevent any further damage from occurring and impacting an individual. It is important for an individual to receive timely treatment when he or she has suffered from a TIA, because it is essential put an end to the decomposition of any more brain cells in the body.
In addition to the experience of a TIA, there are other signs that a stroke may be in a person’s future. If a doctor notices any of these signs, then preventative measures should be taken. The other signs that a stroke is about to ensue include the following:
- Problems with one’s memory
- Paralysis in the body
- Generalized pain
- Inability to speak or communicate
- Inability to read or write
- Inability to consume food
- Seizures
- Changes in behavior
- Depression and anxiety
- In the worst cases, death
When one has suffered in any of these ways, it is vital for doctors to step in and help in any way that they can to determine the root of these causes. Family members should seek help for a loved one if they notice that he or she is suffering from any of these symptoms.
Running Diagnostic Tests to Help Determine Stroke
When a loved one reports these issues to a doctor, it is then the doctor’s responsibility to go ahead and complete diagnostic tests. The doctor must compete diagnostic tests to see whether an elderly person will likely suffer from a stroke. Running these diagnostic tests will also help a doctor to figure out the best ways to proceed with treatment for a loved one.
There are a number of ways in which doctors can also commit errors in administering treatments to a patient who is at risk for suffering from stroke. A doctor may improperly read the results of tests that come back. One may fail to consult specialists in neurology that can assist in providing treatments for a stroke victim. Here are some other examples in which a doctor may fail to meet his or her necessary standard of care for treating patients:
- Failure to analyze the medical history of a patient
- Failure to help patients that appear to be healthy
- Failure to do a thorough reading of test results
- Misdiagnosis of stroke for another illness
- Failure to provide a physical examination
Our Chicago failure to diagnose stroke lawyers are available to help those who are victims of stroke. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represents families who have lost loved one or helping providing the resources for family members to cope with the devastating effects of stroke. Family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim if a loved one has died as a result of a doctor’s failure to diagnose a stroke. As with all of our Illinois medical malpractice cases, we handle matters involving medical facilities failure to diagnose stroke on a contingency basis meaning we only earn a fee when there is a recovery for you. Put another way, our services are free unless there is a recovery for you. 888-424-5757
