Medical Malpractice: Failure to Diagnose a Stroke
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. The victim may become disabled and unable to communicate with others, and they may no longer be able to take care of daily needs. If a doctor fails to diagnose a stroke, then a person may eventually suffer from the dire effects and be within their rights to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
A stroke can cause a person to suffer from permanent brain damage, and if this happens due to 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.
Signs of a Stroke
A transient ischemic attack is a major warning sign that a stroke may be in the victim’s future. A TIA is a “mini-stroke” that only lasts for 10 to 20 minutes. It’s important to get timely treatment if a TIA is suspected to make sure that it is a temporary issue and not a more severe stroke.
Other signs of an oncoming stroke include:
- 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 or anxiety
When any of these symptoms appear, it’s vital for doctors to step in and determine the root of these effects. Family members should seek help for a loved one if they notice that they are suffering from any of these symptoms.
Diagnosing a Stroke: How Doctors Can Fail in Their Duty
When a loved one reports these issues to a doctor, it is then the doctor’s responsibility to go ahead and complete diagnostic tests to see whether an elderly person will likely suffer from a stroke or has already had one. Running these diagnostic tests will also help a doctor to figure out the best way to proceed with treatment.
There are a number of ways in which doctors can commit errors in administering treatments to a patient who is at risk for suffering from a stroke. A doctor may improperly read test results. They may fail to consult specialists in neurology who can assist in providing treatments for a stroke victim. Other potential ways in which a doctor can provide inadequate care include:
- Failure to analyze the medical history of a patient
- Failure to help patients who appear to be healthy
- Failure to do a thorough reading of test results
- Misdiagnosis of stroke as another illness
- Failure to provide a physical examination
Get Legal Help From Chicago Medical Negligence Attorneys for Failure to Diagnose Stroke
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 ones or need help coping with the devastating effects of a 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. Call today for a free consultation to get started on your case.
