Stroke Misdiagnosis

When a blood vessel in the brain bursts this causes blood to spill into the spaces surrounding brain cells causing a stroke. Also a stroke can occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted. This in turn causes brain cells die due to lack of oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination; or sudden severe headache with no known cause. There are two types of stroke: ischemic - blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, and hemorrhagic - bleeding into or around the brain.

When considering a malpractice claim there are a couple of factors that have to be evaluated. First, the question is, could the stroke have been prevented. Second, was the stroke properly and promptly diagnosed. Getting prompt treatment is critical decreasing any long standing adverse effects from a stroke. Treatment to prevent a stroke are based on treating an individual's underlying risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and prior strokes. Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it is happening by quickly dissolving the blood clot causing an ischemic stroke or by stopping the bleeding of a hemorrhagic stroke. If a doctor or hospital staff fails to recognize the signs of a stroke and does not take immediate action, significant injury can occur, which could have been prevented.

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