Strokes are severe events occurring within the brain. After experiencing a stroke, many people are disabled for the rest of their lives. Strokes also often cause death. When a stroke is diagnosed and treated promptly and properly, these severe effects can often be avoided, or at least lessened. When medical malpractice occurs from doctors failing to identify or properly treat a stroke, however, victims can be dealing with the consequences for the rest of their lives. Lifelong disability, constant medical care, and inability to work are all common among stroke victims. Contact a Kansas City, MO stroke lawyer for legal counsel if you or a loved one have suffered a stroke resulting from the negligence of someone else.
Types of Strokes
There are a few different kinds of strokes. If any part of the brain lacks oxygen even for a few minutes, damage can be extreme and even fatal. Every passing minute a doctor fails to catch a stroke means the death of more brain cells.
Ischemic Strokes
Most strokes are ischemic strokes. These are caused by a blood clot blocking flow of blood to the brain. Blood is what brings oxygen to all the tissues of the body, including the brain.
Mini-Strokes
Mini-strokes, technically known as transient ischemic attacks, usually resolve on their own, not causing extreme brain damage. However, they are a warning sign that a more serious stroke may be on its way. Doctors should not take a transient ischemic attack lightly. If they do, they risk the death or disabling of a patient.
Hemorrhagic Strokes
Hemorrhagic strokes are the third kind of stoke. When a blood vessel in the brain bursts, blood begins to accumulate inside the skull. This bleeding compresses brain tissue, causing brain cell death.
In all kinds of strokes, it is imperative to get a patient immediate proper medical care. Symptoms of a stroke include difficulty speaking, sudden and severe headache, trouble understanding speech, weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, sudden blurred vision, confusion, loss of coordination, and fainting, among other symptoms.
Medical Treatment
When a doctor sees a patient present with possible stroke symptoms, he or she must inquire about certain factors in that patient’s medical history. These include past strokes or heart attacks, arterial disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history, age, and medication that may increase risk of stroke. When a doctor fails to inquire about these factors or to take a stroke patient’s symptoms seriously, these very sick people are sent home untreated. This can mean irreversible brain damage, another stroke, or death.
Doctors may fail to diagnose a stroke in an effort to cut the medical costs of their office. Not ordering the proper tests or correctly doing an intake interview is a serious error. They may read tests incorrectly, not take a patient seriously, or fail in some other way. This is a serious malpractice issue, and we can help. The improper stroke diagnosis or treatment of your or a family member entitles you to malpractice compensation. Medical bills may be covered, as well as pain and suffering damages and lost wages.
Restitution for Stroke Malpractice and Injuries
You may be entitled to financial compensation if you or a loved one experienced a stroke a doctor didn’t properly diagnose or treat. The law offices of Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet can help. Getting back on your feet after a brain injury or the death of a loved one can be difficult, particularly with medical bills to pay. The experienced team of Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet in Kansas City, MO know how to get to the facts in stroke cases.
Have You or a Loved One Been Injured Due to Medical Malpractice in Kansas City, Missouri?
If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical practice you should speak with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 816.832.4688 to schedule your free consultation. We are proud to serve Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding area and look forward to speaking with you.