Stroke Misdiagnosis Lawyer Miami, FL
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted, either by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or by bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Without a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood, brain tissue begins to suffer damage within minutes. As your Miami, FL stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can explain, delayed recognition or incorrect diagnosis of stroke symptoms can dramatically worsen the outcome. Rapid treatment is critical, and when providers fail to act quickly, patients can be left with avoidable, life-altering injuries.
If a stroke is missed, misdiagnosed, or improperly treated, the consequences can be devastating. Your Miami stroke misdiagnosis attorney can help you pursue compensation for the long-term complications that occur when medical professionals fail to identify and manage a stroke in time. Prompt diagnosis often makes the difference between a full recovery and permanent disability.
When the brain is deprived of oxygen, the affected tissue can become damaged or die, leading to lasting neurological deficits. Many stroke survivors must relearn basic skills, rely on extensive rehabilitation, and adjust to significant changes in their daily lives. A misdiagnosed or untreated stroke may leave a patient facing challenges
Long Term Effects Of A Stroke
In the event of a stroke, many people find themselves struggling to relearn how to speak. This is a relatively common aftereffect of a stroke, and if a stroke is caught early enough, some people can relearn how to speak normally. However, if a stroke is misdiagnosed and the brain is starved of oxygen for too long, the damage can be permanent. The affected person may never be able to speak normally again.
A stroke can also cause issues with eating and swallowing. This is also known as dysphagia, and it’s another relatively common aftereffect that stroke survivors may experience. Dysphagia can be a severe hurdle for those who are trying to recover from a stroke, as they might have difficulty getting the nutrition they need for a proper recovery. This makes life especially difficult for those who have suffered from strokes, and when coupled with the other long-term effects of a stroke, it can make every day a challenge.
Additionally, those who suffer from strokes almost always experience difficulties with their memory. Memory issues and problems concentrating may improve over time (especially if a stroke is properly diagnosed and caught in time), but without proper care, it can be much more difficult for a stroke survivor to regain their memory. Memory loss is a tragedy in itself, and regaining your memory is incredibly difficult.
These injuries can disrupt a life, and it takes lots of time and effort to learn to live with these long-term effects. Being unable to speak, issues with eating and swallowing, and memory loss are all major effects of a stroke, but if a stroke is caught in time, these problems can be overcome. If a stroke was not caught quickly, your stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help you survivor get the compensation that you deserve.
Contact A Stroke Misdiagnosis Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one suffered a stroke and didn’t receive proper medical care, you can expect a lifetime of difficulties and a challenging recovery – if a recovery is possible at all. Fortunately, our stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help you secure the compensation you deserve, so you can begin to rebuild and move on with your life. No amount of money can undo a permanent injury or disability, but it can help you find your new normal.
At Needle & Ellenberg, P.A., our attorneys are committed to providing compassionate and caring representation for stroke victims and their families. Our experience in medical malpractice cases gives you an advantage in recovering compensation for your injuries and losses. We’re ready to help you today.
Stroke Diagnosis Mistakes
Common stroke diagnosis and treatment errors that can lead to medical malpractice suits include:
- Incomplete medical examinations
- Delayed or mistaken diagnostic testing
- Inadequate treatment administration
- Disregard of classic stroke signs in otherwise healthy and young individuals
These mistakes (as well as many others) can serve as evidence that your medical treatment did not meet an adequate standard of care. These mistakes can also can cause stroke damage to become more severe with each passing minute. Fortunately, your Miami stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help you seek compensation.
Common Injuries After Stroke
- Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination.
- Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations.
- Fatigue, which may continue after you return home.
- Inattention to one side of the body, also known as neglect; in extreme cases, you may not be aware of your arm or leg.
- Urinary or bowel incontinence.
- Speech problems or difficulty understanding speech, reading, or writing.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Memory problems, poor attention span, or difficulty solving problems.
- Visual problems.
- Depression, anxiety, or mood swings with emotional outbursts.
- Difficulty recognizing limitations caused by the stroke.
Any delay in timely treatment can increase the severity of injury, and may even lead to death. Improvements in medical science and technology provide stroke victims with better outcomes, but medical care must be administered properly for stroke survivors to fully benefit. If you or your loved one has been affected by medical malpractice leading up to or following a stroke, it may be in your best interest to contact a stroke misdiagnosis lawyer in Miami, FL today.
If your doctor made a mistake at any point after your stroke, then it is time to seek legal representation. Please call an attorney at Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for a free, no-obligation consultation — we are here to get you the compensation you deserve!
Miami Stroke Misdiagnosis FAQ
Our attorneys at Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. are very aware that medical malpractice can take on many forms, as there are an endless number of ways that doctors and nurses can commit a crucial error or oversight when it comes to a patient’s wellbeing. For example, symptoms of a stroke can sometimes resemble other medical conditions, so misdiagnosis occur more often than people think. However, this doesn’t mean the doctor or nursing staff are off the hook when it comes to liability.
When clients meet with us about their stroke misdiagnosis or other medical error, they often ask us questions like the following:
How common are stroke misdiagnosis?
Even one incidence of a stroke that is mild can have devastating impacts. The person may have permanent decreased mental capacity or physical impairments after the stroke. Many other patients may not survive. It is estimated that around 20% of strokes are not correctly diagnosed, which can lead to delayed treatment or an incorrect treatment that causes further harm. When a mistake regarding diagnosis and care is made, the patient or the surviving family may be entitled to financial compensation under a medical malpractice lawsuit.
What would a proper diagnostic procedure look like for a stroke?
Because a stroke entails a sudden interference of blood to the brain, timing is vital as to whether the brain cells continue being deprived of necessary blood flow. The longer the patient goes improperly diagnosed, the more cells may die. If you believe your doctor had not diagnosed you within a reasonable time-frame, then it may be time to meet with an attorney at Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for advice. Symptoms of a stroke can include:
- Numbness, tingling sensations, or weakness
- Loss of mobility for face, legs, or arms (particularly on one side of the body)
- Abrupt changes in vision and speaking
- Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding others
- A rapid appearance of a severe headache
- Sudden issues related to walking normally and/or balance
Should my doctor have ran certain tests to identify my stroke?
Your doctor should have ran a CT scan or even an MRI as a way to identify a possible stroke. These tests can show if the patient is suffering from a stroke, and what form of stroke he or she may be experiencing. A series of blood test may also be recommended as a way to figure out how to prevent future clots, if that was the reason the stroke occurred.
When is my doctor most likely to misdiagnose my stroke?
There are two points in which your doctor most likely had misdiagnosed your stroke. The first, is when they had ran imaging tests and diagnosed you with another condition with similar symptoms. The second, is your doctor may have failed to properly diagnose which type of stroke you had endured.
Contact Your Miami, FL Stroke Misdiagnosis Lawyer Today
At Needle & Ellenberg, P.A., we’re dedicated to helping our clients seek the compensation they deserve. Whether the negligent party is a hospital, doctor, other practitioner, or some combination of medical care providers, we have the experience and know-how to help you fight for your rights.
Let us advocate on your behalf. Call a Miami stroke misdiagnosis lawyer from our team to schedule a consultation today.