Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers Explain the Delay in Diagnosing a Stroke
Anyone knows that a delay in diagnosing a stroke is a very serious issue that can result in serious personal injuries or wrongful death. In fact, it does not take a medical degree to know this. Actually, you do not even need to be an adult to know that a stroke is dangerous—school children know that. But far too many defendant healthcare providers fail to diagnose a stroke that can result in serious personal injuries including the wrongful death of innocent patients. Our Oregon medical malpractice lawyers explain how that can be, including what a stroke is, the different types, and treatment.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a serious medical emergency in which time is of the essence. Immediate treatment is required to prevent permanent brain damage, or perhaps even death. A stroke occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain. This in turn causes oxygen deprivation which then causes damage to the healthy tissue in the brain. Usually, if a stroke is not identified quickly the damage is irreversible. It is therefore imperative for Oregon medical providers to diagnose a stroke in a timely manner to prevent these things from happening.
Types of Strokes
There are two different types of strokes for which an Oregon healthcare provider could misdiagnose, which would be considered malpractice. The first type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when a blood vessel in the brain or supplying blood to the brain or a vessel in the brain tears or ruptures. There are two things that happen when this occurs. The first being that there is oxygen deprivation to the brain. Additionally, the pressure in the brain increases due to the increase in blood which can lead to brain damage and herniation of the brain.
The second type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. This occurs when there is a blockage that prevents normal blood flow to the brain. This can be caused by narrowing arteries, most commonly due to atherosclerosis and elevated cholesterol in the blood which can build up in the arteries as fatty deposits. Due to the blockage, the brain is oxygen deprived which can cause permanent brain damage or death.
Common Causes for Delay in Diagnosing Strokes
There are many reasons a stroke could be misdiagnosed as a result of medical malpractice in the state of Oregon. Most people, even non-medical professionals are aware that strokes are a time-sensitive emergency. The most common reasons why a delay in a stroke diagnosis are the following:
- Inexperienced physicians and nurses
- Inadequate staffing
- Excess number of patients, leading to a delay in care
- Failure to follow the stroke protocol
- Misdiagnosing the stroke a something else
- Delay in diagnosing due to patient’s age – Often inexperienced providers are less likely to think a younger patient could be having a stroke due to their age
- Improper supervision in the emergency room
- Failure to recognize stroke symptoms
These are just a few of the many causes why Oregon Medical Malpractice can occur in regard to the delay in diagnosing strokes. It is important to know that if the patient receives timely medical treatment, usually with TPA (clot buster) or with a thrombectomy, the outcome for most patients can be very good. It is often the delay in diagnosis that leads to poor outcomes.
How Can Our Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help You?
Our Oregon medical malpractice lawyers can help you by protecting your rights and will ensure you receive the justice you deserve. If you or your loved one suffered significant brain damage or death due to negligence in diagnosing a stroke, you may be eligible to receive damages. Damages are often awarded in the form of compensation for medical bills, lost wages, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering amongst many other indications for damages.
If a doctor’s negligence resulted in the wrongful death of a loved one, make sure to call us for a FREE consultation to learn how we can help protect your rights to compensation under Oregon law. A delay in diagnosing a stroke is a very serious type of Oregon medical malpractice and all victims and their families should consult with an experienced lawyer to protect your rights to compensation under the law.
Call Kuhlman Law for Help with a Stroke Case
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
