Oregon Undiagnosed Stroke Lawyers - Bend/Portland, OR

Oregon Undiagnosed Stroke Lawyer

A stroke is a major medical emergency that requires immediate care and treatment to prevent long-term damage or wrongful death.  A stroke occurs when there is a decreased flow of blood to the brain which creates a deprivation of oxygen.  This deprivation of oxygen causes damage to brain tissue which is usually irreversible.  The longer that the brain suffers an oxygen deprivation, the more damage that occurs.  This is why it is imperative for healthcare providers to timely and quickly treat a patient who is suffering a stroke or who may be suffering a stroke.  When healthcare providers fail to quickly treat a patient suffering from a stroke, patients and their families should call our Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyers to learn what rights to compensation the may have.

Patients and their families may be entitled to a broad range of damages.  These damages are compensatory in nature, meaning that patients and their families may be entitled to money for some of the following:

• Pain and suffering;
• Medical bills;
• Lost wages;
• Future lost earnings;
• Future medical expenses;
• Non-medical expenses like equipment for the home or vehicles;
• Wrongful death, including burial and funeral expenses;
• Loss of relationships with a loved one, including loss of services, loss of dependence, loss of consortium, loss of affection, and other time spent with loved ones; and
• Many other damages.

Types of Strokes

There are two different types of strokes which could be misdiagnosed due to Oregon medical malpractice.  The first time of stroke is an ischemic stroke, which is when there is a blockage which prevents blood flow to the brain.  This in turn prevents rich, oxygenated blood to the brain which causes an oxygen deprivation.  Usually this is due to plaque which is an unsafe buildup of a sticky material in blood vessels.

The second type of strike is a hemorrhagic stroke, which is when a blood vessel supplying the brain or in the brain ruptures or is torn.  Not only does this result in a deprivation of oxygen in the brain, but it also results in an increased pressure on the brain due to the increase in blood which can cause damage.  Many hemorrhagic strokes result in a quick death, but some smaller ruptures will give healthcare providers a chance to stop the bleed and save the patient.

Common Causes for Undiagnosed Stroke Cases

There are many reasons why a stroke could be misdiagnosed due to Oregon medical malpractice.  While most people know that a stroke is a major medical emergency, even people without a medical degree, far too many healthcare providers fail to property care for patients who may be suffering from a stroke.  In fact, provider inexperience and poor training are common causes of misdiagnosed strokes.  It is unfortunate that too many providers fail to properly protect patients who may be suffering from a stroke.

The most common causes why patients suffer from an Oregon undiagnosed stroke include the following:

• Inadequate staffing in emergency departments;
• Failing to follow stroke protocol;
• Improperly triaging patients;
• Failing to listen to the complaints and symptoms of patients;
• Negligently hiring emergency department staff;
• Negligently training emergency department staff;
• Failing to adequately supervise emergency department staff;
• Medication errors and mistakes;
• Misdiagnosing a stroke a something else;
• Failing to properly rule out a stroke first;
• Misinterpreting test results;
• Ordering the wrong tests for strokes;
• Failing to recognize the symptoms of a stroke;
• Medication errors;
• Failing to administer the correct medications;
• Patient mixups; and
• Many other causes.

Wrongful Death from Oregon Undiagnosed Stroke Cases

When healthcare providers fail to timely and accurately diagnose and immediately treat a stroke, it could result in the wrongful death of a patient.  Under Oregon law, certain family members and dependents may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of a patient due to Oregon medical malpractice.  Generally, spouses, children, parents, and other dependents may be entitled to compensation.  

This compensation includes the pain and suffering of the loved one, loss of future earnings, loss of dependency/services, society of the loved one, funeral expenses and burial costs, medical expenses, and in rare instances punitive damages to punish egregiously negligent healthcare providers.

Wrongful death cases are more difficult to prove, especially for undiagnosed strokes.  This is why victims and their families need to consult with Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyers to ensure that their rights to compensation are protected and that they obtain the compensation they deserve.

How Medical Malpractice Can Cause an Undiagnosed Stroke

Medical professionals have a duty to recognize the warning signs of stroke and provide timely diagnosis and treatment. When healthcare providers fail to meet the standard of care in stroke recognition, the consequences can be devastating for patients and their families. Strokes are medical emergencies that require immediate intervention, and delays in diagnosis can result in permanent disability or wrongful death. If you or a loved one have suffered any of these types of injuries, contact our Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyer at Kuhlman Law.

Healthcare providers may commit Oregon medical malpractice in stroke cases through several critical failures. Emergency room physicians might misinterpret classic stroke symptoms such as sudden weakness, speech difficulties, or facial drooping as less serious conditions. Primary care doctors may fail to recognize transient ischemic attacks, which are warning signs of impending strokes. Radiologists might misread CT scans or MRI images that show evidence of stroke, leading to delayed or incorrect diagnoses. Sometimes it is a combination of these errors due to overworked ER teams, untrained staff, or simply just apathy.

The failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests represents another form of medical malpractice that should be reviewed by an Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyer. When patients present with stroke symptoms, medical professionals should promptly order brain imaging studies and blood tests to confirm or rule out stroke. Delays in ordering these tests, or failure to order them altogether, can constitute negligence if a reasonable physician would have ordered them under similar circumstances.

Communication breakdowns between medical staff can also lead to undiagnosed strokes. When emergency department physicians fail to properly communicate patient symptoms to neurologists, or when test results are not promptly reviewed and acted upon, critical treatment windows may be missed. The standard of care requires healthcare teams to work efficiently and communicate effectively to ensure timely stroke diagnosis and treatment.

Misdiagnosis of stroke symptoms as other conditions is unfortunately common. Healthcare providers sometimes attribute stroke symptoms to migraines, inner ear problems, or psychiatric conditions without conducting proper neurological evaluations. This diagnostic error can delay life-saving treatments such as clot-busting medications or surgical interventions that must be administered within specific time frames to be effective.

What are Damages from an Undiagnosed Stroke?

 Under Oregon law, the term “damages” refers to the relief that a court can award a party to a lawsuit. The damages resulting from an undiagnosed stroke can be extensive and life-altering, affecting every aspect of a patient’s life and placing tremendous burdens on their families. These damages typically fall into several categories that courts recognize in medical malpractice cases, and what victims and their families may be entitled to depends on what your Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyer identifies and believes is causally related to your medical malpractice.

Some of the most common types of damages in a medical malpractice case include:

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages acknowledge the physical and emotional trauma that undiagnosed stroke survivors endure. These non-economic damages compensate for the pain, discomfort, anxiety, depression, and loss of enjoyment of life that result from stroke-related disabilities. Many survivors experience ongoing pain, frustration with their limitations, and emotional distress related to their changed circumstances.

Medical Expenses

Medical expenses represent one of the most significant damage categories. Stroke patients often require emergency treatment, extended hospital stays, rehabilitation services, and ongoing medical care. The costs can include emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and specialized medical equipment. Many stroke survivors require long-term care in assisted living facilities or need home healthcare services, creating substantial ongoing financial obligations.

Lost Wages and Lost Future Earnings

Lost wages and diminished earning capacity constitute another major category of damages. Stroke survivors frequently cannot return to their previous employment due to physical limitations, cognitive impairments, or speech difficulties. The economic impact extends beyond current lost income to include the loss of future earning potential, retirement benefits, and career advancement opportunities that the stroke has permanently eliminated.

Loss of Consortium

Loss of consortium damages may be available to spouses and family members who have lost the companionship, support, and relationship they previously enjoyed with the stroke survivor. These damages recognize that stroke affects not only the patient but also their loved ones who must adjust to significant changes in their relationships and family dynamics.

Other Damages

Victims also suffer many other damages due to an undiagnosed stroke and the damages that are caused by such medical errors, malpractice or oversight. If you are uncertain what types of damages that you and your family may be entitled to for injuries and financial losses suffered due to a medical error, contact our Oregon undiagnosed stroke lawyer at Kuhlman Law for help with your case.

Bend/Portland, Oregon Undiagnosed Stroke Lawyers

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.  

We handle cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.  

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.  

Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.