Stroke misdiagnosis claims

What is stroke misdiagnosis?

Stroke misdiagnosis occurs when a patient’s symptoms are not recognised as a stroke, leading to delayed or incorrect treatment. This can result in long-term disability or even death. Common misdiagnoses include migraines, vertigo, and seizures. Early recognition and treatment are crucial for stroke patients.

What is a stroke misdiagnosis claim?

A stroke misdiagnosis claim is a legal action taken by a patient or their family against a healthcare provider for failing to diagnose or misdiagnosing a stroke. This can result in delayed treatment, causing further damage or even death. The claim seeks compensation for damages and losses suffered as a result of the misdiagnosis.

What causes a stroke?

Strokes can be caused by poor blood flow to the brain or bleeding. The diagnosis of a stroke may be delayed or overlooked because symptoms of stroke may be mild or attributed to other conditions such as a migraine or headache. The delay in diagnosis and treatment could potentially result in serious and irreversible brain damage, requiring long-term care and rehabilitation.

The main risk factors for a stroke are:

• high blood pressure or cholesterol
• smoking
• diabetes
• increasing age

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

The key symptoms of a stroke include the following:

• Sudden weakness and numbness on one side
• Drooping face on one side
• Slurred speech and muddled words
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sudden blurred vision or loss of vision
• Loss of consciousness
• Incontinence
• Sudden dizziness, confusion, and issues with balance
• Impaired memory
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Difficulty controlling emotions.

Heart conditions can also be the potential causes of a stroke. The more time the blood supply to the brain is interrupted by a stroke, the more serious the chance of disability, brain injury or death. It is imperative that medical staff identify a stroke, or it’s potential onset, at the earliest opportunity.

If you are suffering from a stroke it is vital to seek immediate medical attention. The sooner you get treatment the better. Immediate treatment may help minimise the long-term effects of stroke and improve recovery outcomes.

Strokes generally fall into two categories:

• Ischaemic stroke – this involves the blood supply to a section of the brain being cut off due to a blood clot
• Hemorrhagic stroke – this involves bleeding into the brain from a burst blood vessel

How are strokes treated?

There are several appropriate treatments for stroke, depending on its cause. These can vary from drug treatment, intravenous therapy, mechanical devices, surgical clips or coils. Your clinician will decide which treatment is most suitable for you.

Due to medical advances, the survival rate and recovery outcomes of stroke has increased hugely over the past decade, especially if it is identified and treated immediately. Each individual is affected in different ways by a stroke and can have varying symptoms depending on the part of the brain that has been affected and the function of that particular part. The severity of these symptoms usually depends on the amount of damage to the brain.