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Medical misdiagnosis is never a good thing, but in certain instances the outcome of a diagnostic mistake by a doctor is fairly benign--such as failing to diagnose the flu. But certain ailments require almost instant diagnosis in order to avoid permanent injury or death. One of these ailments is a stroke. But while the instant treatment by a doctor of a stroke is necessary to avoid a tragic outcome, patients can make it so they are not completely reliant upon their doctors for diagnosis.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is the first step towards protecting yourself against stroke misdiagnosis. If you feel the signs of a stroke are present in yourself or someone you love, suggest to the emergency room doctor that you are worried about stroke.
The major symptoms of a stroke include:
- Weakness or tingling in a limb
- Sudden loss of strength in the legs
- Weakness, heaviness, numbness or paralysis, which typically occurs in only one side of the body
- Severe headache
- Confusion
- Loss of vision
- Change of vision, including blurriness, dimness or double vision
- Difficultly speaking or finding words
- Difficulty understanding the speech of others
- Fainting
The effects of a stroke on the brain become worse and worse with each passing minute. A doctor misdiagnosing a stroke can mean severe paralysis and brain damage for the patient.
About this Author
To find out more about protecting yourself against a stroke misdiagnosis, visit the website of the Rhinelander medical malpractice lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.
James Witherspoon
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Witherspoon
