The Effects of a Delayed Stroke Diagnosis

Strokes are medical emergencies characterized by a rapid loss of brain function due to interruptions in the brain's blood supply. They are the second most common cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of disability among adults. Since strokes happen suddenly and can quickly turn fatal, it is extremely important for stroke victims to receive a diagnosis and begin treatment immediately. If diagnosis is delayed, the patient may suffer greatly as a result.

Stroke symptoms start suddenly, often within a few seconds. As symptoms depend on the part of the brain affected, reaching a specific stroke diagnosis can require X-rays, CT scans, and other tests. Although the specifics of a patient's treatment depend on the test results, it may still be possible to determine that a patient is having a stroke using physical tests. For example, sudden-onset weakness on one side of the body and disruptions in speech are strong indicators of a stroke.

Since strokes are caused by an interruption of oxygen flow to the brain, they can happen via multiple mechanisms. A blood clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain can trigger a stroke. A ruptured blood vessel in the brain can reduce oxygen flow by hemorrhaging blood into the surrounding tissue. Anything that causes a general drop in blood pressure, such as a heart attack, can trigger a stroke. Sudden drops in blood oxygen can worsen the effects.

The long-term effects of a stroke depend on the part of the brain affected. For example, paralysis of the left side of the body can be caused by neurological damage to the motor centers of the right hemisphere of the brain. Speech disruptions are caused by damage to the language centers of the brain. With extensive rehabilitation, people who have suffered strokes can regain function.

If the diagnosis is delayed, however, death or much more extensive brain damage can occur. If that delay was caused by a doctor's negligence, that doctor may be guilty of medical malpractice. People who have been seriously harmed by a delayed stroke diagnosis and their families may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, losses, and suffering caused by medical malpractice.

For more information on subjects related to medical malpractice law, visit the website of the Champaign medical malpractice lawyers of Spiros & Wall, P.C.