Allentown Stroke Malpractice Lawyer

Types and causes of Lehigh Valley strokes

Call an Allentown stroke attorney for a free Lehigh Valley medical malpractice consultation. Stroke is a dexterity and life threatening condition occurring suddenly. Stroke is a neurological condition with many levels of severity. There are two main kinds of strokes and a condition called a mini stroke.

Ischemic stroke – most common and most often misdiagnosed is ischemic stroke. Patients suffer from an ischemic stroke when blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels to the brain. In some cases the bloodstream can be blocked by fatty deposits in veins and arteries. Arrest of blood circulation in brain vessels causes hypoxia – lack of oxygen supply. Brain cells and cerebral cortex start to die after a few minutes of severe hypoxia. Brain tissue damage and death can cause many severe neurological conditions and disabilities.

Hemorrhagic stroke – This type of stroke is caused by sudden brain veins rupture and blood leak. Leaking blood puts high pressure on brain tissue and damages them irreversibly. Long lasting blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm and aneurysm increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke. TIA – Transient ischemic attack is a mini stroke because the signs and symptoms are similar to ischemic stroke but it is much less severe. Untreated often leads to major strokes in the near future. TIA is a separate medical condition and needs to be diagnosed and treated. It is often a warning before a major stroke. Call a Lehigh Valley stroke malpractice attorney today.

Our attorneys handle stroke medical malpractice lawsuits in the following Pennsylvania cities:

• • • Allentown
    • Hazelton
    • King of Prussia
    • Norristown
    • Pittsburgh
    • Pottstown
    • Scranton
    • Wilkes-Barre

    Risk factors for Lehigh Valley stroke

    Some cases of strokes can be prevented by changing bad habits while the other can’t because they are genetic or congenital. Main factors increasing chances of suffering stroke are obesity, high blood pressure, elder age and gender – men are at much higher risk of having stroke than women. Risk factors above are mutual for both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.

    

    Most common risk factors for ischemic stroke:

    • Embolism, blood clots and too high level of blood coagulation
    • High cholesterol
    • Obesity
    • Cigarettes addiction and abusing
    • Eating full fat dairy, fat meet, trans fats, saturated fat

    Most common risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke:

    • High blood pressure – hypertension
    • Irregular heart rhythm
    • Genetic condition like AVM (arteriovenous malformations)
    • Caffeine abusing
    • Alcohol addiction and abusing
    • Brain hematoma
    • Brain aneurysm

    Bethlehem Stroke misdiagnosis:

    Diagnosis has a few stages from an interview in the emergency room, through blood pressure measurement, blood tests to brain scans confirming diagnosis. Allentown stroke medical malpractice can occur on every level of diagnosing. Early stroke signs and symptoms are common for many other neurological conditions.

    What are characteristic signs and symptoms of strokes?

    Most common stroke symptoms:

    • Sudden and severe headache
    • Slurred speech
    • Blurred vision
    • Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
    • Nausea, vomiting
    • Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
    • Dizziness
    • Walking difficulties
    • Allentown Wrongful Death

    Stroke misdiagnosis in Lehigh Valley hospitals

    Stroke is commonly mistaken for other neurological conditions. Stroke misdiagnosis can be fatal and life threatening for patients. Misdiagnosed patients are often sent home with prescriptions for painkillers. Their condition can worsen and become more severe and the time window for administration of treatment can be missed. Strokes are commonly mistaken for those conditions:

    • Vertigo
    • Migraines
    • Migrainous aura
    • Inner ear disorders
    • Epilepsy
    • Dementia
    • Bell’s Palsy

    Allentown stroke misdiagnosis and lack of diagnosis or delayed diagnosis lead to improper treatment administration, lack of treatment or delayed treatment administration. Time is crucial for stroke patients.

    Ischemic stroke is treated by TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) medicines. Doctors found out that TPA meds’ effectiveness depends on time. Those blood clot busters work the most in the first hour from the first symptoms of stroke. Delayed blood clot busting treatment can be ineffective and cause long lasting bloodstream arrest in the brain vessels and hypoxia. In the worst case scenario patient delayed treatment administration puts the patient at risk of brain death or Lehigh Valley wrongful death.

    Possible complication of lack of a stroke treatment, improper treatment or delayed ischemic stroke treatment:

    • Long lasting hypoxia
    • Brain cells and brain cortex death
    • Permanent or temporary disabilities
    • Vegetative state
    • Loss of dexterity and independence
    • Brain coma
    • Irreversible brain damage
    • Lehigh Valley Wrongful Death

    Hemorrhagic stroke is treated surgically which makes risk of surgical errors. Delayed surgeries threaten a patient’s life and dexterity. There is a short time window to operate on patients suffering hemorrhagic stroke. Delays can be caused by crowded emergency rooms, crowded operating rooms, delayed diagnosis, delayed tests results, lack of proper equipment, medical staff shortage.

    Time is crucial for treating strokes effectively, but it isn’t the only factor that matters. Surgeons make mistakes during operating, those human errors can lead to severe consequences for the patients.

    Common stroke related surgical medical malpractice:

    • Internal bleeding
    • Blood leaking to the brain tissue
    • Hematoma
    • Brain embolism
    • Brain cells and cortex damage
    • Paralysis
    • Brain vessels ruptures
    • Nerves ruptures
    • Stroke occurring during the surgery

    No doctor should tell patients that surgery is risk-free. The law says it is important that patients know the risks and benefits of undergoing surgery so that the patient is able to make an informed decision about whether they should proceed. Informing patients about possibilities of treatment includes telling about any alternative treatments.

  • Allentown Stroke Related to Birth Control 

    The use of combined oral contraceptives has been linked to an increased likelihood of developing blood clots and ischemic strokes, particularly in young women. Several key statistics highlight this connection and the associated factors that contribute to a higher risk, making it crucial for women who have suffered from strokes or are dealing with their long-term consequences to understand these risks. It’s especially important to consider whether negligence by healthcare providers or even birth control manufacturers may have played a role in putting them in danger and impacting their health.

    As dedicated Allentown stroke misdiagnosis attorneys, our mission is to raise awareness about how medical negligence can profoundly affect a patient’s health and quality of life. This information is also invaluable to the surviving families of women who tragically lost their lives due to strokes that may have been misdiagnosed or linked to the prescription of combined oral contraceptives.

    In this section, we will create a guide in which we will present comprehensive facts about the inextricable link between these medications and the increased risk of a stroke. We will also explore why young women are particularly vulnerable to stroke misdiagnosis, often in cases of Allentown stroke misdiagnosis. If you or a loved one have been affected, our Allentown stroke malpractice lawyers are here to help you seek justice through an Allentown stroke-related birth control lawsuit.

  • Allentown Birth Control Related Strokes Statistics

    The statistics surrounding strokes and combined oral contraceptives are concerning but provide an opportunity for healthcare providers to improve care standards. Strokes are frequently misdiagnosed, especially in young women who are often not considered at risk, perpetuating dangerous myths that can lead to severe or even fatal outcomes. Our Allentown stroke misdiagnosis lawyers are committed to holding healthcare providers accountable when negligence occurs.

  • Birth Control and Blood Clots (Link to Ischemic Strokes)

    • Increased Risk: Women using combined oral contraceptives (containing estrogen and progestin) are 2 to 6 times more likely to develop blood clots than non-users, as reported by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
    • Baseline Risk:
      • Non-users: ~1-5 blood clot cases per 10,000 women annually.
      • Users of combined oral contraceptives: ~3-9 cases per 10,000 women annually.
    • Mechanism: Estrogen in combined contraceptives boosts clotting factor production, increasing the likelihood of clot formation.

  • Birth Control and Strokes

    • Ischemic Stroke Risk: Women on combined oral contraceptives have a 1.5 times greater risk of ischemic stroke compared to non-users, according to the National Library of Medicine (NIH).
    • Absolute Risk:
      • Non-users: ~0.4 ischemic strokes per 10,000 women annually.
      • Users: ~0.8 ischemic strokes per 10,000 women annually.
    • Compounded Risk Factors: Smoking, obesity, hypertension, and a family history of stroke further increase the risk.
    • Migraines with Aura: Women with migraines with aura face significantly higher stroke risks, further elevated by oral contraceptive use.
    • Newer Birth Control Pills: While different progestin formulations may carry varying risks, all combined contraceptives heighten the chance of clot formation.
    • Safer Alternatives: Options like the levonorgestrel IUD present reduced risks for women predisposed to blood clots or strokes.

     

  • These statistics underscore the critical need for proper medical counseling when prescribing birth control, particularly for women with pre-existing risk factors. Negligent care can lead to severe outcomes, including Allentown birth control-related strokes. If you or a loved one has been impacted, our Allentown medical malpractice lawyers are here to help.

• • Who Can File an Allentown Stroke Malpractice Lawsuit?

• • Individuals who have suffered a stroke partially caused or potentially linked to the use of oral contraceptives may be entitled to file an Allentown stroke malpractice lawsuit. This includes young women whose strokes may have resulted from negligence in prescribing, monitoring, or diagnosing conditions associated with birth control use. Surviving family members of women who lost their lives to strokes may also have a right to pursue legal action, provided they can establish that birth control use significantly contributed to the stroke and its fatal outcome.
    

    Who Can Be Held Liable for Birth Control-Related Strokes?

    Various parties may be held accountable for Allentown stroke malpractice, both fatal and nonfatal, related to birth control use:

    • Healthcare Providers: Negligence by healthcare providers may include failing to conduct thorough medical interviews, overlooking pre-existing risk factors (such as migraines with aura or clotting disorders), or missing early signs of a stroke. To hold them accountable, plaintiffs must prove that their standard of care fell below acceptable medical practices and directly contributed to the stroke or Allentown stroke misdiagnosis.
    • Birth Control Manufacturers and Distributors: Manufacturers and distributors of oral contraceptives may be held liable for failing to provide adequate warnings about the increased risk of blood clots and strokes, omitting critical safety information, or producing defective products. Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the company’s negligence, such as misleading labeling or inadequate research on risks, contributed to the patient’s stroke.

     

  • By addressing these failures, victims and their families can seek compensation for the devastating impact of negligence and improve awareness of the risks associated with birth control use.

  • Medical Malpractice Stroke Lawsuit

    Victims recovering from stroke misdiagnosis and their families are entitled to claim hospitals and doctors for compensation in an Allentown medical malpractice lawsuit. We handle medical malpractice in Easton PA and Bethlehem PA. Hiring an experienced Allentown stroke medical malpractice lawyer can increase chances of receiving higher compensation. Allentown stroke attorney knows hospital’s law teams’ and insurance companies’ tricks and knows how to prove the responsible party’s negligent actions.

    Trapani Law Firm Allentown stroke lawyers only get paid if we are able to recover your damages and only after you have been financially compensated. Trapani Law Firm stroke lawyers handle medical malpractice cases in Allentown PA, Easton PA, Phillipsburg NJ, Bethlehem PA or anywhere in the greater Lehigh Valley PA. Our experienced Allentown stroke misdiagnosis attorneys offer free consultations online (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Zoom, phone call) anytime. Trapani Law Firm offers meeting in an Allentown hospitals: Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest located on 1200 S Cedar Crest Blvd, Lehigh Valley Hospital–17th Street on 1627 W Chew St, St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus located on 1736 Hamilton St, Diagnostic Care Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

    Contact an Allentown Stroke Attorney

    If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke due to medical malpractice, contact an Allentown stroke personal injury lawyer at The Trapani Law Firm for a free consultation by calling (610) 351 – 2330 or contact us.