Scranton Stroke Malpractice Lawyer

Stroke definition and kinds

Call a stroke attorney in Scranton PA for a free Scranton medical malpractice consultation. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect how the body works. It can also change how you think and feel. The effects of a stroke depend on which area of the brain it takes place in, and how severe the damages are. Scranton strokes affect brain vessels (rather arteries than veins), brain cortex and brain cells. There are different types of stroke defined by causes and level of severity:  ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke and transient ischaemic attack or TIA.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.

An ischaemic stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain. Blood clot or fatty deposit cause interruption of blood inflow. This is the most common type of stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in or around the brain. Arteries ruptures cause blood leaks exerting pressure on brain tissue. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when the bleeding is in the brain and subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when bleeding is in the subarachnoid space (the space between the brain and the membranes that cover the brain).

A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke. It is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms only last for a short amount of time. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary. This kind of stroke is less severe than major strokes. A Scranton stroke misdiagnosis lawyer can help.

Scranton stroke diagnosis 

All strokes are different, stroke is a neurological condition of various levels of severity. For some patients the effects may be relatively minor and may not last long. Others may be left with more serious disabilities that make them dependent on other people. Unfortunately, some strokes can be very serious and some may lead to permanent vegetative state, coma or even Scranton wrongful death. That’s why it’s so important to be able to recognise the symptoms and get emergency medical help as quickly as possible.

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    Most common stroke signs and symptoms:

    • Sudden severe headaches
    • Blurred vision
    • Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
    • Slurred speech
    • Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
    •  Dizziness
    • Walking difficulties
    • Intracerebral hemorrhage visible on CT scan

    Less common stroke signs and symptoms:

    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Seizures
    • Fatigue
    • Fainting
    • Wrongful Death

    Risk factors for stroke malpractice

    There are many risk factors for stroke in Scranton PA. You can treat, manage or control some of your risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity and smoking. But you cannot control others such as your age or congenital conditions or health issues—for example an aneurysm or blood vessels malformation. Other factors increasing risk of having a stroke include:

    Family history and genetics: a patient’s risk of having a stroke is higher if a parent or other family member has had a stroke, particularly at a younger age. Certain genes affect your stroke risk, including those that determine your blood type. People with blood type AB (which is less common than blood types 0, A or B) have a higher risk.

    Age: A stroke can happen at any age, but the risk is higher for babies under the age of 1 and for adults. In adults, the risk increases with age. Stroke most often affects patients over 55 years of age.

    Sex: At younger ages, men are more likely than women to have a stroke. But women tend to live longer, so their lifetime risk of having a stroke is higher. Women are also at higher risk during pregnancy and in postpartum.

    Race and ethnicity: In the United States, stroke occurs more often in African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Hispanic adults than in white adults.

    Scranton stroke diagnosis includes 3 main stages from arriving to the hospital to getting a treatment:

    1. Medical interview. Patients struggling with at least one of the symptoms above need further diagnosis for strokes. An interview can be done in the ambulance or in the emergency room right after arrival at the hospital. Patients are asked about any risk factors occurring in their lifestyles or medical history.
    2. Second stage of a stroke diagnosis is doing blood tests and emergency measurement. Doctors check a patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol, O2 saturation. High cholesterol and blood pressure may cause a stroke. Ultrasound of the carotid arteries or angiograms (radiology study of the arteries) can be very helpful during a stroke diagnosing process.
    3. The most significant and important for stroke diagnosis are brain scans. Doctors use an MRI and CT scan to confirm a stroke diagnosis, determine a type and cause of suspected stroke. According to a new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology, MRI is more accurate than CT in showing brain conditions. Failure to do so is considered Scranton medical malpractice.

     

  • Scranton stroke misdiagnosis

    Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Stroke misdiagnosis means a failure to recognize a stroke immediately after or while it is occurring, or overlooking signs of an impending stroke. Misdiagnosis can occur because of doctor’s negligence, crowded emergency room, imprecise medical interview, symptoms of other conditions. Once Scranton stroke misdiagnosis has occurred, time is of the essence. Timely treatment can stop the damage from progressing and can even make damage reversible. Undiagnosed stroke or misdiagnosed stroke means delayed treatment or no treatment at all. This allows brain cell death to continue, worses patient’s symptoms, makes conditions more severe and can quickly escalate to preventable permanent brain injury or Scranton wrongful death.

    Earliest symptoms of strokes are often severe headaches and balance issues. That is why strokes are often suspected as migraines or inner ear infections. Patients suffering strokes are sent home with prescribed painkillers or antibiotics. They can come back to the hospital when it is too late for treatment administration or the treatment is ineffective, preventable damages become irreversible.

    Strokes can be misdiagnosed as:

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

     

  • Stroke misdiagnosed patients can never fully recover from stroke, can suffer headaches, disabilities, paralysis and become completely dependent on nurses or family members. Delayed treatment or lack of treatment can lead to decreasing a patient’s chances of recovering. Severe untreated strokes are the cause of many premature deaths.
    

    Scranton stroke medical malpractice

    Scranton stroke medical malpractice can include:

    • Wrong medicines administration
    • Surgical errors
    • Further conditions: heart attack, blood clots, hematomas, internal bleeding
    • Improper reading of tests
    • Failure to consult neurological specialists in a timely manner
    • Delay in performing testing for stroke and treatment of stroke
    • Failure to take a proper and thorough medical history and interview
    • Delayed diagnosis, failure to diagnose, or misdiagnosed stroke with other condition
    • Failure to perform a thorough neurological physical examination
    • Failure to order necessary tests in a timely and emergent manner
    • Failure to consider stroke in younger patients or women
    • Failure to consider stroke in patients that seem healthy, have no characteristic symptoms

     

Scranton stroke misdiagnosis and medical malpractice settlement

If you or your loved one struggle with misdiagnosed and untreated stroke’s consequences caused by doctor’s negligence you may be entitled to file a Scranton medical malpractice lawsuit. As a Scranton medical malpractice victim you probably suffer physically and mentally, legal actions add more stress. Focus on rest and recovery and let Scranton stroke lawyer take legal steps for you. Our stroke medical malpractice law firm works on the basis of a contingency fee – that is we only get paid if we are able to recover your damages and only after you have been financially compensated. People who hire personal injury attorneys statistically receive higher compensation in their settlements. Even after paying the lawyer’s fees, they still walk away with more money than they would have received without a stroke medical malpractice lawyer.

Scranton stroke wrongful death claim

Healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are responsible for helping their patients stay healthy. However, medical errors are consistently listed in the top causes of death in the United States. Our Scranton medical malpractice attorney can file a lawsuit for you. Common losses for deceased persons’ family members include: medical bills, funeral costs, loss of wages. Trapani Law Firm stroke wrongful death attorneys know how to prove hospital’s responsibility for a patient’s death. In case of any doubts contact us anytime online, via Zoom, FaceTime, messenger, phone call etc. We can meet you at any of Scranton hospitals: Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton, 746 Jefferson Ave, Scranton, PA 18510, Geisinger Community Medical Center, 1800 Mulberry St, Scranton, PA 18510, Mercy Hospital of Scranton, 614E E Gibson St, Scranton, PA 18510.

Contact Scranton Stroke Attorney

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