Stroke Misdiagnosis

Failure to Diagnose Stroke Lawsuits

Every minute of delay can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability. Yet, thousands of patients each year suffer catastrophic harm because doctors fail to recognize or properly treat the warning signs of a stroke. When a healthcare provider’s error leads to preventable injury or death, victims and families may have grounds for a stroke misdiagnosis lawsuit.

The Lyon Firm represents individuals nationwide who have suffered severe harm from delayed or missed stroke diagnoses. By holding negligent hospitals and physicians accountable, the firm helps victims secure justice and financial recovery.

A fairly large number of strokes and heart attacks are misdiagnosed or subjects of Delay in Diagnosis, which greatly increases the risks of complications, permanent injury and death. Patients who are admitted to emergency rooms and medical facilities expect healthcare professionals to accurately and promptly to diagnose dangerous health conditions though instances of medical errors, hospital negligence, medical malpractice and stroke misdiagnosis are on the rise.

Stroke misdiagnosis and delayed treatment for a heart attack are fairly common, and at least one study notes that up to nine percent of stroke victims have their condition misdiagnosed initially, delaying proper treatment and putting them at risk of more serious consequences. Misdiagnosed patients present with mild or non-specific neurological complaints, and they are not taken seriously.

Emergency departments, nurses and doctors have been targeted in stroke misdiagnosis lawsuits, and plaintiffs may have rightful claims and recover compensation when hospitals are negligent and fail to provide a quality standard of care.

Joe Lyon is an medical malpractice lawyer and hospital negligence attorney representing plaintiffs nationwide in delayed treatment and stroke misdiagnosis lawsuits.

Stroke Misdiagnosis Complications

• Brain injury
• More severe stroke
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Loss of motor skills
• Memory problems
• Difficulty speaking and understanding
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Chronic Pain
• Depression
• Death

Failure to Diagnose Strokes

Many patients are misdiagnosed and sent home from an emergency room in the month before they are hospitalized for heart attack or stroke. When early signs and symptoms of a heart attacks or stroke are missed by an emergency department, the patients risk the most severe complications which include wrongful death.

Nurses and physicians need to be more discerning and vigilant before they rule out a stroke or heart attack, even for those seemingly at lower risk.

Misdiagnosed patients may present with dizziness and headache and are told they have less serious conditions, or they receive no diagnosis at an ER.

Strokes are the fourth most common misdiagnosis among major diagnostic errors, and they represent the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. Some experts have expressed the need for increased awareness by ER physicians to reduce stroke misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Timely treatment of strokes and heart attacks can limit the damage and even reverse some damage. Undiagnosed strokes allows for brain cell death to continue, and can lead to permanent brain injury or death. Symptoms of a stroke can include:

• Weakness, numbness, or paralysis
• Tingling in a limb on one side
• Sudden loss of strength
• Severe headache
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Difficulty speaking or understanding
• Confusion
• Loss of vision
• Fainting

Common Causes of Stroke Misdiagnosis

Doctors and emergency room staff must act swiftly when a patient presents symptoms like weakness, confusion, difficulty speaking, or vision problems. A failure to order appropriate testing or imaging can lead to devastating outcomes. Common causes of stroke misdiagnosis include:

- Failure to perform neurological assessments
- Misinterpreting CT or MRI scans
- Ignoring early warning signs such as facial drooping or limb weakness
- Attributing symptoms to less serious conditions
- Delays in administering clot-busting medication (tPA)
- Inadequate communication between emergency staff and specialists