A stroke misdiagnosis can have devastating and life-altering consequences. When healthcare providers fail to recognize or properly treat a stroke, the results can include severe disability, prolonged recovery, or even death. If you or a loved one has experienced such negligence, a misdiagnosis of stroke attorney New Jersey with Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. is ready to help.
The following is some valuable information regarding stroke misdiagnosis, its implications, and how a skilled misdiagnosis of stroke attorney in New Jersey can help you seek justice and compensation.
Strokes were responsible for nearly 18% of all US deaths in 2021. They occur when something interrupts or significantly reduces the blood supply to part of the brain. This deprivation of blood flow prevents brain tissue from receiving essential oxygen and nutrients, leading to the rapid death of brain cells.
Ischemic strokes, which account for about 87% of all cases, happen when blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels supplying the brain. These blockages can form directly within the brain’s arteries or travel from other body parts, such as the heart, through the bloodstream to the brain. Conditions like atherosclerosis, characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits within the arteries, significantly increase the risk of ischemic strokes.
Hemorrhagic strokes, on the other hand, occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding either within the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage) or in the space surrounding the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage). This bleeding puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. Causes of hemorrhagic strokes include high blood pressure and aneurysms.
Strokes often present with sudden and distinct symptoms, which can vary depending on the area of the brain affected. Doctors use the FAST acronym to help identify the following common stroke symptoms and respond quickly.
Early recognition of stroke symptoms and swift medical attention are vital because treatments like clot-busting medications are most effective when administered within a specific time frame after the onset of symptoms.
A misdiagnosis of a stroke can occur due to various factors, often resulting from the complex nature of stroke symptoms and the high-pressure environment of emergency medical settings. A misdiagnosis of stroke attorney in New Jersey with Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. understands these factors and knows how crucial they are in building a case.
Stroke symptoms can overlap with those of other medical conditions, such as migraines, seizures, hypoglycemia, or even intoxication. These conditions can present with confusion, speech difficulties, or weakness, leading healthcare providers to incorrect conclusions.
In addition, some patients may experience less obvious signs such as dizziness, general weakness, or slight confusion, which a medical professional can mistake for a less severe condition.
Diagnostic errors also stem from failing to promptly perform or correctly interpret critical diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRIs. The fast-paced, high-pressure environment can lead to rushed assessments and oversight in emergency rooms. Failing to accurately collect a patient’s medical history or performing a thorough neurological examination can worsen this issue.
Miscommunication among medical staff is another significant factor. During handoffs between healthcare providers, incomplete or inaccurate information transfer can result in missing critical details.
The consequences of a stroke misdiagnosis can be severe and life-altering. A delayed or incorrect diagnosis can result in significant and often irreversible damage, as timely intervention is crucial in minimizing stroke-related harm. Some of these consequences include:
When a medical professional misdiagnoses a stroke, they miss the window for effective treatment, such as the administration of clot-busting drugs. This treatment is most beneficial within the first few hours of symptom onset and can drastically reduce the extent of brain damage. Without timely treatment, patients may suffer extensive brain cell death, leading to severe neurological impairments.
These impairments can include permanent paralysis, loss of speech, cognitive deficits, and other long-term disabilities. Patients may lose their ability to perform daily activities independently, resulting in a diminished quality of life and increased dependence on others. The emotional and psychological impact on both the patient and their family can be profound, leading to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Financially, the costs associated with a stroke misdiagnosis can be overwhelming. Patients may face significant medical expenses, including long-term rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, and modifications to their living environment. The loss of income because the victim can’t work further compounds the financial strain.
An experienced misdiagnosis of stroke attorney in New Jersey will work to hold the responsible parties accountable and secure the necessary financial support for the patient’s future needs.
Determining liability for a stroke misdiagnosis involves identifying the parties whose negligence or errors contributed to the failure to correctly diagnose and treat the condition. These are some of the parties that could face liability.
Liability may primarily rest with the attending physicians or healthcare providers who first evaluated the patient. A lawyer could hold them responsible if these professionals failed to recognize stroke symptoms, didn’t conduct appropriate diagnostic tests, or misinterpreted test results. Your attorney will thoroughly review medical records and protocols to determine if the providers breached the standard of care.
Hospitals and medical institutions can also be liable if systemic issues contribute to the misdiagnosis. These include inadequate staffing, insufficient training, lack of proper diagnostic equipment, or poor communication practices within the facility. For example, the institution may be liable if a hospital’s emergency room is understaffed or its staff doesn’t have adequate training to identify stroke symptoms.
In some cases, liability can extend to radiologists or laboratory technicians who may have incorrectly interpreted diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRIs, leading to the misdiagnosis. Establishing liability often requires expert testimony to demonstrate how the misdiagnosis deviated from accepted medical standards.
A misdiagnosis of a stroke attorney in New Jersey with Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. can provide critical support and representation. We’re well-versed in medical malpractice law and understand the complexities involved in such cases. Here’s some information on what to expect from our firm.
When you turn to us, the first thing we’ll do is investigate. We’ll gather and review medical records, diagnostic test results, and other relevant documents to identify where and how the misdiagnosis occurred. The lawyer will work with medical experts to establish a clear link between the misdiagnosis and the patient’s harm.
Once we collect evidence, we’ll work to build a strong case to demonstrate negligence on the part of the healthcare providers or institutions involved. This may include showing how the failure to diagnose and treat the stroke properly resulted in significant harm, such as severe neurological impairments, prolonged recovery times, or even wrongful death.
Your Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. misdiagnosis of stroke attorney in New Jersey will also communicate and negotiate with insurance companies. We’ll work to secure a fair settlement that covers all your financial losses. Your lawyer will take the case to court if the insurer doesn’t offer a fair settlement.
Please don’t hesitate to call a Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. misdiagnosis of stroke attorney in New Jersey at (201) 588-1500 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Need Help? Contact us 24/7
Free Consultation (800) 616-2916New York & New Jersey Personal Injury & Litigation Lawyers
Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers by filling out the form below, or call us at (800) 616-2916
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partners, Jeffrey W. Varcadipane & Dawn M. Pinnisi, with more than 40 years of combined legal experience as personal injury attorneys.
January 09, 2025
When it comes to property insurance claims, insurance companies have a reputation for rejecting claims. However, it is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all reason for claim denial. In...
January 08, 2025
It is one of the many questions clients may have at the very beginning of their medical malpractice journey. The actual time needed to settle a medical malpractice claim really can be quite different...
January 08, 2025
When suing a hospital, many factors will come into play in the determination of your case. In Paramus, New Jersey, we at Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. are here to help you through these issues, usi...
December 17, 2024
Leaving the scene of an accident in NJ is a serious offense with significant legal and financial consequences. Whether you unintentionally left without exchanging information or drove away in fear af...