Atlanta Stroke Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you or someone you love suffered because of medical malpractice leading to a stroke, an Atlanta lawyer could help you recover compensation. While financial compensation cannot undo the malpractice you suffered, it could allow you to address past, current, and future financial needs that have arisen because of a medical provider’s carelessness. A team of attorneys stands ready to help you through this difficult time.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Strokes
The most common signs and symptoms for strokes are facial drooping, weakness or numbness in an arm, and slurred speech. Other signs are sudden numbness or weakness not just on victims’ arms, but on their faces or their legs. It is mostly contained to one side. They could have sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, sudden vision problems, and sudden mobility issues. A stroke may present as a really bad headache without a known cause.
After noticing these symptoms, people should immediately call 911 and get themselves to a hospital as soon as possible.
Similar Symptoms and Illnesses
There are some other illnesses that have similar symptoms. Any kind of seizure disorder could have some similar signs or symptoms. Migraines, severe headaches, may have similar symptoms and sometimes cause some vision problems. Irregular blood sugars could mimic some of the signs and symptoms. There are certain severe infections like sepsis in which the body goes out of control fighting an infection that could have similar signs or symptoms, as well.
Steps Medical Professional Should Take When Diagnosing
The steps a medical professional should take in diagnosing these symptoms include doing a thorough and prompt history in physical and a very prompt running of tests. For stroke cases and diagnosing them, medical professionals have to determine what type of stroke the person is having. There are two different types of strokes: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked or restricted by a blood clot or narrowed arteries. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and blood leaks into the brain. The steps taken to diagnose and determine what kind of stroke someone is having help determine the treatment that the patient could have to reverse the stroke and to minimize the damages from the stroke.
The kinds of tests performed to diagnose strokes involve a lot of imaging to look at the brain, like a CT of the head to see if there is a blood clot or bleeding in the brain, and MRIs or magnetic resonance imaging of the head to assess for brain damage. Other tests include a blood test, an electric cardiogram of the heart to see if there is any clotting, carotid ultrasounds, and cerebral angiograms.
Treating Strokes
Fortunately, strokes are treatable. Treatment needs to happen quickly, which why it is important that if victims feel like they are having those symptoms, they call 911 and get to a hospital immediately. It is important that medical professionals treat them promptly and quickly.
To treat an ischemic stroke, the doctors have to quickly restore blood flow to the brain. Much of this treatment is done with clot-busting drugs. They have to be done within a certain amount of time. There is a three-hour to a four-and-a-half-hour window that if the drugs are given to break up the clot, it improves the chances of survival and reduces the damages and the complications. IV injection or TPA is the gold standard for treating ischemic strokes. It helps restore by getting rid of the clot causing the stroke. An alternative to TPA, doctors treat the patient with procedures directly inside the blocked vessel to break up the clot.
For a hemorrhagic stroke, the focus is on controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure on the brain. If the patient is on drug thinners, drugs are given to counteract the effects of the blood thinning medication. Drugs are given to lower the pressure in the brain and to lower blood pressure overall all. Surgery could be done as a treatment to repair any blood vessel abnormalities the person has. Once the treatments are done to deal with the emergent situation, the focus is on therapies and rehabilitation to help the person recover function, resume his or her activities of daily living, and be able to care of himself or herself.
Recoverable Losses for Atlanta Stroke Medical Malpractice Cases
The types of damages involved in stroke medical malpractice cases are pain and suffering. Much of the time stroke cases that are not dealt with promptly and involve wrongful death damages, which is pain and suffering immediately preceding the death. There may be conscious pain and suffering. There is the full value of the life of the deceased. There are damages for recovery for medical and funeral bills, burial costs, and the loss of that person’s income to the family and to the survivors.
A lot of times when stroke cases do not lead to death, they lead to significant impairment of the individual. Had victims received more timely treatment, they may not have been as impaired. A lot of times there are people who have significant degrees of paralysis, which is going to require them to need medical care and significant therapy and rehabilitation. Those causes could be recovered. The pain and suffering and the loss of wages from their inability to work are some of the different damages seen in stroke cases.
For victims of strokes caused by medical malpractice in Atlanta, lawyers could be of help. A team of lawyers could rely on both the expert testimony of an in-house medical professional and use cutting-edge technology in court or settlement talks to fight for victims’ compensation.
Speak Directly to an Attorney
If someone you loved recently suffered a stroke, an Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer could help him or her recover compensation for his or her losses. While a lawsuit may seem like extra stress, these cases more often than not settle and could leave you feeling more relieved knowing the responsible parties have been held accountable. Reach out today to talk to a compassionate, client-centered attorney who takes calls after hours and for your free case review.
