When Medical Malpractice Contributes to Injuries of a Stroke Victim

1. THE CONSEQUENCES
OF OVERLOOKING A
STROKE
WHEN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
CONTRIBUTES TO INJURIES OF A
STROKE VICTIM

2. WHAT IS A STROKE?
Strokes occur when blood or oxygen flow is
cut off from the brain. In many cases, the
obstructed flow to the brain results in
damaged brain cells. The severity of a stroke
can range from mild to fatal, depending on
the duration/size of the blockage, the health
of the sufferer and many other factors.
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3. STROKE STATISTICS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
 Approximately 1 out of every 20 deaths is caused by a stroke.
 Every year, nearly 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke.
 Around 25% of strokes happen in people that have already had a previous stroke.
 Strokes cost the United States approximately $34 billion a year in healthcare,
medicines and lost productivity.
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4. THE ROLE OF HEALTHCARE IN PREVENTING AND TREATING STROKES
Doctors, nurses and other medical
professionals are trained to identify risk
factors of strokes. They are also trained how
to test and treat possible stroke victims.
When these professionals do their jobs, they
play a key role in preventing or minimizing
the damage of a stroke. When they fail to
offer adequate care for a potential stroke
victim, however, the results can be
catastrophic. Let’s look at a couple of ways
in which a doctor might be negligent in their
duty of care…
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5. MISTAKE #1
Failing to recognize a transient
ischemic attack, also called a mini-
stroke. While a “mini-stroke” sounds
less severe than a full-blown stroke,
the consequences can also be very
serious. A mini-stroke might also be
an indicator that a major stroke is
likely. Doctors should act accordingly
after seeing signs of a mini-stroke.
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6. SIGNS OF A STROKE
The sudden onset of:
 Numbness
 Confusion
 Slurred speech
 Vision impairment
 Walking difficulties.
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7. WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A STROKE - THE F.A.S.T. TEST
A simple protocol that anyone can use to determine whether someone has had a
stroke is referred to as F.A.S.T.
Face. Ask a person to smile to help you determine whether one side of their face is drooping.
Arms. Have someone raise their arms to see if they have equal control over both limbs.
Speech. Ask the person to repeat a phrase to see if their speech might be slurred.
Time. If any of these first three signs are suspected, call 911 immediately.
F
A
S
T
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8. DON’T EXPECT DOCTORS TO ADMIT THEIR ERRORS
You might suspect that a doctor or hospital
staff didn’t act quickly enough to prevent
further complications of a stroke, but don’t
expect those professionals to admit their
mistake. Doctors are typically not eager to
admit that they were negligent in the care
they offered a patient.
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9. OPTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
If you believe that you or a loved one was
the victim of medical negligence, you should
consult an attorney as quickly as possible.
Attorneys will investigate your case to
determine whether a doctor was negligent
and whether it constitutes medical
malpractice. At Cirignani Heller & Harman,
our practice is focused on getting
compensation for clients who have been
harmed by medical malpractice.
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10. CONTACT CHH TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR LEGAL OPTIONS
To learn more about pursuing a medical malpractice claim, contact
Cirignani Heller & Harman by filling out our online contact form or
calling us at 312-346-8700. Our team has the experience and skill to
get you the compensation you deserve.
https://www.chhlaw.com/
CALL TODAY: 312-346-8700