Did you know that strokes are one of the leading causes of deaths and disabilities
in adults in the U.S.? According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), approximately
800,000 people have strokes every year. While some people go on to live healthy lives following a stroke, many
others are left to suffer permanent damage and, in some cases, death.
What Are Some of the Disabling Effects of a Stroke?
The following are typical permanent effects caused by strokes:
-
Brain damage. When a stroke occurs, the oxygen and blood supply to the brain is interrupted,
causing brain cells to die off. Consequently, many stroke survivors suffer
brain injuries that cause short-term memory problems. Although long-term
memory is usually unaffected, learning new information and retaining it
can be difficult or impossible. -
Cognitive impairments. Survivors of strokes often experience difficulty with thought processing
and problem-solving, resulting in some patients becoming overly impulsive.
Stroke survivors may also suffer from confusion and problems concentrating. -
Movement difficulties. A stroke often affects the way muscles work due to brain damage that prevents
signals from traveling from the brain to the muscles. As a result, some
people suffer from movement and balance issues due to muscle weakness,
stiffness, or loss of muscle control. Sadly, some people with muscle weakness
following a stroke may even suffer permanent paralysis. -
Vision problems. Following a stroke, many people suffer from vision changes. This can be
a result of brain damage. Unfortunately, many stroke survivors suffer
partial or even complete blindness. -
Communication impairments. Speech and language disorders are common in stroke survivors. This can
include difficulty understanding someone else, an inability to speak or
choose the correct words, and difficulty reading and writing. When someone
suffers this impairment, life forever changes because communication in
all of its forms are affected. This effect can change relationships, causing
difficulties in marriages and frustration from family members. In addition,
the victim may not be able to continue working, causing financial difficulties.
When Medical Negligence Occurs
The sad fact is that some deaths and disabilities suffered by stroke victims
could have been prevented if doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals
weren’t negligent in their actions. Whether emergency rooms are
poorly staffed, medical staff aren’t trained properly, or doctors
are in a hurry and aren’t thorough with their examinations, life-threatening
symptoms can be missed or misdiagnosed.
Consequently, some patients may get sent home from the doctor’s office
or hospital without a diagnosis, and some people may receive the wrong
diagnosis. In either event, treatment that could help prevent the disabling
and life-threatening effects of a stroke is delayed. When medications
aren’t administered in a certain window of time, the effects of
a stroke can be devastating.
If your physician overlooked the warning signs of a stroke, or if you believe
another medical professional was negligent in diagnosing and treating
you and you suffered the disabling effects of a stroke, you may have a
medical malpractice lawsuit on your hands. To find out more about your
rights under the law, please request a free copy of our book,
What You Need to Know Before Pursuing a Medical Malpractice Case. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone
and give our law firm a call at 703-634-7350.