Your Guide to Medical Negligence Claims for Stroke

A stroke episode can cause blood and oxygen loss in the brain. Even when it is promptly diagnosed and treated, its effects can be devastating. When medical practitioners fail to identify the warning signs, there can be life-altering and and even fatal consequences. If you or your loved one have been a victim ofmedical negligence in this regard, you may be entitled to a claim for stroke compensation.

What is a Stroke?

Stroke happens when there is restriction of blood supply to a part of the brain. This causes the shortage of glucose and oxygen in the brain, which is necessary to keep the tissues alive. Warnings signs of stroke may include:

• Slurred speech – The person may not be able to talk at all

• Facial weakness – The person may be unable to smile, or their eye or mouth may appear dropped

• Numbness of limbs, especially on one side of the body –The person may be unable to lift both arms due to numbness in one arm.

• Sudden and severe headaches

• Confusion

The longer the interruption of blood supply to the brain, the more likely the risk of brain injury, disability, or even death. This makes it critical for medical professionals to promptly recognize stroke, or the potential of a stroke.

What is Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)?

Transient Ischaemic attack is the brief or temporary interruption of blood supply to a part of the brain, causing symptoms similar to stroke. These symptoms are completely resolved within 24 hours, usually with no brain damage. Medical professionals must act quickly to manage TIA as it is typically a warning sign of a full-blown stroke.

What is Stroke Negligence?

Stroke negligence describes a situation where a medical professional misdiagnoses a patient’s stroke condition, OR when the medical care a patient receives is incorrect or inadequate and has caused the patient further injury or illness. Stroke negligence may include:

• Poor medical care after hospital admission

• Lack of specialist support

• Poor monitoring of patients on medication

• Delayed paramedic support following ambulance request

How Should Medical Professionals Respond to Stroke?

Upon admission at the hospital, a medical professional should send you for a CT scan and blood test for glucose and other important markers. This is to determine the cause of the stroke you have suffered, the type and the treatment required. An ultrasound test or an additional complex scanning may also be required to check if there are blockages in the main arteries of the neck supplying blood to your brain.

An operation may be required if your stroke was as a result of blockage in one of the neck’s arteries. If stroke is not immediately established and a medical professional suspects stroke or transient Ischaemic attack (TIA), diagnosis must be conducted very quickly with a tool called ROSIER (recognition of stroke in the emergency room). According to the NICE Guidelines, this should be done via a scoring system.

Medical professionals should immediately administer aspirin to people with suspected TIA with the risk of a full-blown stroke, if the professional believes this course of action would not be wrong for the patient. If you call an ambulance and the members of crew believe you have had a stroke, they must take you to the nearest hospital where thrombolysis can be conducted. As standard practice, the ambulance crew should inform the hospital ahead of their arrival. This will make it possible for the hospital to get the Accident & Emergency room and medical professionals ready without any further delay.

Do I Have a Stroke Medical Negligence Claim?

Time is crucial when a patient has suffered a stroke, especially if this is from a blood clot. Failure to promptly manage the stroke, there could be extensive damage to the brain, leading to a permanent and severe disability. For instance, the patient may suffer reduced cognitive functioning, loss of movement, loss of speech, loss of vision and muscle paralysis on one side of the body.

If a healthcare provider has failed to fulfill their duty of care towards you and this has led to a stroke or worsened your condition, you may be entitled to a stroke compensation claim.

How Can a Stroke Negligence Claims Help You?

A successful stroke medical negligence claim can cover the cost of rehabilitation and care you need while dealing with the complications associated with stroke. It can also support the ongoing expenses needed to sustain you while you are out of work due to stroke. To a reasonable degree, stroke settlements can compensate for the pain and suffering caused as a result of the negligent management of the stroke. Contact our stroke misdiagnosis claims solicitors and make a valid claim.

Usually, you have a three-year window to make a medical negligence compensation claim, starting from either the date you suffered the negligent treatment or the date you became aware that your illness or injury was due to the negligent stroke management.

Can I Make a No Win No Fee Stroke Negligence Claim?

The vast majority of medical negligence cases handled by Medical Negligence Direct are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that you do not incur any financial risk when making a claim for compensation.

When you get in touch with us, an expert from one of our panel of specialist solicitors will discuss the funding options available to you. If we believe your claim is best funded via a No Win No Fee Medical Negligence, we will provide a detailed explanation of the process. A No Win No Fee funding arrangement gives every potential claimant a level playing ground; so, even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay us a penny.

How Can We Help?

At Medical Negligence Direct, our goal is to assist victims of medical negligence, including those who have suffered stroke as a result of negligent treatment. Our friendly medical negligence solicitors will conduct an extensive review of your case, and, if we believe you have a valid claim, we will get in touch with those liable for the injury you have suffered.

If they accept responsibility for the injury, we will negotiate a compensation award on your behalf. You can rest assured we will provide you with the best legal advice on the steps you should take to a successful claim.

If you suspect you have been a victim of stroke negligence, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. Medical negligence claims can take several months and even years to process. However, we will try to negotiate an out of court settlement to ensure the process concludes as quickly as possible. Where liability is established, we can also make a request for an interim compensation to be made so you can access medical care to aid your recovery.