Misdiagnosis of Stroke
Suffering a stroke is often a devastating experience for the patient, and an untreated stroke can result in permanent damage that would otherwise have been entirely preventable. In a shocking number of cases, 14% by some research, patients under the age of 45 experience strokes which are misdiagnosed as another condition, resulting in a lack of proper treatment and potential future complications.
Many doctors fail to correctly identify a stroke in younger patients, and instead attribute the presence of their symptoms to lesser problems like migraines, or an inner-ear disorder. An otherwise healthy individual can still suffer a stroke in certain situations, and their risk for a second stroke increases dramatically should the initial incident go undiagnosed.
Symptoms of Stroke
While your symptoms may be mild or severe, experiencing the following may be an indication that you have suffered a stroke:
- Numbness limited to one side of your body
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty with speech
- Sudden disorientation and lack of coordination
It is essential that you seek immediate medical attention if experiencing these symptoms, and be sure to explore the possibility of stroke with your doctor even if you are a younger and generally healthy individual.
Contact Us
The toll exacted upon a patient who suffers from a misdiagnosed stroke can be extreme, and it is your doctor’s responsibility to avoid such a critical error. If your doctor failed to correctly diagnose your stroke symptoms, contact the experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., by calling 610-667-7511 to arrange for a consultation to discuss the details of your case.