When you report health issues to a physician, it is then that physician’s job to order the tests and perform the analysis that would be needed to diagnose your condition reasonably promptly and accurately. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. If you or your loved one has been harmed because of a doctor’s failure to diagnose a stroke, you should not hesitate to hold that doctor responsible. At the Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys have the skill and dedication to handle your case. We will make every effort to secure compensation for the medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages that you may have sustained.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted because of a blockage or leakage. According to some estimates, someone somewhere in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. The American Stroke Association reports that strokes afflict about half a million people each year, killing about one-third of them and disabling another 200,000. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health shows that about 10 to 20 percent of strokes are fatal, but even non-fatal stokes may lead to serious and long-term disabilities.
Physicians should be attentive to warning signs or symptoms of a stroke. Prompt treatment may be vital in saving lives and preventing long-term harm. If you have been affected because a physician failed to diagnose your stroke in a timely manner, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against that physician. Under Maryland law, a doctor may be held liable for malpractice when they deviate from the standard of care that a competent physician in the same speciality would have followed in the same or similar circumstances. For example, if a physician failed to test for or diagnose a stroke because they did not properly analyze the medical history of a patient, this likely would provide grounds for legal action.
If a failure to diagnose a stroke led to your loved one’s death, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault physician. These claims are similar to ordinary personal injury claims in the elements that must be proven. Different types of damages may be available, such as loss of consortium and companionship in addition to funeral and burial expenses.
You should be aware that you only have a certain amount of time to file a medical malpractice claim, as provided by the Maryland statute of limitations for these cases. Failing to file within this time frame could mean losing your legal right to compensation altogether. Thus, you should consult an attorney as soon as you think that any type of negligence may have occurred.
If you or someone close to you has been harmed because of a health care provider’s failure to diagnose a stroke, you may be entitled to compensation. The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at the Arfaa Law Group are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for their misconduct. We can investigate the facts of your case and provide you with an honest and thorough assessment of your claim. We represent patients and other injured individuals throughout the state of Maryland. Call 410-889-1850 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with an injury attorney.