When blood flow to the brain is somehow stopped, a stroke often results. Clots or burst blood vessels can deprive the brain of blood and, subsequently, the oxygen needed by the cells. The health consequences to patients here in Michigan and elsewhere can be devastating, if not lethal. The care given to a patient under these circumstances can make all the difference, and when medical negligence occurs, the patient is the one who suffers.
As is often the case with other medical conditions, the importance of making the correct diagnosis cannot be stressed enough. A correct and swift diagnosis can get a patient the treatment needed in order to prevent — or at least minimize — any damage. When a doctor fails to recognize the symptoms as those of a stroke, the wrong course of treatment can delay the proper course of treatment and, consequently, make matters worse.
Strokes can also be directly caused by the action — or inaction — of medical personnel. Anticoagulant medications are often prescribed for patients suffering from heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation, which is a condition characterized by an irregular and rapid heart rate. If these drugs are administered when conditions appear right for an individual to have a stroke, it might be prevented. Some individuals have strokes during surgical procedures when they are not properly monitored and their blood pressure drops to dangerous levels.
In many of the cases involving medical negligence, the standard of care received by patients failed to meet applicable standards. If you suffered a stroke, or a member of your family died from one, and you believe that it could have been prevented with proper medical care, contact a Michigan attorney who can help you determine whether a medical malpractice claim is appropriate. Doctors and surgeons may be held accountable when they fail their patients.