How Possible Is It to Diagnose a Potential Stroke Victim?

How Possible Is It to Diagnose a Potential Stroke Victim?

Mike Fuller has filed a complaint against Southwestern Illinois Health Facilities, Inc. doing business as Anderson Hospital Urgent Care. The complaint alleges that due to the facilities’ negligence, Fuller suffered a stroke that left him unable to move his limbs, accrued staggering medical expenses, and caused him pain and suffering. According to the complaint, agents of the company allegedly failed to examine Fuller’s carotid arteries and failed to order imaging for a “diabetic, hypertensive, former smoker who was later documented to have significant coronary artery disease.” When cases like this come along, there are significant factors to consider. Fuller’s past behavior and history certainly should have been indicative of a potential problem, but Southwestern Illinois Health Facilities has the resources to argue any motion and counter any case that Fuller can argue.

Know the risk factors

Strokes are the number 4 killer of people in Ohio, and the number 5 killer of people in Kentucky. Any of the following lifestyle factors automatically put you in a higher risk category of suffering a stroke; smoking, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, high cholesterol, poor weight management, or drug use. If you have any of these lifestyle factors, you should know the signs and symptoms of stroke. The faster you are treated for a stroke, the better your chances of a full recovery. The symptoms of a stroke include:

• • Sudden weakness or numbness, especially in one side of your body

• • Sudden loss of vision or problems seeing

• • Sudden confusion, inability to speak or understand others

• • Sudden dizziness and lack of coordination

• • Sudden severe headache

Failure to diagnose cases are rarely a straightforward. In the case of a stroke, the waters may be even muddier. Strokes are preventable, mostly through healthy living, and they are treatable within a reasonable time frame. While there is no guaranteed test of who will or will not suffer a stroke, there are certain indicators that a patient may be in a high-risk category. Failure to monitor people exhibiting those risks may increase their chances of having a stroke, and could be construed as medical malpractice depending on the circumstances. If you or someone you know has suffered a stroke while under medical care, our experienced medical malpractice attorneys are here to help. Our skilled legal staff and registered nurses work together for you. Please contact Crandall & Pera Law to reserve a consultation in one of our offices throughout Ohio and Kentucky.