Suppose you went to a Michigan emergency room with symptoms of a stroke. They failed to diagnose you or took an inappropriately long time to do so, leading to further harm. When that happens, you may have a viable medical malpractice case. Stroke misdiagnosis and delayed treatment in Michigan emergency rooms are very serious issues. It can cause severe, even fatal, complications for patients who have come to the ER after a stroke.
If you or a family member has experienced this frustrating and horrible situation, you may want to hire an emergency room error lawyer. A Michigan emergency room error attorney from the firm of Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, can:
- Review your situation.
- Go over ER error laws with you.
- Explain what evidence you will need for the strongest possible claim.
- Empower you to decide for yourself what happens next.
Whether you want to file a claim immediately or pursue negotiations to quietly resolve your emergency room error case, our seasoned legal team is on the side of injured Michiganders, and so is Michigan law. If you have suffered because of a delayed or missed stroke diagnosis in a Michigan emergency room or urgent care unit, we can seek the support and resources you’re legally entitled to.
If You Were Hurt or Became Sick After a Failed ER Diagnosis, Hire an Emergency Room Error Lawyer
Emergency rooms can be busy, stressful, and disorienting places. Emergency care facilities, especially in major metro areas like Detroit and Lansing, can be overcrowded, with employees who have a lot asked of them. An overworked, frazzled ER staff is no excuse for medical malpractice and misdiagnosis, however. The executives and corporate lawyers at health systems already know better than to make caregivers work long hours on undermanned crews.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke is a serious medical event that occurs when the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is interrupted. A single stroke event can lead to long-term brain damage, permanent disability, or even death. With around 5,000 deaths every year caused by strokes in Michigan, they are not a medical event to simply wait out, so an emergency room trip is a common and appropriate response.
When you’re suffering symptoms of a stroke, the confusing and intimidating elements of an ER visit may be felt even more heavily. While being in the middle of a serious health event, like a stroke, it is entirely possible to leave the ER feeling worse than when you arrived. You might not be entirely sure why, or even what exactly happened during your visit. That’s because some of the symptoms of a stroke include:
- General confusion and disorientation
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred or incomprehensible speech
- Drooping facial features
- Arm weakness (typically in one arm only)
- Severe headache
- Numb face, arm, or other body parts on one side of the body
- Vision impairment (may be experienced in one eye or both)
What Damage Can Result From a Stroke?
Every moment counts when the human brain is starved for blood and oxygen, with a countdown to severe, irreversible brain damage essentially starting the moment the flow of blood is interrupted. A delayed or incorrect stroke diagnosis, or one that simply never occurs, can lead to lifestyle-altering disabilities. Victims can spend a lifetime undergoing physically and mentally challenging rehabilitative therapy, along with expensive medical treatments.
The potential consequences of suffering a stroke without appropriate medical intervention can include:
- Permanent destruction of brain cells
- Incontinence
- Trouble walking
- Difficulty communicating
The stakes are extremely high when someone is suffering a stroke. That’s why you deserve competent and compassionate care, not neglect and mistreatment, when you go to the ER. If you put your life in the care of an emergency room unit that failed you in your time of greatest need, you can work with an attorney to use Michigan medical malpractice laws to your advantage.
FAQs About Stroke Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment in Michigan
When Does a Stroke Misdiagnosis in an Emergency Room Constitute Medical Malpractice in Michigan?
A stroke misdiagnosis in an emergency room may constitute medical malpractice in Michigan if the misdiagnosis directly leads to patient harm and the resulting damages. For a medical malpractice claim to be successful, you must also prove these damages using legally admissible evidence, like medical records, photographs, and witness testimony.
What Are Common Reasons Why Strokes Are Misdiagnosed or Treatment Is Delayed in Michigan ERs?
Common reasons why strokes are misdiagnosed or treatment is delayed in Michigan ERs include:
- Overcrowded ER facilities
- Workers who lack the available time to personally see to each patient’s unique needs
For example, someone who is experiencing pre-stroke symptoms may report severe headache and blurry vision. An ER doctor may try to treat it with fluids and ibuprofen when the patient actually needs life-saving stroke intervention.
What Damages Can Be Recovered in a Michigan Medical Malpractice Claim Involving Stroke Misdiagnosis?
The damages that can be recovered in a Michigan medical malpractice claim involving stroke misdiagnosis depend on the unique factors of that case, such as the extent of injuries suffered and the quality of the available evidence. Medical bills are just one example of damages that are commonly recovered in a medical malpractice claim.
How Can a Lawyer Prove Negligence in a Stroke Misdiagnosis Case Against a Michigan Hospital or Emergency Physician?
A lawyer can prove negligence in a stroke misdiagnosis case against a Michigan hospital or emergency physician by collecting the strongest available evidence. Then, they can build a comprehensive legal strategy that tells their client’s story in the most compelling and legally sound way possible. The specific strategies and evidence used to accomplish this will always depend on the unique details of the case at hand.
Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC: Michigan’s Trusted Medical Malpractice Firm
If you went to an emergency room for a stroke and ended up suffering from neglect instead, you have legal options. The medical malpractice team at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, can represent you and seek justice from the caregivers who let you down. Contact our Ann Arbor offices today to set up a confidential consultation.
