Attorneys Helping Victims & Families of Stroke Misdiagnosis in Maryland
Strokes can happen to anyone at any time. If you have suffered a stroke that you believe could have been prevented, if you were a victim of a misdiagnosis, or if a doctor failed to treat you properly once a stroke occurred, we can help. At Cardaro & Peek, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys understand the nuances of this area of law. They can advocate for the compensation you need to move on with your life. Medical malpractice cases involving a stroke can be challenging, and having the right attorney on your side can make a critical difference in your case.
Holding a Professional Accountable for Inadequate Diagnosis or Treatment of Stroke
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Stroke Center, strokes affect 795,000 people yearly, killing about 150,000 people and injuring even more. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health shows that about 10 to 20 percent of strokes are fatal, but even nonfatal strokes can lead to serious and long-term disabilities. Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the country.
A stroke occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted due to a blockage or leakage. Put another way, and a stroke interferes with the normal blood flow circulation to the brain. A clot or hemorrhagic process can disrupt circulation. An ischemic stroke (in which there is a lack of blood flow to the brain) is the most common type of stroke, accounting for seven out of eight strokes.
Patients with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are at a higher risk for stroke than patients who do not have these conditions. In some cases, a physician can be liable for malpractice if they fail to diagnose the possibility of a stroke by conducting proper tests to recognize blockage by blood clots. Once a stroke occurs, there is a short window for treatment. Rapid treatment is essential to saving lives and preventing long-term harm. Malpractice claims often arise because medical professionals fail to diagnose a stroke properly.
Medical professionals are trained to identify the signs and symptoms of a stroke quickly. In Maryland, medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional deviates from the standard of care that another physician in the same specialty would have met in similar circumstances, causing injuries or death to a patient. For example, if a doctor fails to prescribe anti-coagulation medication to someone with atrial fibrillation or similar stroke indicators, the doctor would likely be liable for malpractice. Once an injury attorney can establish malpractice, the plaintiff may be able to recover financial compensation for their harm.
Under the Maryland Healthcare Malpractice Claims Statute, medical malpractice victims in Maryland who wish to file a claim in court must first submit their claim to the Director of the Maryland Health Claims Arbitration Office. Their attorney will then have 90 days to file a certificate of merit written by a qualified medical expert. In this document, the qualified medical expert states that they believe the defendant's medical professional deviated from the appropriate standard of care. That deviation was the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. This requirement helps ensure that cases are meritorious.
Contact a Baltimore Attorney to Discuss Your Medical Malpractice Case
If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to a misdiagnosis or improper treatment of a stroke, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Cardaro & Peek, our attorneys have the skills and experience to establish malpractice. We take great pride in providing personalized and detailed representation at every step. We represent people in cities such as Baltimore, Dundalk, Essex, Pikesville, Catonsville, Towson, Woodlawn, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Laurel, Arbutus, Silver Springs, and other areas of Baltimore, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel Counties.