Q: What claims do we have?
My family member entered the hospital after having a stroke. Half her body was weak, she felt like she was going to faint, slurred speech, dizziness, and loss of balance. The doctor ordered a CT scan of her head and stated they did not find anything. Although her signs continued, and her blood pressure increased, all they gave her was IV, because they stated she was dehydrated. They did not order an MRI, even though her signs did not go away, and the CT scan did not detect anything. They did not determine the cause of her symptoms. An MRI would have shown that a stroke occurred, and doctors would have been able to prevent the second one from occurring. Instead, they released her with high blood pressure. The readings were 179/102 and a pulse of 129. Moments later she had the second one. She was taken to Kaiser where they did an MRI and determined she had a stroke. Due to the doctor’s negligence and low standard of care she has weakness/paralysis on right side of body till this day.
A: It may be a case. Medical malpractice means that a doctor violated the standard of care. A bad outcome is not enough. Another doctor would be needed to evaluate what the doctors did. Consult with experienced attorneys.
A:
Based on the information provided, it appears that your family member may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the hospital and/or the doctor who provided her care. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to provide care that meets the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. In this case, it appears that the doctor did not order an MRI, even though the CT scan did not detect anything and your family member was showing signs of a stroke. This may have led to a delay in treatment, causing your family member to suffer further harm.
In a medical malpractice claim, your family member may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the stroke and its effects. It is recommended that you consult with a medical malpractice attorney to discuss the specifics of your case and determine the best course of action.
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