A stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked, thereby depriving the brain of oxygen–filled red blood cells causing brain cells to die. Health care providers are trained to recognize the symptoms of a stroke such as dizziness, radiating head or other pain, numbness, breathlessness and anxiety. When patients present to health care providers with symptoms suggestive of a stroke, the standard of care calls for these doctors to perform certain tests such as EEGs, EKGs, MRIs, MRAs and CT scans to rule out a stroke as the potential cause of those symptoms. Sadly, in many instances, physicians misdiagnose a developing stroke as a more benign process such as a headache, migraine or other condition. In today's world, given the availability of numerous drugs and surgical procedures that can minimize the risk of permanent neurological injury, prompt diagnosis is essential for stroke victims. Failure to do so, places a patient at great risk for catastrophic injury or even death.

At STSW, we routinely and successfully handle cases in which our clients have sustained serious neurological injuries and/or died as a result of a failure to timely diagnose a stroke. If you or a loved one believes that you have been the victim of medical negligence arising out of a physician's (including emergency room physicians) failure to timely diagnose you with a stroke, call the lawyers at STSW for a free consultation.