Minutes matter when New Yorkers are suffering a stroke. However, negligent doctors sometimes miss the symptoms and do not diagnose the patient in enough time to give them effective treatment. Some may not be using the proper diagnostic techniques and could be relying on overly simplistic tests that have been in use for decades.
Doctors look at more factors for stroke now
There are subtle signs of stroke that are not included in many of the “major” tests that a diagnosing doctor will use. Doctors will focus on the “FAST” symptoms. This acronym stands for face, arm, speech, time. This is the way that they make the quickest determination. Quick does not always mean accurate, and there are times when they prematurely rule out a stroke. There are other symptoms such as weakness in the face, numbness and dizziness that are also indicators of a stroke. Doctors need to branch out beyond what they were taught in medical school to consider other possible symptoms.
You could file a medical malpractice lawsuit
If a doctor fails to diagnose your condition in a reasonable amount of time, and you have been injured, you could sue them for medical malpractice. While a failure to diagnose is not automatically negligence, it can be when you can prove that the doctor did not act as a reasonable doctor would under the circumstances. If doctors are now broadening beyond the FAST test, your doctor should have too.
If you or a loved one have been injured by a careless doctor, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation in a medical malpractice case. These are not always the easiest lawsuits, so you need an experienced attorney with a background in these types of cases. Your attorney could investigate the care that you received to see if it was reasonable.