Understanding Stroke Malpractice

You hear a lot about medical malpractice in Florida, but the subject of stroke malpractice might be less familiar to the ears.

Stroke malpractice is a healthcare providers’ failure to prevent, diagnose, or effectively treat a stroke (as well as errors made in the course of such prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or subsequent rehabilitation and recovery).

You might think it seems like an awfully specific topic to dedicate so much discussion to, but then, you’d probably also be surprised by just how common stroke malpractice is.

Because so many of us know someone who has been affected by stroke, or someone who might be at risk for one now, we want you to understand at least a few of your fundamental rights — and doctors’ responsibilities — pursuant to Florida’s stroke malpractice laws.

When Can I Sue for Stroke Malpractice in Florida?

Patients are not experts. Rather, we all depend on our doctors to take us seriously, run the right tests, perform the necessary procedures, and make the best decisions for our health, safety, and survival.

That’s a standard of care, so it’s important that doctors proceed with caution and focus when handling high-risk situations like stroke, where the stakes are literally life or death.

Mistakes are common, and they often begin with making risky assumptions about a patient or simply failing to take their symptoms seriously.

Under Florida’s medical malpractice laws, healthcare professionals can be held liable if their negligence leads to permanent damages.  Some common errors that can lead to serious damages are:

• Failure to take a patient’s medical history
• Failure to perform tests that would have revealed warning signs for stroke
• Prescribing medications that make stroke more likely
• Failure to prescribe medications that make stroke less likely
• Failure to treat hypertension
• Failing or refusing to run tests to confirm a suspected stroke
• Missing the warning signs of a recent, active, or impending stroke
• Failure to diagnose a stroke
• Undue delay when responding to a possible stroke
• Inadequately treating a stroke
• Failing to treat a stroke altogether
• Providing inadequate post-stroke instruction to the patient
• Failure to provide follow-up care

These are only general examples. The Miami stroke malpractice lawyers at Kaire & Heffernan, LLC can help you and your family determine whether a professional or organization might have been negligent in your case.

Whom Do I Sue for Stroke Malpractice in Florida?

Often, more than one party shares in the liability for a victim’s stroke. Defendants often include:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Anesthesiologists
• Surgeons
• Emergency Room departments
• Hospitals
• Hospital administrators

Help for Victims of Stroke Malpractice in Florida

If you or someone you love suffered a stroke in Florida, and you believe the hospital, Emergency Room, physicians, or any other healthcare professionals provided insufficient or errant care, please contact the experienced Miami stroke malpractice lawyers at Kaire & Heffernan, LLC for a free consultation right away.