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Table of Contents
Stroke (cerebrovascular accident) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, though it is entirely preventable in many cases. By properly screening and diagnosing their patients, doctors are able to prescribe a variety of medications—including calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and thiazide diuretics—potential stroke victims can avoid the debilitating or deadly effects of a stroke. Unfortunately, not all physicians order the correct tests or notice the symptoms of a potential stroke victim. Tragically, diagnostic errors can lead to paralysis and death. If you or a loved one were the victim of medical malpractice, the Tampa failure to diagnose stroke lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. can help you file a claim for compensation.
How Stroke Misdiagnosis Happens
Physicians must abide by a strict standard of care when treating their patients. By violating this standard of care (such as failing to diagnose the warning signs of an impending stroke, or failing to diagnose a stroke after it happened) they breach their duty to their patients and can be held accountable in a medical malpractice claim. Examples of diagnostic negligence include the following:
- Failure to notice early warning signs and symptoms
- Failure to perform a neurological exam
- Failure to promptly perform a thrombectomy
- Failure to promptly administer tPA
- Failure to diagnose heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or atrial-fibrillation
- Failure to communicate with the patient about risk factors
- Failure to order proper tests, or failure to interpret test results
- Delayed referral of patients to neurologists other specialists
- Delayed MRI or other tests
- Failure to transfer patient to a better equipped facility
As such, the patient’s primary care doctor is not the only party capable of medical malpractice when it comes to diagnosing stroke risks, diagnosing a stroke, or providing proper treatment for a stroke victim. Potential defendants can include neurologists, neurosurgeons, ER doctors, PAs, nurses, radiologists, cardiologists, and others.
Injured by a Stroke Misdiagnosis? Reach Out for Legal Help!
The Three Most Common Types of Strokes
Treating a stroke victim quickly is vital to their outcome. The sooner a stroke victim is diagnosed and treated, the more likely they are to retain brain function and survive the event.
- Ischemic Stroke—A clot obstructs blood flow to the brain. These clots can form in the heart or brain blood vessels.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke—A blood vessel in the brain ruptures, shutting off blood flow to the brain.
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)—A TIA is often called a mini stroke because a blood clot only temporarily cuts off blood flow to the brain. TIAs are a warning sign that more serious strokes are likely to occur.
You and your staff are simply the best. Jonathan I would like to say I proud of the manner in which you conducted yourself toward my family matter. You are my mentor and someone that I look up to. . . . I will always remember you and would highly recommend you to any family and friends. We appreciate everything you did for us. Staying with us. Being patient with us. And, most importantly believing in us. Our family will forever have a feeling of gratitude for all that you have done. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for Phil Freidin. He is a powerful and kind lawyer. He has proven to me that he genuinely cares about his clients; however, he is a force to be reckoned with in the conference and court rooms. Jonathan impressed me with his professionalism and expertise! Jonathan and Lizy handled my Medical Malpractice case with skill and secured a favorable outcome! They were responsive and kept me informed throughout my process. I highly recommend them to my Family and Friends! They were not even able to take on my case, but the person who did my intake and the lawyer I spoke to were incredibly validating, kind, and helpful. I appreciated the care and time they gave me even when I did not become a client. Jonathan, Phil, and the rest of the Freidin Brown attorneys were both professional and compassionate. They were always responsive to my family and me, and they have a deep dedication to their clients. I highly recommend the great lawyers at this firm! My experience with Freidin Brown was above my expectations. Philip Freidin took my case and settlement to finish line with amazing results. I highly recommend this Law Firm. Our family was referred to Freidin Brown by another attorney who could not handle our case and from day one we felt like we were in good hands. Johnathan Freidin was always available and willing to answer any questions we had. We are extremely happy with the results of our case and would recommend this team in a heartbeat. Had the pleasure of working with Andrew this year. He was very knowledgeable, but most importantly, he asked questions and listened to truly understand MY needs. Would definitely use this team again.
Call a Tampa Failure to Diagnose Stroke Lawyer Today
Stroke victims or their families (whose injury, disability, or death is caused by a diagnostic mistake) are entitled to damages. These damages include medical expenses, lost joy of life, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and much more. Freidin Brown, P.A. has extensive experience handling stroke misdiagnosis claims, and will fight for what you are owed. Call our Tampa stroke misdiagnosis lawyer today to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Failure to Diagnose Stroke
Our firm can answer FAQs about failure to diagnose stroke cases in Tampa, including:
When does a missed stroke diagnosis become medical malpractice in Tampa?
A missed stroke becomes malpractice when a provider fails to act on symptoms or risk factors that should have triggered urgent evaluation under accepted medical standards. In Tampa emergency rooms and urgent care settings, this often turns on triage decisions and timing. A Tampa failure to diagnose stroke lawyer at Freidin Brown, P.A. evaluates whether earlier intervention would have changed the outcome.
Can I sue a Tampa hospital if their ER doctor missed my stroke signs?
Yes. Hospitals can be responsible for emergency department care, staffing decisions, and protocol enforcement. In Tampa cases involving large facilities like regional hospitals or stroke centers, liability often extends beyond the individual physician to institutional failures.
Why does local experience matter in Tampa stroke misdiagnosis claims?
Stroke care in Tampa frequently involves transfers between ERs, imaging centers, and specialty units. Understanding how care moves between facilities in Tampa helps our medical malpractice lawyers identify where breakdowns occurred and which providers are legally responsible.
Do I have a stroke misdiagnosis claim in Tampa if it happened hours or days after I was evaluated?
Delayed strokes are legally significant. The question becomes whether earlier testing, monitoring, or admission should have occurred during the initial visit. A Tampa failure to diagnose stroke attorney reviews timelines carefully because delays often determine whether brain damage was preventable.
