QUESTION
Do I have a case against my hospital?
Asked on Nov 30th, 2013 on Medical Malpractice - New York
More details to this question:
I suffered two strokes in May of this year. The hospital I was taken to did not believe I was having a stroke, they thought I was having a panic attack. Even after my left side was completely useless and my face drooping. They kept me at this hospital overnight and instead of doing anything for me they gave me halidol to calm me down. Because of this I missed the three hour window to use the clot busting drug, and I now have no feeling in my right side. I also lost my swallow for several months and had a feeding tube. The doctor that came in the following day asked why I was still at this hospital and not Albany Medical center which deals with strokes in the capital region and sent me there asap.
1 ANSWER
This appears to be a meritorious case worthy of further investigation. Most hospitals will have strict protocols for treating patients with possible stroke symptoms. Other protocols are established by the Joint Commission that accredits hospitals. These require that possible stroke patients to be worked up under the presumption that they are having a stroke so that critical time windows such the 3 hour window for administering tPa are not missed. Many other treatments are also available to help stroke patients, including simply giving them aspirin or another anti-coagulant to thin their blood. One of the critical issues in your case will be what kind of stroke you suffered, a clot or a bleed, and whether faster treatment could have improved your outcome. I would contact an attorney to further discuss your case.
Nick Deets
HOVDE DASSOW + DEETS, LLC
Meridian Tower| 201 W. 103rd Street
Suite 500| Indianapolis, IN 46290
Telephone: (317) 818-3100| Facsimile: (317) 818-3111
Email: ndeets@hovdelaw.com
Website: www.hovdelaw.com
Answered on Dec 01st, 2013 at 11:48 AM