Did A Doctor Fail To Diagnose Your Transient Ischaemic Attack?
If doctors failed to diagnose your transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and you went on to have a stroke, you could be entitled to pursue compensation for the pain and suffering this has caused.
TIAs: the early warning sign of a stroke
A transient ischaemic attack is when the blood supply to the brain is temporarily blocked, starving the brain of oxygen. This is exactly the same as a stroke, only a TIA does not last for so long, so the extent of damage is not so great. Ordinarily the side-effects of a TIA resolve within 24 hours.
However, someone who suffers a TIA is very likely to have another one, or even have a full stroke. Therefore it is very important a TIA is not ignored – just because the symptoms have resolved does not mean the problem has gone away.
Doctors must be sure to recognise a patient who has had a TIA (often referred to as a mini-stroke) and provide treatment to prevent further complications occurring. This will include administering medication and advising upon lifestyle changes. In some patients surgery will be required.
Missed transient ischaemic attacks
But unfortunately not all medical professionals manage to diagnose a TIA, despite the fact a patient has sought medical attention for their symptoms. This is because a TIA is often over within a matter of minutes, so doctors will not usually be present when it happens.
Nevertheless, all medical practitioners will be very aware of the signs associated with a mini-stroke and should recognise the condition merely from a patient's description of their symptoms.
If it sounds like a patient has had a TIA, a doctor should proceed to perform a neurological examination. If there is still a suspicion that a mini-stroke has occurred, no time should be wasted in referring a patient to a specialist.
However, not all doctors meet this standard of care and thus fail to diagnose a TIA. This can have disastrous consequences, as someone who has had a TIA has a one in 10 chance of suffering a full stroke within four weeks, if treatment is not provided.
Claim compensation for your stroke
If your TIA was not diagnosed and you subsequently suffered a full stroke, you will be considered the victim of medical negligence. This means you were let down by medical incompetence, for which you deserve to be compensated. To talk to a solicitor about pursuing legal action for a missed TIA, get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors today.
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