Stroke Screening

Screening for stroke risk is an essential step in preventing devastating and often life-altering outcomes. As such, healthcare providers are expected to detect and manage stroke risk factors, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and carotid artery disease, to protect their patients’ health. The failure to conduct adequate stroke screening is nonetheless common, though, and often causes grave harm. If you sustained damages because a provider failed to screen for stroke risk, you may be entitled to compensation, and you should confer with a lawyer. The experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group possess the resources needed to demonstrate liability in cases involving inadequate stroke screening, and if we represent you, we can evaluate your case and gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of obtaining a good outcome.

Stroke screening involves evaluating patients for risk factors that increase their likelihood of experiencing a stroke. Common tools for stroke screening include physical exams, blood pressure measurements, carotid artery ultrasounds, blood tests, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) to detect irregular heart rhythms. Patients with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, or a family history of stroke are prime candidates for screening. In many cases, early identification of these risks allows healthcare providers to recommend interventions like lifestyle changes, medications, or surgical procedures to reduce the likelihood of stroke. When medical professionals fail to screen for stroke risk, the consequences can be severe.

To recover compensation for injuries caused by a failure to screen for stroke risk, plaintiffs in Maryland must establish that the healthcare provider was negligent. To do so, the plaintiff must show that the provider owed a duty to the patient. The duty a healthcare provider owes a patient is to abide by the standard of care, which is the treatment a competent professional in the same practice area would provide in a similar situation. The plaintiff must then demonstrate that the provider breached this duty by failing to follow the standard of care. For example, if a patient presented with high blood pressure and a history of smoking, but the provider failed to order a carotid artery ultrasound or ECG, this could constitute a breach of duty.

The plaintiff must also prove causation by showing that the failure to screen directly led to harm. In stroke cases, this often means proving that proper screening would have revealed a treatable condition, such as carotid artery disease or atrial fibrillation, and timely intervention could have prevented the stroke. Finally, the plaintiff must establish that they suffered losses, such as medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering, due to the provider’s carelessness.

Expert testimony is essential in stroke screening cases, as an expert can testify about the standard of care, explain the diagnostic tests that should have been performed, and demonstrate how proper screening would have prevented harm.

Under Maryland law, patients harmed by a failure to screen for stroke risk may recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any ongoing care required as a result of the stroke, as well as lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages address the emotional and physical toll of a stroke, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Proper stroke screening is critical to identifying risk factors early and preventing severe harm. When healthcare providers fail to perform appropriate screenings or misinterpret results, their negligence can lead to life-altering injuries or death, and they should be held accountable for the losses they cause. If you were hurt because of a failure to screen for stroke risk, you may be entitled to compensation, and you should talk to an attorney. The trusted Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group are committed to helping victims of medical errors pursue justice, and if you engage our services, we will diligently pursue any damages available. We proudly serve clients throughout Baltimore, where our office is located. Contact us today at (410) 889-1850 or through our online form to arrange a conference.