Cross-section of brain affected by stroke. (Photo credit: Marvin 101/WikimediaCommons)
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), more commonly known as a stroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is restricted, resulting in brain cell death. Strokes are sometimes fatal, and often result in permanent disabilities. In Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke every seven minutes, and in 2008 cardiovascular disease accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in the country.
Fatal strokes, though, are on the decline; Canadians now enjoy an 83 per cent survival rate. But a higher survival rate means more Canadians are battling through a long, often painful recovery process, which could result in more medical malpractice claims. A study recently published in Stroke medical journal found that 405,000 Canadian survivors are now living with stroke-induced disabilities. If this number seems staggering, the study offers little room for optimism. By 2038, between 654,000 and 726,000 Canadians are projected to be living with long-term stroke disabilities, an 80 per cent increase caused by a growing and aging population, in addition to improvements in quality of care.
“The good news is that we’re creating more survivors, thanks to tremendous progress in care,” said David Sculthorpe, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, in a release. “But we need to do even more to keep up with the growing threat of stroke including raising awareness of the signs of stroke and improving prevention and care.”
Although preventative measures and post-stroke treatment have improved greatly in recent years, medical malpractice or negligence can compound the already severe impacts of a stroke.
“The increasing prevalence of stroke in Ontario means that we need smart investment in rehabilitation and recovery services across the province to ensure people regain their lives,” said Executive Director of the Ontario Stroke Network, Chris O’Callaghan.
Many strokes are unpreventable, but conditions like high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), and carotid artery disease or sepsis (narrowing of the carotid artery) are all good indicators of a patient at risk. If these conditions are properly diagnosed, treatment and medication can substantially reduce stroke risk. For instance, if a patient is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, anticoagulants can diminish the chances of a stroke occurring. Similarly, medication or surgery can help reduce stroke risk for patients diagnosed with carotid artery disease.
Even when a stroke occurs, timely treatment can mitigate the damage it causes. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be used to breakdown blood clots and help restore blood flow to the effected region of the brain, but can only be administered in the first hours following the stroke.
The timely administration of appropriate treatment and medication can help save a stroke victim’s life and reduce the damaging impact a stroke can have on the body and brain. In some cases, the failure to diagnose or properly treat a stroke can be considered medical malpractice or negligence.
If you or a member of your family has suffered a stroke and feel that you have not received an acceptable level of medical care, contact a medical malpractice lawyer at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today. Call 1-844-920-4242 to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.
Greg Neinstein
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