Stroke Misdiagnosis and Lack of Cancer Treatment Left Man Blind, Unable to Walk

Emily is a Carolina injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

12/22/2010
Emily Mapp Brannon
Comments (0)

Stroke Misdiagnosis and Lack of Cancer Treatment Left Man Blind, Unable to Walk

A man who suffered a series of strokes and went a long time without being treated for a spreading cancer has won a nearly $2 million verdict against the hospital where he was misdiagnosed and incorrectly cared for. A civil trial jury in Worcester, Massachusetts (MA), found on December 14, 2010, that St. Vincent Hospital owed the man and his family compensation for negligence that left him blind and confined to a bed or wheelchair.

While welcoming the verdict, the man's wife told a news reporter, "no amount of money will cure her husband, who is unable to live at home."

Misdiagnosing a stroke or conditions such as blocked arteries, persistent high blood pressure or deep-vein thrombosis that can lead to a stroke can cause a patient to die or suffer permanent disability. While the signs of a stroke, such as numbness or paralysis, double or blurred vision, confusion, severe headache and slurred speech are pretty clear, emergency room doctors and nurses can miss them or ascribe them to other causes such as infections or dehydration.

The deadly consequence of leaving cancer undetected and untreated are also dire.

No health care provider ever intentionally makes a mistake when treating a patient. But mistakes do occur in hospitals, clinics, operating rooms and physicians' and dentists' offices. Those medical errors happen due to negligence, poor training, inadequate procedures and numerous other reasons. When patients suffer or die because of medical mistakes, they and their families must be able to trust the courts to see that justice is done and those responsible are held accountable. I applaud the Massachusetts jury for making sure that happened in this case.

EJL

Category: Medical Malpractice/Doctor Mistakes

Labels: blind cancer death diagnosis doctor Emily Mapp Brannon errors hospital loss of life MA misdiagnosis mistake negligence nurse stroke surgery wheelchair

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and we have been named one of the Best Injury Law Firms in North Carolina for personal injury law since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, we have been listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips From Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers and the Top 5 Surgical Errors You Must Know About.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail and so we can return your call promptly.

Elizabeth City, NC Personal Injury Attorneys
North Carolina (NC) Personal Injury Lawyers
Specializing in North Carolina Wrongful Death & Injury Law

There are no comments.

Search Our Site

Get help Now!

Practice Areas

Stroke Misdiagnosis and Lack of Cancer Treatment Left Man Blind, Unable to Walk

Post a comment