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New Orleans Delayed Stroke Treatment Lawyers – Private Caretakers
Holding private caregivers liable for medical neglect in Louisiana since 1993
A stroke can strike a person of any age – not just the elderly. People in New Orleans who eat too much, exercise too little, smoke, or have other health problems are at risk of a stroke. Home-health aides, adult care centers, non-residential health agencies, and other private caretakers need to know the signs of a stroke and arrange for immediate medical transport to a hospital. Prompt stroke care can save lives and reduce the risk of severe disabilities.
At Garcia & Artigliere, our New Orleans delayed stroke treatment lawyers understand when caretakers owe a duty to the people they care to provide stroke prevention care and what steps they should take. We understand when private caretakers should have physicians on staff and when, at a minimum, they should immediately contact the patient’s family physician and 911. Our elder abuse and neglect lawyers have helped thousands of older and younger people in New Orleans and nationwide obtain strong recoveries for negligent personal care.
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How can we help?
- What is a stroke?
- What symptoms of strokes should private caretakers in New Orleans understand?
- What is tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)?
- When can a private caretaker be held responsible for stroke treatment delays?
- What is the value of a case for delayed stroke care in Louisiana?
- Do you have a delayed stroke treatment lawyer near me?
What is a stroke?
Tulane University School of Medicine defines a stroke as occurring when the supply of blood to the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. The most common type of stroke, accounting for more than 80 percent of strokes, is an ischemic stroke which occurs when a blood vessel is blocked. A second type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke which happens when bleeding into or around the brain occurs. High blood pressure can cause an intracerebral hemorrhage stroke. A ruptured aneurysm can cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage stroke.
Another type of stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIAs) which is generally a mini-stroke that is a warning that a more serious stroke is likely.
Private caretakers need to obtain fast emergency care so the person in their care can receive life-saving drugs that can dissolve clots and help patients avoid long-term disabilities such as cognitive impairment and paralysis.
What symptoms of strokes should private caretakers in New Orleans understand?
Private caretakers in New Orleans should be trained to understand the signs of a stroke or a TIA. Common stroke symptoms, according to the NIH, include sudden:
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Severe headaches
- Confusion
- Numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the patient’s body
- Vision difficulties in one or both eyes
- Mobility problems including difficulty walking and maintaining one’s balance
- Dizziness
The NIH recommends that private caretakers in New Orleans use the “FAST” test to quickly review the need to call for emergency medical help:
- F(ace). If the patient’s face droops on one side after being asked to smile, that’s a stroke symptom.
- A(rms). If the patient can’t keep both arms raised, that’s a stroke symptom.
- S(peech). If the patient has difficulty speaking or listening, that’s a stroke symptom.
- T(ime). If the above symptoms are present, then the private caretaker should take the time to call 9-1-1 immediately. Early treatment is critical.
Complications from delays in treating strokes include blood clots, brain swelling, weak muscles, mobility problems, bowel and bladder difficulties, vision loss, hearing loss, loss of touch, loss of bone strength, communication problems, difficulty swallowing, and pneumonia.
What is tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)?
The clot-busting medication tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) is an FDA-approved medication for treating acute ischemic strokes. The medication should be administered within three hours of the stroke (4.5 hours in some cases). Prompt delivery of tPA to the bloodstream “helps to restore blood flow to brain regions affected by a stroke, thereby limiting the risk of damage and functional impairment.”
If tPA is not administered promptly, a person in the care of a private New Orleans caretaker could develop permanent disabilities or die.
When can a private caretaker be held responsible for stroke treatment delays?
Private caretakers normally are not also physicians. However, they should be trained to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke and be prepared to take prompt action. Our New Orleans delayed treatment of stroke lawyers are skilled at showing that a caretaker had a duty to recognize and respond to stroke symptoms, based on a medical power-of-attorney or their contract as a home-health aide, adult daycare center, or another type of private caretaker.
At Garcia & Artigliere, our trial lawyers are skilled at showing private caretakers breached their duty of care by failing to:
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of strokes.
- Immediately call 9-1-1 immediately to arrange for emergency medical transportation.
- Inform the patient’s doctor and family about the stroke symptoms.
- Inform the hospital that a stroke patient was on the way to the hospital.
- Listen to the patient’s complaints about feeling ill.
What is the value of a case for delayed stroke care in Louisiana?
Our New Orleans delayed stroke treatment lawyers work with your loved one’s doctors and rehabilitative care team to understand the full scope of their injuries.
We demand the following compensation from private caretakers who negligently delay stroke care:
- The current and future medical costs including ER care, hospitalizations, surgeries, physician visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy, speech therapy, medications, and assistive devices
- The daily physical pain and emotional suffering
- The loss of vision, speech, or any other bodily function
- The loss of the senior’s quality of life
Our New Orleans elder care and neglect lawyers file wrongful death actions on behalf of the families of loved ones who die due to delays in stroke care. Wrongful death damages in Louisiana include reimbursement for the funeral and burial expenses; the loss of financial support your loved one would have provided; and the loss of companionship, comfort, and guidance, your loved one would have provided.
Do you have a delayed stroke treatment lawyer near me?
At Garcia & Artigliere, our New Orleans delayed stroke lawyers helped more than 3,500 clients obtain strong recoveries for abuse and neglect. We understand what steps private caretakers should have taken and why they should be held accountable.
Speak with Garcia & Artigliere today if a private caretaker in Louisiana delayed timely stroke care for your loved one
At Garcia & Artigliere, our New Orleans delayed stroke lawyers understand why clot-busting drugs like tPA must be administered promptly and which other treatments rely on promptly seeking help. We understand how drastically delays in stroke treatment can change lives.
To assert the right of your loved one to hold private caretakers responsible, call or contact our offices today to schedule a free, confidential consultation. We represent private care clients across America and maintain additional offices in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Phoenix, and Louisville. There are no upfront costs. We only receive compensation if you do.
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