Why Strokes Get Missed, and What That Can Mean
There are different kinds of strokes, and they can affect many different areas of the brain. What they share is this: they all interfere with blood flow to the brain, causing brain cells to die. The result can be physical disabilities, cognitive impairment, or both — and when a diagnosis is delayed, that damage compounds rapidly.
Medical professionals have an expression that captures the urgency: time is brain. The more time it takes to begin treatment, the more brain cells are irreparably lost.
Misdiagnosis happens in a number of ways.
- Stroke symptoms are sometimes mistaken for other conditions entirely. Brainstem strokes, in particular, often do not present with the classic warning signs that would prompt immediate testing.
- Imaging may be delayed or never ordered.
- Patients are sometimes discharged too early.
- Providers sometimes fail to consult a neurologist when the situation calls for one, resulting in a total failure to diagnose.
In other cases, providers identify a stroke but take too long to transfer a patient to another capable hospital. Researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan analyzed the door-in-door-out (DIDO) time for all 50 states and compared it to the maximum recommended DIDO of less than 120 minutes. Illinois’s median DIDO time for acute ischemic stroke eligible for endovascular therapy is 126 to 131 minutes, while the median DIDO time for other acute ischemic stroke is 151 to 164 minutes. Those minutes over the DIDO guideline can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong care.
How We Measure Whether the Care Was Appropriate
Illinois healthcare providers have a professional responsibility to their patients. When a possible stroke patient arrives, multiple providers should work together: running imaging scans, interpreting results, physically examining the patient, reviewing medical history with attention to stroke risk factors, and communicating clearly with one another about their findings.
Once a diagnosis is reached, treatment should begin immediately. Depending on the type of stroke, providers may be able to break up a blood clot with medication or perform surgery to address the damage. Even a slight delay can mean the difference between your loved one returning to their life with moderate adjustments and becoming permanently dependent on others for daily needs.
The medical and legal review compares the care your loved one received against what a reasonable provider would do under similar circumstances. This is the standard of care benchmark, and departures from it are what the review is designed to identify.
What Can Happen When Treatment Is Delayed
Sometimes the damage is cognitive: difficulty communicating, trouble understanding what is happening, and memory loss. Other patients suffer physical disabilities; they may be unable to perform basic tasks like getting dressed or preparing a meal, or struggle with muscle weakness and maintaining balance.
One of the most devastating possible outcomes is locked-in syndrome (LIS). This rare but catastrophic condition causes almost complete paralysis; most patients can only blink and move their eyes. LIS is more likely when the stroke affected the brainstem, and it is more likely to result from a missed or delayed diagnosis.
Treatment options vary based on the severity of the condition. Physical therapy and speech therapy can help some patients regain lost abilities. Psychiatric care provides crucial support during recovery. With LIS, however, treatment options are extremely limited; care is focused largely on helping the patient stay healthy and adjust to their disability, with communication devices among the most meaningful tools available.
Our Process
We guide you through every step with clear communication and compassionate support.
Free Consultation
Call us anytime to discuss your case. We listen carefully and answer all your questions with no obligation.
Medical Review
Our team conducts a thorough investigation with qualified medical experts to determine if malpractice occurred.
Legal Action
If we find evidence of negligence, we build a strong case and handle all legal aspects on your behalf.
Secure Recovery
We fight to secure the financial resources your family needs for long-term care and peace of mind.
How Our Lawyers Help Illinois Families Get Answers
When you contact us, the first thing we do is learn your story. We want to hear everything you can recall about your loved one’s symptoms, the treatment they received, and how events unfolded.
From there, the process generally involves three elements:
- Your testimony. Tell us everything you remember about your loved one’s symptoms and treatment: what you observed, what the doctors said, and how things developed over time.
- Documentary evidence. Medical records, imaging, discharge paperwork, and any notes you took after conversations with providers are all useful. Photos and written timelines matter too.
- Expert opinions. We coordinate a review with independent medical professionals whose insights can clarify whether the care met accepted standards, and where it may have fallen short.
We complete these steps carefully, leaving nothing unexamined. Once we know what happened, we report our findings and answer whatever questions you have.
It is important to be honest: sometimes the review confirms that providers acted appropriately, despite a tragic outcome. Knowing that can still bring relief. It allows families to accept the past and move toward a new normal without constantly wondering whether anything could have been done differently.
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From Answers to Action: If the Review Points to Malpractice
If the review reveals evidence of malpractice, we will explain clearly what that means and what a legal case would involve. Responsibility may rest with an individual provider, an emergency department, a hospital system, or multiple parties. What must be established is whether the care fell below the accepted standard, and whether that failure caused or worsened your loved one’s injuries.
A legal case is not primarily about punishment. It is about securing the resources your family may need: ongoing care, rehabilitation, home modifications, lost income, and long-term stability.
Everyone has their own reasons for considering legal action. Some families want to hold a negligent provider accountable so that no one else suffers the same outcome. Others are facing financial insecurity and need the compensation a successful case can provide. Many have both motivations at once. No reason is more valid than another. What matters is that you have the full picture before you decide; that is exactly what a legal review is designed to give you.
What Families Can Do Right Now
You do not need to wait to begin gathering information. Medical records, imaging discs, discharge paperwork, and notes from conversations with providers are all valuable. A written timeline of events, even a rough one, can be enormously helpful. The more you preserve now, the more complete the review can be.
What Stroke-Related Care Can Cost in Illinois
For families dealing with severe or permanent outcomes from a stroke, the financial stakes are significant.
| Type of Care | Estimated Cost in Illinois |
| Private duty nurse (hourly rate) | $76/hour |
| Private duty nurse (visit rate) | $180/visit |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (semi-private room) | ~$8,300/month |
| Long-term care facility, e.g., nursing home (private room) | ~$9,200/month |
Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey
What to Expect When You Work With Us
We start by listening. Then we do the work.
Our firm coordinates the medical review with qualified independent experts. You will have direct access to your attorney throughout the process. We keep our caseload manageable so your family gets real attention. We have experience with complex stroke and catastrophic injury cases, and we do not collect fees unless compensation is recovered.
Good lawyers help clients make informed decisions; they do not push them toward actions that are not right for them. Whatever you decide, we will support that decision.
Get Help and Support When You Are Ready
Whatever you choose to do, it starts with understanding what happened. Newsome Law can investigate your case at no cost and with no obligation. The consultation is free and confidential. Call us whenever you are ready. We are here.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from families we've helped through difficult times.
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