An infarction of the middle cerebral artery occurs when the artery becomes blocked, cutting off blood supply to large areas of the brain. Depriving the body of oxygen causes rapid tissue death, resulting in symptoms like paralysis on one side, speech difficulties, cognitive impairments, and sensory impairments.
If the damage is not treated immediately, it quickly spreads. The presence of malignant MCA infarction can lead to massive swelling of the brain and increased pressure inside the skull in severe cases. It can result in a herniated brain and even death if not treated right away.
When such severe outcomes result from a delayed or missed diagnosis, affected patients and their families may have legal grounds to pursue compensation for medical negligence, including damages for permanent disability, ongoing care, and loss of quality of life.
How Diagnostic Delays Cause Catastrophic Outcomes
There is a high rate of diagnostic failure when healthcare providers fail to recognize subtle neurological symptoms or delay activating stroke protocols. Brain imaging must be obtained and interpreted within minutes for emergency departments to identify blocked blood vessels and determine whether a patient is eligible for treatment.
The reduction of skull pressure is necessary to avoid death when delayed treatment leads to malignant MCA infarction. The surgery can save lives, but most survivors are left with severe disabilities, such as paralysis, verbal inability, cognitive difficulties, and bladder dysfunction, which require institutionalization.
Legally, when delayed treatment leads to such severe disabilities, healthcare providers can be held liable, and families may pursue compensation for lifelong care and lost quality of life.
Long-Term Consequences and Legal Implications
The severe health consequences of a delayed stroke diagnosis become evident when clients approach our firm seeking justice for preventable injuries and lifelong care needs caused by medical negligence. Those with severe paralysis have difficulty moving around and completing daily activities, and those with speech difficulties are unable to communicate effectively. The impairment of cognitive function makes independent living impossible for many patients.
In medical malpractice cases, records must include timestamps for the onset of symptoms, emergency response times, stroke activation times, imaging results, and treatment decisions. Proper protocols and timing of treatment could have prevented the malignancy from progressing.
Due to delayed diagnosis, MCA strokes often lead to lifelong disabilities. Legal accountability is essential in helping families deal with both economic and emotional hardships.
Expert Legal Representation from the Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary
The emotional and financial burdens of MCA strokes can be devastating for families whose loved ones are not diagnosed in time. A stroke malpractice case can be complex, and treatment protocols and diagnostic delays can lead to preventable brain damage.
Medical records, critical timestamps, and treatment decisions can be evaluated by our legal team at The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary to determine whether proper care could have prevented catastrophic outcomes.
We work with leading neurological experts who can demonstrate the direct connection between delayed diagnosis and devastating disabilities. Our firm has the expertise to prove that earlier detection and intervention could have prevented institutionalization and preserved brain function. We can provide a comprehensive evaluation of your MCA stroke malpractice claim at the Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary.