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CT scans are critical diagnostic tools in stroke emergencies, yet they are frequently misinterpreted or delayed in Florida hospitals.
Patients lose valuable time when doctors fail to order CT imaging on time, misread scan results, or overlook subtle stroke indicators. Our medical malpractice attorney Sean M. Cleary can help you pursue justice and compensation if you or a loved one suffered preventable harm as a result of CT scan errors in stroke diagnosis.
Case Evaluation$8.95MIL
Delayed Stroke Diagnosis Caused Severe Brain Injury and Disability
Our client's stroke was not diagnosed in a timely manner and resulted in severe brain injury, including MCA, cerebral edema, and several other injuries. Due to the severity of the injuries, he had to undergo emergency cranial surgery, which left him with permanent disability, currently living in an assisted living facility.
$6.2MIL
Stroke Delayed Treatment
Clients were satisfied by Mr. Cleary's legal services.
CT scans should be ordered by emergency physicians as soon as stroke symptoms are recognized. In the Florida Stroke Registry, between 2010 and 2018, only 56% of acute ischemic stroke patients got to undergo CT within 25 minutes. Despite improvements from 36% in 2010 to 72% in 2018, nearly three out of ten stroke patients still experience excessive delays in receiving initial imaging. Several types of negligence contribute to CT scan failures in stroke diagnosis:
If healthcare providers fail to provide competent care in stroke cases, they may be liable for medical malpractice under Florida law. The following elements must be proven in order for liability to be established:
Several parties may be liable for CT scan errors under Florida law. A medical professional who fails to order a scan or misinterprets the results of a scan in the emergency department may be liable. Radiologists can be held liable for failing to read imaging studies or for failing to report findings on time. Hospitals can be held responsible for imaging failures due to inadequate protocols, inadequate staffing, or inadequate training.
Whenever patients with stroke symptoms present to emergency departments, CT scans should be performed as soon as possible to identify brain abnormalities and determine the type of stroke. Non-contrast CT scans can distinguish ischemic strokes caused by blocked blood vessels from hemorrhagic strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, which differ significantly in treatment protocols.
CT scans have some limitations when it comes to detecting acute ischemic stroke. Studies show that non-contrast CT may detect as few as 26% of acute ischemic strokes, while diffusion-weighted MRI identifies around 80–90%, depending on timing and lesion characteristics. An early ischemic event, especially during the first hours following the ischemic event, can be difficult to detect on CT imaging, such as lacunar infarction, posterior circulation stroke, and ischemic stroke.
Diagnostic errors are possible due to these technical limitations. CT results that appear normal can falsely reassure emergency physicians, leading them to overlook the need for additional imaging or specialist consultations. There are 8% of cerebral ischemic events accompanied by discrepancies in CT findings, and 1.7% of these discrepancies are clinically relevant. Stroke victims who are told nothing life-threatening is occurring and sent home without treatment can suffer major brain damage as a result of their stroke.
Several categories of damages may be available under Florida law when negligence leads to preventable stroke complications caused by CT scans:
In courts, imaging delays have been recognized as having severe consequences. A patient in Florida allegedly waited over six hours for a stat CT scan to be read after a suspected stroke, resulting in permanent brain damage and litigation.
For cases of CT scan error, detailed examination of medical records, imaging studies, and hospital protocol is necessary to determine the cause. We work with board-certified radiologists and stroke neurologists to determine how proper interpretation of CT scans could have changed your treatment path. The statute of limitations in Florida for medical malpractice claims is two years from discovery, with four years as the absolute time limit.
You should consult with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer before accepting a settlement offer from a hospital or insurance company. Many of these organizations provide inadequate compensation that fails to account for lifelong care needs and disabilities to protect their financial interests. You can count on the Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary to hold negligent medical professionals accountable and to help you recover full compensation.
