Syracuse Injury Lawyer Blog
tPA is a drug used to treat patients suffering from a stroke. It is available in most New York State emergency rooms, including Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Community General Hospital and SUNY Upstate Medical University (University Hospital). Failure to administer tPA may be medical malpractice.
More than 800,000 strokes occur every – making strokes the third most common cause of disability. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks blood flow to a part of the brain. Common stroke symptoms include a “thunderclap” headache, dizziness, numbness, blurred vision and difficulty speaking. In 1996, tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) was developed. If tPA is prescribed soon after symptoms of a stroke emerge, the clot may resolve and blood flow to the brain may return.
While tPA has been around for more than one decade, fewer than 5% of stroke victims receive the drug in time to prevent permanent brain damage. If you are having a stroke, how long do you have to receive tPA? The answer is three hours.
While tPA may not work for everyone, stroke specialists believe that it should be administered to patients suffering from a stroke in order to decrease a patient’s chance of long-term disability.
The trial lawyers at Bottar Law, PLLC, have decades of experience investigating, prosecuting and trying to verdict all types of medical malpractice and hospital mistake cases, including those arising out of a failure to diagnose a stroke. If you or a loved one have been injured, you and/or your family may be entitled to compensation for lifelong health care, special education, medical expenses, medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
To discuss your case or concerns with an experienced Central New York medical malpractice attorney, contact Bottar Law, PLLC now at (315) 422-3466, (800) 336-LAWS, or by e-mail at info@bottarleone.com.