$1.3 Million Verdict For Undiagnosed Carotid Artery Dissection: On October 7, 2022, a Berks County Pennsylvania medical malpractice jury found that Reading Hospital was medically negligent in treating the plaintiff, Kathryn Dailey, when she arrived at the hospital in October 2016, complaining of symptoms of a stroke while at home that mostly resolved before her arrival at the hospital. However, she was still experiencing a headache and some numbness while she was in the emergency room.
The medical staff in the emergency department appropriately ordered a CT scan, which was read as negative, but allegedly failed to rule out a carotid artery dissection, which is a medical emergency that must be diagnosed and treated promptly.
The plaintiff alleged that the hospital breached the standard of care that led to her suffering an ischemic stroke several hours later from a clot that formed in her brain while she still was in the hospital. The plaintiff alleged during trial that as a result of the hospital’s negligence, she suffered permanent physical limitations involving her left hand, some facial palsy, and a major change in her voice due to lack of inflection.
The hospital argued to the jury that it was not negligent and that the plaintiff nonetheless did not suffer any significant injury and that her neurological symptoms resolved to her baseline.
The Pennsylvania medical malpractice jury awarded the plaintiff noneconomic damages in the amount of $1.3 million for emotional distress, humiliation, and embarrassment. The plaintiff did not claim economic losses for future medical expenses or for lost earnings.
Carotid Artery Dissection
Carotid artery dissection is a condition whereby the layers of the carotid artery are spontaneously separated. This potentially compromises blood flow to certain areas of the brain and can lead to a stroke. Furthermore, it can occur extracranially or intracranially and can lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage or brain ischemia. It is the most common cause of strokes in younger patients, and the importance of making a timely diagnosis is paramount to minimize potential morbidity and mortality of the disease. There is a huge variation in the presenting signs and symptoms of this disease which makes it extremely difficult to diagnose on initial presentation.
Carotid artery dissections occur in all age groups. They account for 2.5% of all strokes. It is a common cause of stroke in patients younger than 40 years old. In all young patients, 20% of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are caused by carotid artery dissection. The median age is in the mid-40s, and there seems to be a slightly higher incidence in males versus females.
If you or a loved one suffered harm due to hospital medical negligence in Pennsylvania or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer, or a medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your hospital medical negligence claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a hospital medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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