Brain Haemorrhages Misdiagnosis Claim

It is fairly common for medical negligence claims to be made by either those that suffer brain haemorrhages or the families of those that suffer this serious personal injury.

A brain haemorrhage is a bleed that occurs in or around the brain and is usually caused by broken blood vessels. This serious head injury is characterised by a sudden and severe headache, nausea and vomiting, changes to vision, mood changes, muscle aches and can also result in brain damage, particularly to the nerves in the brain. Different types of brain haemorrhage include:

• Cerebral haemorrhage: otherwise known as a haemorrhagic stroke, bleeding directly into the brain tissue.

• Extradural haemorrhage: bleeding to the outer side of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

• Intracranial haemorrhage: bleeding within the skull.

• Subarachnoid haemorrhage: bleedingbetween the middle membrane covering of the brain which occurswithin the cerebrospinal fluid-filled spaces surrounding the brain (the subarachnoid space).

Diagnosing a brain haemorrhage

Although there are prominent warning signs that the brain may haemorrhage, the key to avoiding a potentially fatal injury is to diagnose the condition as quickly as possible. Diagnosis may be aided by the following methods:

• CT scan: Computed Tomography, an imaging scan used to reveal the internal structure of the brain.

• MRI scan: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, used to provide cross-sectional images of the brain.

• Lumbar puncture: the insertion of a needle into the spinal cord to remove spinal fluid for analysis.

• Cerebral angiography: a contrast dye which is injected into the neck, allowing the arteries to be seen.

Medical negligence 

Around 9,000 people suffer brain haemorrhages in the UK each year and they will either be admitted to A&E or find their own way to hospital once they start suffering the terrible symptoms described above.

However, these signs and symptoms are frequently missed or disregarded as a less serious condition by the most experienced doctors. Even specialists, such as neurologists and neurosurgeons, can get it wrong and commit acts of medical negligence.

It is also possible for medical negligence to occur during treatment of a brain haemorrhage. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for surgical errors to occur during operations to treat aneurysms which can cause brain damage to areas previously unaffected. Specifically, medical negligence during surgery may include:

• Applying an incorrect method or procedure.

• Positioning the patient incorrectly on the operating table.

• Using the incorrect quantity of anaesthetic.

• Failing to provide an adequate level of pre and post operative care.

If misdiagnosis occurs, diagnosis is delayed or a surgical procedure fails as a result of medical negligence a patient's chances of survival may be serious decreased and the patient may be entitled to pursue a compensation claim.

How to make a claim?

If you, or someone close to you, have suffered serious personal injury as a result of an act of medical negligence then it is likely that we can help you to make a compensation claim.

We can help you to gain injury compensation for the pain, suffering and distress you have suffered and recover costs for any medical expenses that you have had to pay for. We may even be able to arrange for you to receive the best expert medical care in your area.

We offer the no win, no fee scheme so by contacting us today we can quickly assess your case and tell you if it is eligible for a no win, no fee agreement.  

For free legal advice or details on how you can make a medical negligence claim today either contact us online or call 0800 10 757 95.