Diagnosing a Brain Haemorrhage in A&E
If you or your loved one has suffered because doctors in A&E failed to diagnose a brain haemorrhage, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the terrible damage this has caused. To find out more you need to talk to a solicitor who specialises in medical negligence claims.
Diagnosing a brain haemorrhage in hospital
The presentation of patients to the Accident and Emergency Department with the sudden onset of severe headache is a well-recognised risk area of risk in emergency medicine practice. A presentation of this nature would be widely regarded as indicative of a significant neurological event, for example a brain haemorrhage.
As such, presentation of this nature requires appropriate investigations which include a CT scan as the initial investigation of choice. This should be carried out as a matter of urgency. If the scan is normal, a lumbar puncture should be performed. Together these investigations will ensure a timely diagnosis.
Wrong diagnosis of a brain haemorrhage
Only if the CT scan and lumbar puncture are normal can a diagnosis other than a brain haemorrhage be made. Differential diagnoses might include:-
- Migraine;
- High blood pressure;
- Meningitis;
- Stroke or mini-stroke;
- Encephalitis.
However, it is important to note that unless and until such investigations have been undertaken and found to be normal, then a differential diagnosis (such as a migraine) is fundamentally unsafe.
Given the implications of a misdiagnosis it is necessary to err on the side of caution. All patients with a severe headache should therefore be investigated for a possible brain haemorrhage.
Failure to diagnose brain haemorrhage in A&E
When a patient presents to A&E with a sudden onset of a severe headache, the expected standard of care would include:-
1. Discussion with a more senior doctor in the Emergency Department of the duty Medical Registrar;
2. Arrangements made for a CT scan, preferably on the same day;
3. Admit the patient under the care of the medical team;
4. If the CT scan is normal, perform a lumbar puncture.
If this standard of care if not achieved by an A&E department and a brain haemorrhage therefore remains undiagnosed, there will be a case of medical negligence. This means the standard of care has fallen below an acceptable level, causing a patient to suffer unnecessary harm.
If this is something that has affected you or your loved one, you need to speak to a solicitor about what action you can take. You could be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation, helping you to recover the money you have lost due to medical error.
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