diagnosis using CT scan

[anup717]

sir/madam, this is regarding my uncle who recently had a brain-stem stroke. nearly after he became unconscious at home he was taken to a nearby clinic, whose doctors couldn't diagnose it and instructed for a CT scan. this was nearly 4 hrs after he became unconscious. though the report was normal and had no reference to any complication the patient remained unconscious. it was only the next day that a visiting doctor, nearly after 7 hrs,could diagnose it as a stroke and advised us to shift him immediately to another hosp. we did and after 2 months he is discharged but with only eye movements. now the problem which i think  is that in the CT scan report there was a statement as "Brain-stem normal"which i happened to see only lately. do you think that the report was incorrect regarding this as the doctors couldn't pinpoint and which cost us hours that resulted in the present condition of the patient. can we seek a compensation?

[oc1dean]

There is almost nothing than can be done  for a stroke in progress at the ER unless it was a clot and then tPA can be given with 4.5 hours.If a bleed, then maybe surgery might be indicated but that would be risky by itself. With an unconscious patient diagnosis becomes real problematic since most of the diagnosis tasks assume a patient that can respond. FAST, Face, Arms, Speech, Time

[anup717]

thanx for ur comment, but in fact i was referring to the time taken, (approx 24 hrs) after the patient became unconscious, in diagnosing it as brain-stroke to which the scan report was a factor. As the CT scan report was normal and since there was no MRI scan facility in the hospital the patient was not shifted immediately to another one. The doctor of the hospital to which he was later admitted mentioned about the delay. that is why i felt so. Do you think that the CT scan report which mentioned "brain-stem normal" was correct?

[caregiver222]

An MRI is far more accurate that an CT and an MRI and an MRA with contrast medium should have been performed as soon as possible after the CT.

The issue of compensation is complicated. Depending on the jurisdiction you may or may not have grounds for what is called a tort. Consult an attorney.

Furthermore, I;m not convinced, in the abscence of examining the medical records, that the scan and the physician's actions had anything to do with the codnition of the patient.