SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE AND ANEURYSM
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Almost 3,000 Canadians suffer from a subarachnoid hemorrage or aneurysm each year some of which are as a result of medical malpractice the incidence of which increases with age and is probably underestimated as death is often attributed to other causes. This condition is caused by a sudden leak of blood over the surface of the brain which occurs when a blood vessel wall tears due the pressure of blood. More than 10% of patients die before reaching hospital and over one third of patients die within the first week and overall about half die in the first 6 months. Mortality and morbidity rates increase with age and more than one third of survivors have major neurological problems. The mean age of an aneurysm is 50 years and it is more prevalent in women than in men.

Aneurisms are graded according to the following scheme:

• V - Patient posturing or comatose
• IV - Depressed level of consciousness or focal deficit
• III - Mild alteration in neurologic examination, including mental status
• II - Severe headache and a nonfocal examination, with or without mydriasis
• I - Mild headache with or without meningeal irritation

Most people who suffer from an aneurysm are taken to hospital however diagnosis which is not straightforward is unfortunately sometimes missed even by specialist neurologists and neurosurgeons. It is often not appreciated that the warning symptoms prior to a major hemorrhage occur in about 50% of all patients. If a subarachnoid hemorrhage is misdiagnosed and subsequent harm occurs to the sufferer then a claim for compensation for medical malpractice can be made against the doctor or hospital. A further area where compensation claims may arise in addition to mistakes made in diagnosis relates to treatment. Operations to repair the aneurysm can be negligently performed causing damage that would not otherwise have occurred. In addition there are other types of aneurysm that are often undetected by health care professionals including subdural hemorrhage and extradural hemorrhage which often occurs after head trauma.

There are numerous warning symptoms may give an indication of a bleed in the brain which may include:

• sudden onset of a severe headache often referred to as warning or sentinel headache which may occur a few hours to a few months before a major rupture
• seizures
• nausea and/or vomiting
• neck stiffness, low back pain, bilateral leg pain
• photophobia and visual changes
• loss of consciousness

We are an independent legal service and we can help you to exercise your legal rights to obtain medical malpractice compensation. Our lawyers will deal with your claim using a contingency fee arrangement which means if you don't succeed in receiving compensation then your lawyers won't get paid. You will receive a complete professional service from lawyers who specialise in claiming compensation for personal injury caused as a result of clinical negligence. For free advice without obligation just complete the contact form and a qualified lawyer will telephone you immediately to discuss your compensation claim without further obligation.