Legal teams and case managers supporting clients with stroke should be aware of the many ways the injury can adversely affect the quality of a person’s life, and the expertise a skilled stroke medico-legal expert can bring to a case.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, often due to a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel, which can lead to an acquired brain injury or brain damage.
It’s important to act fast to access urgent care, as delayed diagnosis and access to emergency medicine can have a significant impact on recovery.
- An acute ischemic stroke, the most common type, occurs when a blood clot obstructs a blood vessel in the brain. Ischemic strokes can lead to a significant loss of function in the affected areas of the brain
- A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding in or around the brain
- Known as a “mini-stroke”, this is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain
Strokes can cause memory disorders, emotional disturbances, language disorders and speech impairments, difficulty in movement of the muscles and joints, and weakness, which limits a person’s function and mobility. Following a stroke, many individuals require support to regain as much independence as possible and improve the quality of their lives.
Meet our stroke medicine expert witnesses
Find stroke expert witnesses – consultant stroke physician s and neurorehabilitation specialists available now. Use the directory to find experts in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and those who can provide ongoing expertise through Clinical Practice.
Stroke Expert Witness
In all cases, an expert in stroke medicine is well placed to carry out a medical record review and independent medical examinations to assess the extent of a stroke-related disability, the impact on the individual’s ability to function, life care planning, and the right rehabilitation interventions required for recovery.
Medical Malpractice & Clinical Negligence Cases
If a stroke may have been misdiagnosed, improperly treated, or not well managed resulting in medical negligence, an expert in stroke medicine may be required to evaluate the standard of care provided and assess the resulting impact and disability on the client.
Personal injury cases
A stroke medicine expert witness can support legal cases which a personal injury or catastrophic injury may have been caused or made worse by an avoidable injury or accident.
Selecting a medical expert witness for stroke cases is a crucial step in building a strong legal case. A medical expert witness with thorough knowledge of stroke medicine can provide valuable insights and expert opinion based on their expertise and experience, which can help support the legal arguments and increase the chances of a successful outcome in stroke cases.
Look for an expert witness who has specialised knowledge and experience in stroke medicine. They should have a background in relevant medical specialties such as neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation. The expert witness should have a significant amount of experience in diagnosing and treating stroke patients, as well as managing their rehabilitation and recovery.
The aim of neurorehabilitation following a stroke is for individuals to relearn the skills that were lost due to damage this causes, and to learn new skills to cope with the limitations that have been inflicted by the attack.
Rehabilitation programs differ from person to person as they are tailored to the individual and their goals and lifestyle, as well as to the area of the brain affected by the stroke.
An interdisciplinary approach should be taken to reduce the impact of strokes. The team, which usually includes rehabilitation physicians, clinical neuropsychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and specialist nurses
assess and record the extent and severity of damage to functioning, mobility, skills and independence caused by stroke and work towards restoring the maximum level of independence possible.
Physiotherapists may work who work on transferring from sitting to standing and develop exercises to aid walking and posture. Occupational therapists might work to support people to relearn the skills of everyday living, suggesting
modifications and adaptions to meet the challenges of daily activities. A speech and language can help individuals to articulate speech, improve language and work on appropriate social communication, as required. A psychologist
may play a vital role in helping an individual to address the mental and emotional impact of stroke.
Neurological rehabilitation after the stroke is also aimed at prevention of any further complications, such as developing contractures in the body, chronic headaches, and complications arising due to immobility such as pressure sores. During the initial phases, the experts focus on therapeutic exercises, for instance, increasing range of motion, frequently changing posture and position to prevent immobile states for long.
The outcome of these rehabilitation strategies depends on the neurological damage caused by the stroke and level of practical, emotional and social support the patient receives during the process of rehabilitation and recovery.
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The stroke specialists at NRC Medical Experts assess, evaluate and produce high-quality court reports and expert witness testimony to support legal teams to build the best case for your client.