Warning Signs for Blood Clots in the Brain

Senator John McCain will be absent from Washington, DC for at least a week following a surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. The surgery, called a craniotomy, was performed Friday, July 14th, 2017. The mass was approximately two centimeters and was discovered during a routine physical.

What constitutes a routine physical change as we age or suffer from various complicating diseases. For most young people, a routine physical takes a matter of minutes, as the doctor evaluates their apparent physical health and asks a few questions. But if the young person has a history of asthma or other ailments, additional tests might be added to the routine.

With his history of aggressive skin cancer, a doctor might have decided a brain scan should be included in Mr. McCain’s physical to rule out metastasis. Other reasons for a brain scan might be:

• Confusion or difficulty answering questions
• Seizures
• Headaches
• Recent falls or blows to the head

If the patient were to report any of these during a routine physical, a diagnostician should refer them for additional tests. Blood clots in the brain are extremely serious and often require immediate treatment. Patients would be well advised to know these symptoms as well. A missed diagnosis of a cerebral brain clot is often fatal, or at the very least is likely to result in significant disability for the person who suffers an embolism or other adverse events.

Relying on a routine physical to catch a blood clot in the brain is dangerous. If you or someone you love has suffered due to a missed diagnosis of blood clots, you are well aware of how important it is to catch this disease early. Please, contact an experienced attorney for a case evaluation to determine how you should proceed.