Review Article

Medicolegal Considerations with Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Stroke: A Systematic Review

Table 4

Frequency of factors favoring Plaintiff.

Factors favoring plaintiffNumber of cases (total: 40), percentage (%) of cases Verdict

Failure to treat with tPA27, 67.5%Defendant: 18, 66.7%
Plaintiff: 7, 25.9%
NA: 2, 7.4%
Failure to diagnose8, 20%Defendant: 6, 75%
Plaintiff: 2, 25%
Failure to transfer8, 20%Defendant: 5, 62.5%
Plaintiff: 3, 42.9%
Delay in attending patient by ED physician or neurologist5, 12.5%Defendant: 3, 60%
Plaintiff: 2, 40%
Failure to recommend tPA as a treatment option4, 10%Defendant: 4, 100%
Plaintiff: 0
Delay in getting test (CT-scan)4, 10%Defendant: 3, 75%
Plaintiff: 1, 25%
NO informed consent3, 7.5%Defendant: 2, 66.7%
Plaintiff: 1, 33.3%
Complications of treatment with tPA2, 5%Defendant: 1, 50%
Plaintiff: 1, 50%
Failure to perform proper complete exam2, 5%Defendant: 0
Plaintiff: 2, 100%