What a neurology review usually focuses on

Stroke, seizure, nerve injury, and brain diagnosis. A case review should reconstruct the sequence of neurologic examination, stroke/seizure workup, imaging, time-sensitive treatment, and follow-up from the records available at each decision point.

Five decision points to map

  • 1. Neurologic examination
  • 2. Stroke/seizure workup
  • 3. Imaging
  • 4. Time-sensitive treatment
  • 5. Follow-up

Records that can answer those questions

  • Neurology consultation, procedure, or encounter notes
  • Orders and test results used to make the clinical decision
  • Medication, monitoring, procedure, or nursing records tied to the event
  • Communication with the patient and other specialties
  • Later treatment showing the complication, corrected diagnosis, or outcome

Expert and causation questions

  • What training and specialty should the reviewing neurology expert have under state law?
  • Which of the key decision points in stroke, seizure, nerve injury, and brain diagnosis is actually being challenged?
  • What information was available at that time, not only in hindsight?
  • What part of the later harm is attributable to the underlying illness or known risk?
  • Would a different medical decision probably have changed treatment or outcome?

Related specialties

Nursing Malpractice GuideNursing malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Obstetrics Malpractice GuideObstetrics malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Oncology Malpractice GuideOncology malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.Orthopedics Malpractice GuideOrthopedics malpractice questions often require specialty-specific records and expert review.

Use licensing, records, and medical-information sources appropriate to the specialty.