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Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine
Published in: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine 3/2011

Open Access 01-06-2011 | Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke

Medico-Legal Aspects of Using Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Authors: Nhu T. Bruce, MD, William P. Neil, MD, Justin A. Zivin, MD, PhD

Published in: Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine | Issue 3/2011

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Opinion statement

Intravenous alteplase or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been the standard of care with proven efficacy for acute ischemic stroke for over a decade. Despite this, only a small fraction of potentially eligible stroke patients receive this medication. There seems to be a fear among practitioners of legal repercussions as a result of an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage due to tPA. This review of legal cases involving tPA will show that instead, physicians are often found liable as a result of not treating with tPA.
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Liang BA, Zivin JA. Empirical characteristics of litigation involving tissue plasminogen activator and ischemic stroke. Ann Emerg Med. 2008;52:160–4. This article summarizes trials that reach a verdict in cases where tPA is either used or not used in stroke victims. In 88% of verdicts, injury was claimed from failure of treatment with tPA.
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Metadata
Title
Medico-Legal Aspects of Using Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors
Nhu T. Bruce, MD
William P. Neil, MD
Justin A. Zivin, MD, PhD
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Current Science Inc.
Published in
Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 1092-8464
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3189
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11936-011-0122-0

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