Spinal Cord Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence in Atlanta
Spinal cord injuries are among the most severe and life-altering injuries one can suffer. These injuries can permanently affect physical abilities, emotional health, and overall quality of life. While many spinal cord injuries happen by accident, some occur because of medical negligence. Understanding how spinal cord injuries happen and the kinds of medical errors that can lead to these catastrophic injuries can help victims and their families recognize if they may have a valid medical malpractice case.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord plays a vital role in your central nervous system. It carries messages between your brain and the rest of the body, controlling movement, sensation, and essential functions. When the spinal cord is damaged, these signals are disrupted. Depending on the severity and location of damage, a spinal cord injury can cause chronic pain, impaired organ functions, paralysis, and loss of bodily functions, among many other symptoms.
In terms of severity, spinal cord injuries can be categorized into two types;
- Incomplete: Some movement or feeling below the site of injury remains.
- Complete: All sensation and movement below the injury site are lost.
According to research, there are about 18,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries yearly. While many of these injuries are caused by accidents, a significant number occur due to preventable medical errors.
How Medical Negligence Causes Spinal Cord Injuries
Medical professionals are required to adhere to a specific standard of care. If a medical professional fails in their duty of care, patients can face devastating consequences such as spinal cord injuries. Some common types of medical errors that can lead to spinal cord injuries include:
Surgical Errors
Mistakes made during procedures such as spinal fusion, discectomy, or laminectomy can damage the spinal cord or surrounding nerves. For instance, a surgeon may use improper techniques, operate on the wrong site, or make an incorrect incision.
Anesthesia Errors
If anesthesia is administered improperly, it can cause spinal cord damage. For instance, if an epidural is improperly injected into the spine, it can cause nerve damage, paralysis, or other complications.
Failure To Diagnose
If a healthcare provider fails to diagnose a condition in a timely manner, the condition can worsen. Infections can be particularly dangerous, but so can issues like herniated discs. If left untreated, these issues can compress the spinal cord, causing irreversible damage.
Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Mistakes
If a chiropractor or physical therapist is not careful when performing spinal manipulations, a spinal cord injury may occur. For example, using too much force or the wrong technique can lead to a spinal injury, particularly in a person who already has spinal issues.
When a spinal cord injury happens due to medical negligence, the victim and their family may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim and seek compensation.
Proving Your Medical Malpractice Case
To succeed in an Atlanta medical malpractice case, you must demonstrate that:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed
- The doctor failed to meet the set standard of care
- That failure directly caused the spinal cord injury
- The injuries resulted in damages such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages
Under Georgia law, you generally have two years to file a malpractice case, so it’s best to act fast.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury due to medical negligence, contact our experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm for legal help.
Source:
nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/spinalinjury/conditioninfo/risk#:~:text=Research%20estimates%20that%20there%20are%20about%2018%2C000%20new%20cases%20of%20SCIs%20annually%20and%20about%20255%2C000%20to%20390%2C000%20people%20currently%20living%20with%20an%20SCI%20in%20the%20United%20States.1%C2%A0
