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What does SCI medical malpractice look like?

On Behalf of | Apr 1, 2022 | Medical Malpractice

When you think of a spinal cord injury, you might imagine taking a catastrophic hit in a motor vehicle accident or a bad fall at the workplace. You would be correct in assuming that those two sources represent the majority of SCI instances.

However, medical malpractice cases are also important to review when considering the causes of your SCI.

SCI causes due to medical malpractice

According to the Journal of Neurosurgery, about 5% of annual SCIs result from medical malpractice. These often result from elective procedures designed to repair damage or reduce back pain.

One source for these SCIs includes wrong-level surgery, which refers to surgical procedures done correctly but on an incorrect level or portion of your spine.

A neurosurgical emergency called Cauda Equina syndrome is a serious condition that needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. Failure to treat it may result in serious or permanent damage.

In the worst case, death may result from blood loss, cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis during the surgery.

Common categories of spinal medical malpractice

When pursuing a damages claim, it is important to know what type of malpractice you or your legal resources choose to cite. According to the journal, a substantial amount of SCI claims included a lack of informed consent due to a lack of transparency, a failure to treat whatever condition or disorder the surgery aimed to fix or a failure to diagnose the correct issue.

The inherent risk of permanent paralysis or other nerve damage makes any medical procedure involving your spine something to scrutinize and, should the worst happen, something to investigate.

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