How Can Medical Malpractice Result in a Spinal Cord Injury?

The central nervous system is responsible for ensuring the rest of the body’s organ systems function as they should. The brain and the spinal cord make up the CNS, and injuries to either can be devastating because of their control over the entire body.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 17,000 new spinal cord injuries occur every year. Such injuries cause serious complications, and they can affect everything from bladder control to respiratory control.

Typically, the higher on the spine that the injury occurs, the more devastating the consequences are. For example an injury to the highest cervical nerves–anywhere from C1 to C4–typically results in severe dysfunction and can even cause quadriplegia.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in a botched medical procedure, you have the right to seek damages from the responsible party. A spinal cord injury attorney from The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm can help you pursue compensation for lost wages, medical bills and non-economic damages. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule an initial consultation with a Jackson medical malpractice lawyer today.

Let’s explore some of the ways medical malpractice can result in a spinal cord injury:

A Slip and Fall Incident

Some hospital patients and nursing home residents take medication that causes dizziness, which makes them more likely to slip and fall when they get out of bed. Since these individuals are vulnerable to begin with because of their age or the illness that brought them to the hospital, they are more likely to suffer severe injuries in a slip and fall incident.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 percent of falls result in a severe injury like a broken bone or head trauma. Healthcare providers should know how dangerous falls can be for their patients, and they have an obligation to take measures to prevent them. If hospital staff fails to take reasonable measures for preventing falls, such an accident could result in a brain or spinal cord injury.

A Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnoses are one of the most common medical errors, and a missed or delayed diagnosis can result in an otherwise preventable spinal cord injury. For example, if a patient has a tumor in the back or neck but his or her doctor fails to diagnose it accurately, it could eventually injure the spinal cord, causing paralysis.

A Surgical Error

All surgeries pose certain risks, and doctors should discuss these risks with their patients before performing any kind of procedure. Although surgical complications do not necessarily constitute malpractice, surgical errors do. Depending on the type of procedure and the scope of the error, a surgical mistake could cause a devastating spinal cord injury.

If you sustained a spinal cord injury after undergoing a medical procedure and you believe malpractice played a role, turn to a medical malpractice lawyer at The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm to discuss your situation. Call (504) 586-5200 to start building your case with a Jackson spinal cord injury attorney today. You can learn more about medical malpractice claims in Mississippi by visiting USAttorneys.com.