How common are spinal cord injuries?

Medical malpractice resulting in spinal cord injuries is fortunately not commonplace, but it does occur. These severe cases can arise from various situations, including surgical errors, misdiagnoses, medication errors, and inadequate patient care. Some examples of brain and spinal cord injuries that may result from medical malpractice include:

1. Surgical Errors: Mistakes during spinal surgery – such as operating on the wrong site, damaging nerves, or improperly placing screws or hardware – can directly injure the spinal cord.
2. Anesthesia Complications: Errors during epidurals, spinal blocks, or general anesthesia (such as inserting a needle too deeply or failing to monitor oxygen levels) can lead to nerve damage or spinal cord trauma.
3. Failure to Diagnose or Treat Spinal Conditions: Delayed diagnosis of spinal cord compression, herniated discs, tumors, infections, or abscesses can allow the condition to worsen, potentially leading to irreversible damage. Two critical conditions that fall into this category include:
   1. Spinal Hematoma: This is a collection of blood that can compress the spinal cord. It may occur after spinal surgery, epidural anesthesia, or trauma. If not diagnosed and surgically evaluated in time, it can cause permanent paralysis. Medical malpractice may be involved when symptoms like sudden back pain, numbness, or weakness or ignored or misdiagnosed.
   2. Transverse Myelitis: This rare but serious inflammation of the spinal cord can develop after infections, immune disorders, or as a complication of other diseases. Delayed recognition and treatment can lead to long-term neurological deficits. If healthcare providers fail to investigate symptoms like rapid onset weakness or sensory loss, malpractice may be a factor.
4. Improper Handling After Injury or Surgery: If a patient with a suspected back or neck injury is moved without proper precautions, the spinal cord can suffer further harm – especially in emergency or hospital settings.
5. Infections: Post-operative infections that are not promptly recognized and treated can spread to the spinal cord, causing inflammation or abscesses that damage neural tissue.
6. Mismanagement of Blood Pressure or Oxygen During Surgery: The spinal cord is sensitive to changes in blood flow. Inadequate blood supply due to mismanaged anesthesia or surgical errors can cause ischemic injury.
7. Birth Injuries: In rare cases, improper delivery techniques like excessive traction or misuse of forceps can damage an infant’s spinal cord, resulting in lifelong paralysis or neurological deficits.

Each of these scenarios involves a breach of the standard of care and can lead to severe, sometimes permanent, consequences. If you suspect a spinal cord injury was caused by medical negligence, it’s important to speak with an experienced team of malpractice attorneys like those at Bell Law Firm.

Can I sue my doctor for a spinal cord injury?

Yes, it is possible to sue a doctor for a spinal cord injury if the injury was caused by the doctor’s negligence or medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide a standard level of care, and this failure results in harm to the patient. If a doctor’s actions or omissions lead to a brain injury, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

It’s important to find an attorney with experience in brain and spinal cord injury cases, like Bell Law Firm. Past case examples include:

• Nelson v. Emory Healthcare
• Hay v. Atlanta Brain & Spine
• Cox v. Atlanta Spine
• Robinson v. Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
• Ratchford v. Emory University
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Bell team to provide the Jenkins complaint for website addition

How do I sue for a spinal cord injury in Georgia?

If you or a loved one has been harmed by substandard care, you may want to file a lawsuit. Here’s how to start your medical negligence case.

1. Find a qualified attorney with a history of success in medical malpractice cases and experience taking cases all the way to trial. The greater the harm, the more providers, employers and insurers will get involved. That’s when you need the most qualified, experienced counsel.
2. Obtain and review medical records. Once the attorneys have evaluated your case, they should help you obtain certified medical records from the healthcare organization where the brain or spinal injury occurred. Qualified attorneys like Bell Law Firm will then review the medical records closely in consultation with medical experts to identify the precise actions and inactions that resulted in negligence or malpractice.
3. Obtain an expert affidavit. Once you and your attorneys have identified what went wrong, the case should be evaluated by qualified healthcare professionals (experts) who are willing to testify on your behalf.
4. File the complaint. A complaint is a document that launches the lawsuit. It should tell your story clearly and thoroughly based on the medical records and other evidence. A complaint should also spell out each instance of alleged negligence as a “claim” or a “cause of action.” That way, the court and defendants know you’ve done your homework and are backed by qualified attorneys and experts.

Keep in mind that every state has a deadline for filing a complaint. With narrow exceptions, Georgia requires filing within two years after the alleged negligence harmed the patient.

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