We trust medical professionals to provide competent care, but the unfortunate reality is that mistakes do happen. Spinal cord injuries due to medical malpractice can have devastating consequences for a patient’s life. If you or someone close to you has suffered a spinal cord injury due to a medical professional’s negligence, our Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping our clients pursue the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
The spinal cord is the column of nerve tissue protected by the spine and is in charge of delivering messages from the brain to the rest of the body. Our spinal cords are fragile, and injuries to this part of the body can lead to serious damage to the nervous system. As a result, spinal cord injuries often result in a disability and even partial or total paralysis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 11,000 people sustain spinal cord injuries each year. Unfortunately, some of these spinal cord injuries are results of medical malpractice.
Under New York law, medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional breaches the accepted standard of care, which then causes injuries to the patient. The standard of care refers to the level of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. The standard of care will vary in each case depending on a number of factors, including the patient’s age and medical history. It is not enough to show that a medical professional breached the duty of care; a plaintiff must also show that the breach was a direct and proximate cause of his or her injury. This is typically established through the testimony of an expert witness.
Spinal cord injuries can be caused by malpractice in a variety of ways, including malpractice during surgery, emergency room errors, or anesthesia errors. Surgeons who perform any type of spinal surgery must do so with great care. If a surgeon makes an error or lacks training, it can result in serious harm to the patient. Emergency rooms are busy and high-pressure environments. If a doctor fails to diagnose or misdiagnoses a spinal cord injury, the patient may end up suffering a permanent injury. In addition, if an emergency room doctor is not careful in how they are assessing the injury, they may end up moving the patient incorrectly and making the spinal cord injury worse. Lastly, the incorrect use or dosage of anesthesia can lead to an epidural hematoma, which can result in a spinal cord injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to medical malpractice, the experienced Syracuse spinal cord injury attorneys at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We understand how a spinal cord injury can significantly affect your life as well as the lives of your loved ones, which is why we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your harm. For more information about your legal rights and options, call us at 833-200-2000 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
Report Shows History of Medical Malpractice at Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, September 5, 2017
Appeals Court Expounds on Expert Net Opinion Rule in Medical Malpractice Decision, Syracuse Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, October 9, 2017