How common are brain or spinal cord injuries?

Medical malpractice resulting in brain or 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. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): These injuries can occur due to surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, or failure to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain, such as hemorrhages, infections, or tumors.

2. Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injuries: Inadequate oxygen supply to the brain (hypoxia) or reduced blood flow (ischemia) can result from anesthesia errors, surgical complications, or failure to monitor a patient’s vital signs during surgery.

3. Stroke: Surgical errors, including those involving vascular procedures or the use of anticoagulant medications, can increase the risk of stroke, which can cause brain damage. Missed or delayed stroke diagnosis can also contribute to severe brain damage.

4. Infections: Infections that are not promptly diagnosed or treated can lead to complications affecting the brain or spinal cord, such as meningitis or epidural abscess.

5. Spinal Cord Injuries: Surgical errors, such as incorrect placement of instruments or implants during spinal surgery, can damage the spinal cord. Failure to diagnose and treat conditions like spinal infections or fractures can also lead to spinal cord injuries.

6. Anesthesia Complications: Errors in administering anesthesia, including dosage errors or failure to monitor the patient’s vital signs, can result in brain damage.

7. Medication Errors: Incorrect prescription or administration of medications, especially those affecting the central nervous system, can lead to adverse effects on the brain or spinal cord.

8. Birth Injuries: During childbirth, mistakes such as improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction can cause trauma to the baby’s head, leading to brain injuries. Oxygen deprivation during delivery can also result in brain damage.

9. Failure to Diagnose or Treat: Delayed diagnosis or treatment of conditions such as tumors, infections, or bleeding in the brain or spinal cord can result in severe damage.

If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a brain or spinal cord injury due to medical malpractice, it’s crucial to consult with legal and medical professionals to evaluate the specific circumstances. Medical malpractice cases are complex, and a team like Bell Law Firm can help you review medical records and establish any negligence and causation.

Can I sue my doctor for a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury?

Yes, it is possible to sue a doctor for a brain or spinal cord injury if the severe or permanent 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

How do I sue for a brain 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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