Maryland Chiropractor Malpractice Lawyer
Information from the National Institutes of Health suggests that roughly 80 percent of us will experience back pain to one degree or another during our lives. The discomfort can vary greatly, as some will contend with dull, nagging aches and others will suffer sharp, often debilitating episodes.
Because back pain can cause significant disruptions to an individual’s ability to work, play and generally enjoy life, countless Americans turn to chiropractic care as a means of obtaining relief. It is undoubtedly true that chiropractic treatment has benefited a large number of patients suffering from neuro-muscular disorders and other complaints.
However, practitioners of this type of healing art are not immune from making mistakes, and when such errors occur, the harm to patients can be profound. A Maryland chiropractor malpractice lawyer is often the best ally for individuals who have been injured by professional negligence while seeking this type of treatment.
Important Facts About Chiropractic Care
Broadly speaking, chiropractic treatment involves adjustment of a patient’s spinal column and manipulation of joints as well as soft tissues which may be interfering with proper nervous system function. According to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, licensing and professional regulation of chiropractors varies by state.
Some jurisdictions restricting practitioners to spinal manipulation only and others permitting a broader range of treatments and procedures which could include acupuncture, lab diagnostics and more.
Professionals who undertake chiropractic treatment of patients must closely adhere to their state’s regulations, and divergence from those standards can result in patient harm as well as very serious licensing sanctions.
Common Scenarios Involving Chiropractor Malpractice
Chiropractic malpractice results when a treating professional makes errors or omissions which represent departures from the prevailing standard of care within the field. Though patients can suffer harm in a range of ways, there are some distinct types of situations which occur more often than others.
Negligent spinal manipulation by a chiropractor can exacerbate existing injuries or perhaps produce problematic new conditions, including:
- nerve damage
- facial paralysis
- reduction of bladder and bowel function
- disc herniation
- spinal stenosis
- vertigo
- rib fractures
- neck pain
- neurological harm
Another frightening potential result of negligent manipulation of the neck is a medical event known as a chiropractic-induced stroke. This can occur when a key artery linked to the brain either suffers blockage or rupture due to improper technique on the part of the chiropractor. In some patients, a stroke caused by negligent chiropractic care of this type may not even happen until days or weeks after the treatment was received.
It also is important for chiropractic patients to understand that professionals in this field owe them a duty to pay close attention to possible underlying health conditions such as blocked arteries and diagnose them in a timely manner.
A failure of a chiropractor to do so which subsequently results in patient harm can form the basis of a malpractice claim, something many who seek this type or treatment on a regular basis may not realize. Further, a chiropractor’s failure to secure informed consent before performing any adjustment or procedure can give rise to a malpractice lawsuit if a subsequent injury occurs.
Pursuing Justice with the Help of a Chiropractic Malpractice Lawyer
Though filing a malpractice action may be something most only consider in the context of treatment by medical doctors, it is vital that chiropractic patients appreciate that the law also affords them the ability to seek compensation for injuries sustained during procedures of this sort.
Enlisting the aid of a chiropractic malpractice lawyer in Maryland is often the best way for patients to maximize the possibility of securing fair payment for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages suffered through no fault of their own.
Helping Chiropractic Malpractice Victims Seek Justice
By taking an individualized approach to every malpractice claim we handle, our attorneys are able to provide the comprehensive client service injury victims deserve. If you would like to learn more about how we can help assert your right to compensation in the aftermath of professional negligence, contact a MD chiropractor malpractice attorney with our firm today.
