Paralysis is one of the most devastating medical outcomes a person can experience. In some cases, it’s caused by an underlying condition. But in others, it’s the direct result of a preventable medical mistake.
Recognizing the signs that paralysis was caused by medical negligence is the first step toward getting answers and holding the responsible parties accountable. A Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer from Anidjar & Levine can help you file a claim and pursue compensation for you or your loved one.
Common Causes of Paralysis
Paralysis happens when communication between the brain and muscles is interrupted, often due to nerve or spinal cord damage. It can affect a specific area, such as one limb, or the entire body below a certain point. Common causes include:
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage during surgery or trauma can disrupt nerve signals.
- Stroke or brain injury: A blocked artery or brain bleed can stop signals from reaching the muscles.
- Infections or inflammation: Untreated infections in the brain or spinal cord can destroy nerve tissue.
- Medical errors: Mistakes made during diagnosis, treatment, or surgery can cause avoidable nerve or spinal cord damage.
How Medical Mistakes Can Lead to Paralysis
Paralysis caused by a medical mistake usually involves one of these types of errors:
- Surgical mistakes: If a surgeon operates on the wrong area, uses incorrect techniques, or damages the spinal cord or nerves during the procedure, paralysis can result.
- Anesthesia errors: Too much anesthesia or improper placement of an epidural needle can cause spinal or nerve injury.
- Delayed treatment: Waiting too long to treat a stroke, spinal injury, or infection can allow permanent nerve damage to set in.
- Improper positioning: Failing to position a patient correctly during surgery can restrict blood flow or compress nerves, leading to paralysis.
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose: Missing a condition such as a spinal abscess or tumor can allow it to progress until paralysis develops.
Each of these scenarios represents a potential breach of medical standards. When that happens, the resulting harm may qualify as medical negligence.
Signs That Paralysis Was Caused by Medical Negligence
It’s not always easy to tell whether paralysis was caused by negligence or by the underlying condition. However, there are specific signs that suggest a preventable medical mistake may have occurred, including:
- Paralysis developing soon after a medical procedure: If a patient becomes paralyzed right after surgery, anesthesia, or an injection, it’s a red flag that the procedure itself may have caused harm.
- Medical staff giving conflicting explanations: When doctors provide inconsistent or vague reasons for the paralysis, it can indicate uncertainty or an attempt to downplay an error.
- Records showing improper monitoring: If vital signs or neurological status weren’t checked regularly during surgery or recovery, this failure to monitor could have contributed to the injury.
- A delay in response to symptoms: When early signs of nerve damage, such as numbness, weakness, or loss of sensation, are ignored or dismissed, it can lead to avoidable paralysis.
- Infections being left untreated or mismanaged: Untreated infections near the spine or brain can lead to paralysis. If the infection could have been detected earlier with proper care, this may qualify as negligence.
- Another doctor questioning the quality of care: A second opinion from a neurologist or another specialist that highlights mistakes or deviations from protocol can strongly suggest medical negligence.
- The hospital attempting to conceal details: Difficulty obtaining records or inconsistencies in medical documentation often point toward an effort to hide an error.
These signs don’t automatically prove negligence, but they can provide important clues that justify further investigation.
What to Do if You Suspect a Medical Mistake Caused Paralysis
When you believe that you or your loved one’s paralysis resulted from medical negligence, it’s important to act fast. Evidence can disappear, memories fade, and records can become harder to obtain over time. Here’s what to do:
- Request your medical records: You have a legal right to access your records. Review them carefully or have them evaluated by an attorney or medical expert.
- Seek an independent medical opinion: A neurologist or another specialist can determine whether the injury aligns with known complications or suggests a preventable error.
- Document everything: Keep track of all relevant symptoms, dates, and communications with medical staff or hospitals.
- Avoid discussing the case with hospital representatives: Their goal will be to limit liability—not to help you. Direct all communication with them to your attorney.
- Contact a medical malpractice lawyer: A lawyer can assess whether negligence occurred and what compensation may be available to you.
Who May Be Held Responsible?
Several parties can potentially be held accountable when paralysis is linked to medical negligence. Those parties include:
- Surgeons: A surgeon can be liable if the paralysis resulted from a surgical mistake or lack of care during or after the operation.
- Anesthesiologists: An anesthesia provider can be responsible if nerve damage occurred from a misplaced epidural or incorrect drug administration.
- Nurses or hospital staff: Negligent monitoring, failure to report warning signs, or improper patient handling can all contribute to paralysis.
- Hospitals or clinics: If poor staffing, lack of proper equipment, or inadequate training caused the error, the facility itself may share liability.
- Primary care physicians: A doctor who failed to recognize or treat a progressing neurological condition can also be held accountable.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney
When paralysis follows what was supposed to be a routine procedure or hospital stay, you have the right to take legal action. A medical malpractice attorney from Anidjar & Levine can help uncover what went wrong and hold the negligent parties accountable so that you or your loved one can focus on your recovery.
Book a free case review to discuss your situation today.
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