Many people seek treatment from a chiropractor to relieve pain and to treat injuries or musculoskeletal conditions. While chiropractic injuries are rare, when they do occur, they can be devastating. If you have suffered chiropractic injuries, you are not alone. Like any other medical doctor, chiropractors can be subject to a claim for medical malpractice if you have supporting evidence.
How Chiropractic Treatment Is Effective
Chiropractic treatment has been used since the start of civilization. It can effectively treat neck, back, head, and joint pain, focusing on the proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system. The treatment focuses on the idea that spinal misalignment can influence and cause pain throughout the body, so treating the spine can improve the individual’s overall health.
The Two Kinds Of Chiropractic Medical Malpractice
Two kinds of medical malpractice can result from chiropractic care. Chiropractors treat patients through manipulation of the body and the spine. Failing to adhere to the standard of care to treat a patient can cause injuries, and if those injuries are the result of this failure to abide by standard practices, there may be a claim for medical malpractice. Two general types of medical malpractice can result from improper chiropractic treatment: failure to diagnose or negligent technique utilized for spinal manipulation.
Failure to diagnose: Like other doctors, chiropractors have a responsibility to accurately diagnose their patients and to treat the conditions appropriately to the best of their abilities. If a chiropractor does not ask enough questions or fails to run tests because they assume that chiropractic care will be effective, and by such omission, they fail to diagnose a particular condition, that may constitute malpractice. Along the same lines, if a chiropractor discourages a patient from visiting a conventional physician, and thereby causes a medical condition to not be diagnosed, that also may constitute malpractice.
Negligent spinal manipulation: A spinal adjustment is a potentially dangerous procedure that requires the expertise and skill of an experienced chiropractor. If the procedure is performed wrong, it can cause catastrophic injuries by either worsening an existing injury or causing a new injury, either of which can result in lifelong problems. Many injuries can result from a spinal manipulation gone wrong, including herniated discs, strokes, pinched arteries or pinched nerves, body or facial paralysis, compressed spinal nerves, vertigo, severe headaches, numbness, and tingling.
Speak With A Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you have suffered an injury as a result of chiropractic misdiagnosis or spinal manipulation gone wrong, you should speak with a Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney. Call the Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq., for a free case review regarding your chiropractic medical malpractice claim.