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Neurosurgery Malpractice Lawyers
Ohio & Northern Kentucky Medical Malpractice Attorneys for Neurosurgery Errors
In the realm of medical care, few fields demand the precision and expertise that neurosurgery does. Even in the most critical situations, however, mistakes can occur. When the stakes are high and errors happen, the consequences can be life-altering, and negligent medical professionals should be held responsible for their actions.
If you or a loved one have experienced traumatic injuries due to a doctor’s failure or medical error, the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati medical malpractice lawyers at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm are here to help you seek justice. We understand the profound impact of neurosurgery malpractice claims on individuals and their families, and we want to help ensure they get the compensation they deserve. Call us toll-free at (800) 698-4054 to schedule a free consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys today.
What is Neurosurgery?
Neurosurgery refers to any surgical procedure done to prevent or treat any damage to the nervous system. The nervous system is what transmits sensory information to the brain and transmits commands from the brain, allowing us to do things like think, feel, see, touch, and move.
The body’s nervous system is broken into two parts: central and peripheral. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system consists of the other nerves that run throughout the body.
When people suffer from things like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries or degenerative diseases that harm the central nervous system, they can experience changes in cognition, movement ability, sensory processing, and more. Neurosurgeons work to diagnose and treat these issues, and they spend many years in medical school training to do so.
Unfortunately, neurosurgeons can make mistakes–all doctors can. But when neurosurgeons make surgical errors or fail to take proper precautions during their procedures, they have a massive potential for harm. When neurosurgeons fail to meet the standards of care, they can cause their patients to suffer life-altering injuries or even death.
Common Medical Conditions That May Require Neurosurgery
Since neurosurgery can be so risky, surgeons often only treat a few, life-threatening neurological conditions. Below are some of the most common conditions that neurosurgeons can treat through brain or spinal surgery.
Brain Tumors
Brain tumors are collections of abnormal cells that grow within the brain, which can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Non-cancerous tumors can press on brain tissue and cause pressure, whereas cancerous tumors can destroy brain tissue and cause serious brain damage. Neurosurgeons can surgically remove all or part of the tumor in order to prevent further damage.
Spinal Cord Disorders
Many neurosurgeons also treat spinal cord disorders, such as tumors, spinal stenosis, and herniated discs. Spinal stenosis occurs when the backbone does not have enough space for the spinal cord, which puts pressure on the spinal cord. Surgeons can work to create space for the spinal cord to prevent pain and nerve compression.
A herniated disc is when the central part of a spinal disc (the rubbery material that sits between the vertebrae) breaks through the outer part of the disc, which can put pressure on the nearby nerves. Neurosurgeons can remove the damaged part of the spinal disc to relieve that pressure and prevent further damage.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures, which are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that can cause a person to jerk or move uncontrollably, lose consciousness, or experience a very sudden change in behavior or cognition. Epilepsy causes the brain to experience abnormal nerve cell activity, which can trigger a seizure.
While epilepsy can be treated by medications, some patients still experience seizures, in which case neurosurgeons can remove part of the brain that is experiencing this abnormal cell activity to prevent seizures in the future.
The Dangers of Neurosurgery
All surgical procedures have certain risks attached to them, many of which are very serious. However, since the nervous system is so vital to the body’s ability to function and the nervous system is so delicate, neurosurgeons have very little room for error. Even the smallest surgical errors during brain and spinal surgeries can cause irreversible brain damage, nerve damage, and even death.
When a neurosurgeon fails to take the proper precautions, makes an error during surgery, or fails to inform their patient of the serious risks associated with the procedure, they can be found liable for any personal injury they cause. Victims of medical negligence can seek compensation from the medical professional that caused their brain injury or spinal injury in a medical malpractice case.
Common Causes of Neurosurgery Medical Malpractice Cases
Many medical malpractice lawsuits involve surgical error, which is when the doctor makes a preventable mistake during surgery. When neurosurgeons make mistakes during surgery, they can cause damage to the brain, spinal cord, or other nerves, leaving their patient permanently disabled or worse.
While neurosurgeons can treat a brain bleed, by making a mistake during brain surgery, they can also cause a brain bleed. This can leave a patient with irreversible brain damage. Neurosurgeon malpractice can even occur before any surgical procedure takes place. If a neurosurgeon misreads test results or incorrectly evaluates a patient’s condition, they could order surgery on a patient that does not require it. This exposes that patient to unnecessary risk and they could suffer both physically and financially as a result of the unneeded surgery.
Do I Have a Neurosurgical Malpractice Claim?
Like all medical malpractice claims, neurosurgical malpractice claims must have the 4 elements of negligence present in order for a victim to take legal action. These four elements include:
- Duty of care, which says that the doctor must act within the scope of their job and not cause unnecessary harm to their patient
- Breach of duty of care, which occurs when a doctor acts in a way that causes harm
- Causation, which means that the victim’s injuries were caused by the doctor’s breach of duty; and
- Damages, which are the losses the victim suffered from as a result of their injuries.
If you have experienced harm due to a neurosurgeon’s negligence and you suffered from financial and non-financial damages as a result, you may have a valid medical malpractice case. Call the Ohio and Northern Kentucky medical malpractice attorneys at TLF at (800) 698-4054 to discuss your claim with one of our legal professionals as soon as possible.
Neurosurgery Malpractice Lawsuit Damages
If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries as a result of surgical malpractice, you may be able to receive financial compensation for your losses, including:
- Past medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Lost quality of life;
- Loss of consortium;
- Future medical care;
- Physical pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress; and
- Funeral and burial expenses, in the event of wrongful death.
How the Northern Kentucky and Ohio Medical Malpractice Attorneys at TLF Can Help
If you have suffered from injuries caused by a surgical error or another form of medical negligence, the experienced neurosurgery malpractice lawyers at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm are here to help. With a long history of handling medical malpractice claims and providing expert legal representation to injured patients, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands.
Your well-being is our priority, and we’re dedicated to helping you regain control over your life. We’ll fight for you and help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and more. Call our Kentucky office at (859) 578-9130, our Ohio office at (513) 651-4130, or toll-free at (800) 698-4054, or contact us online and schedule a free initial case evaluation with one of our experienced attorneys.
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You Pay No Fees Unless We Win!
We are happy to offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. If you hire us as your legal counsel, we will represent you on a contingency-fee basis. You will pay no attorneys’ fees unless we recover financial damages.