Paraplegia And Quadriplegia

The human body contains a very fragile system: the nervous system.  One mistake made by an anesthesiologist or a surgeon during an operation may result in permanent damage to the spine and the central nervous system, leaving a person paralyzed for the rest of their life.

Paraplegia and quadriplegia are two very devastating injuries.  Paraplegia is a condition where the motor or sensory function of the lower extremities is gone.  Similarly, quadriplegia is where an individual is paralyzed from the neck down.  Both of these conditions can result from different circumstances, including:

• Brain damage
• Head trauma
• Medical malpractice
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injury

The mistakes made by health care professionals and surgeons that can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia include:

• A failure to diagnose spinal or cervical tumors
• An undiagnosed stroke
• Anesthesia errors
• Cutting vital nerves
• Intubation (breathing tube) injuries that affect the spinal cord
• Medication errors
• Misplaced epidural injections
• Nicking or cutting vital nerves

As a result of these injuries, the quality of a person’s life can be greatly affected.  The victim may suffer from loss of mobility, loss of sensation, difficulty eating, incontinence, and other hardships.  The people who suffer from paraplegia or quadriplegia are left unable to care for themselves, perform the job they used to, and are even limited in the types of household chores and daily activities they can perform.  The victim may require adaptive equipment, adapted living quarters, daily care, and ongoing, expensive medical treatment.  In addition to suffering from the physical injury, people who have suddenly become paraplegic or quadriplegic often suffer from emotional trauma or depression.

If you or a loved one has been left paralyzed because of the negligence of a health care professional, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to evaluate your case.  You may be entitled to damages including past and future medical bills, lost wages, future earnings, and pain and suffering.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.