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What are the most common reasons that give rise to neurosurgical malpractice actions?
Neurosurgeons are among the most likely specialists to face medical malpractice claims. Neurosurgery, which involves the diagnosis and treatment of patients with injuries or disease to the brain, spine, and nerves, is a complex field. Neurosurgeons are highly trained to work in the delicate region of the brain and spine. However, mistakes made involving the brain and spine frequently lead to catastrophic injuries. At times, the negligence of a neurosurgeon is found to be the root cause of a debilitating condition or death of a patient.
Neurosurgery Basics
A neurosurgeon is a physician who is trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. Conditions that may be treated by a neurosurgeon include:
- Brain or spinal cord infections
- Strokes
- Aneurysms
- Tumors in the brain, spine, or nerves
- Nerve injuries
- Hydrocephalus
- Degenerative spinal disease
- Traumatic injuries to the brain, spine, or nerves
Neurosurgeons require several additional years of training to work in this difficult field.
Facts About Neurosurgical Malpractice Claims
An analysis published in World Neurosurgery found that neurosurgeons are often named as a defendant in neurosurgery medical malpractice actions. The median payout for plaintiff verdicts in a neurosurgical medical malpractice case is $2.55 million, while cases that settle average a $1.3 million award.
The most common causes of neurosurgical malpractice cases include:
Failure to diagnose: Successful treatment of any serious injury or condition first requires a proper diagnosis. One of the most common causes of neurosurgical malpractice cases is the failure to timely diagnosis. This can result when a doctor fails to take a complete medical history or fails to perform the appropriate diagnostic tests.
Surgical errors: Errors that happen on the operating table can lead to medical malpractice cases. Neurosurgeons work in the most sensitive areas of the body. A mistake made while operating on a patient’s brain or spine can result in a brain injured patient or one who can no longer walk.
Anyone who believes they have suffered a serious injury as a result of a neurosurgeon’s actions or inactions should consult with a medical malpractice attorney right away. Neurosurgical medical malpractice cases often involve severe injuries and high stakes, so take action to protect your legal rights today.