When Is a Chiropractor Guilty of Medical Malpractice?
May 11, 2018
People see chiropractors for a variety reasons, from seeking treatment for chronic neck and back pain, to being proactive about maintaining their overall health and wellness. A reputable, qualified chiropractor takes a more holistic approach to health that focuses on maintaining a healthy musculoskeletal and nervous system. One of the main benefits of seeing a chiropractor is that it offers a drug-free, non-invasive treatment option for a wide range of conditions.
However, if a chiropractor does not follow the accepted standard of care causing a patient to be injured, or an existing injury to become aggravated, the patient should consider speaking to a reputable medical malpractice lawyer.
Common Types of Chiropractor Malpractice
- Lack of Informed Consent. A chiropractor must discuss all the possible risks associated with the course of treatment before performing any spinal adjustments. If the chiropractor fails to inform the patient of the risks involved, and he or she suffers an injury because of the treatment, the chiropractor may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
- Negligent manipulation of the body. When the chiropractor causes an existing injury to worsen, or creates a new injury as a result of negligent manipulation of the body, this could be considered chiropractor malpractice. Injuries might include the following:
– Herniated discs
– Broken ribs
– Fractured vertebrae
– Nerve damage
– Pinched nerves
– Sciatic nerve pain
– Neck pain
– Lower back pain - In some cases, chiropractic manipulation could cause a pregnant patient to go into early labor
- Chiropractic induced stroke. In some cases, when a chiropractor is manipulating a patient’s neck, it can damage an artery that delivers blood to the brain which can cause a stroke. While there are hundreds of cases of strokes that have occurred after an aggressive manipulation of the neck, experts believe that these numbers do not reflect the actual number of times this has happened. This is likely due to the fact that doctors rarely think to ask the stroke victim if he or she had been treated by a chiropractor.
- Failure to Diagnose a Serious Condition. Like any other medical professional, a chiropractor has a responsibility to recognize when a medical condition is causing the patient’s symptoms. If the underlying condition is one that requires immediate medical care and the chiropractor fails to properly diagnose the problem, or does not refer the patient to the appropriate medical professional as soon as possible, he or she may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
A skilled and experienced medical malpractice lawyer can assist injured victims in securing the compensation they are entitled to, while ensuring that their rights are protected at all times.
Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Victims of Chiropractor Malpractice
If you or a loved one has an injury that you believe was caused by negligent chiropractic treatment, do not hesitate to contact the skilled Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. As healthcare professionals, chiropractors are responsible for providing quality care to their patients who are interested in an alternate approach to medicine. If your chiropractor did not provide the accepted standard of care, we will hold them liable for any injuries you may have sustained. We will pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent medical malpractice victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
