Can I Sue for a Missed Spinal Cord Abscess?
It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation in relation to a spinal cord abscess if it can be seen that medical professionals had the opportunity to diagnose the condition but failed to do so. It would also be necessary to show that the patient had suffered significant, long-term effects as a result of this failure of diagnosis.
Impact of a failure to diagnose
If a spinal abscess goes undiagnosed, it can cause a catastrophic outcome for the patient.
- As the abscess develops, it is likely to cause inflammation around the spine and this, in turn, may cause the nerves which pass through the spinal cord to become squashed or compressed, reducing their ability to function. This, in turn, can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms such as loss of sensation and/or control in various parts of the body depending on the region of the spine which has been affected. This can leave the patient with mobility and continence issues.
- An untreated infection can cause a septic response within the patient's body which can quickly threaten the functioning of the patient's major organs.
Both of the above scenarios become increasingly likely the longer a diagnosis is delayed, making a competent medical response crucial to the long-term well-being of the patient.
Recognising the signs of a spinal abscess
Patients who have a spinal abscess are likely to experience symptoms of pain around the spine and be suffering with a high temperature.
If the nerves are becoming compressed, they may also be starting to suffer neurological symptoms such as pins and needles in the hands, arms and legs.
Early treatment, probably in the form of antibiotics and surgery, requires confirmation of the underlying cause of the patient's symptoms and they will probably require an MRI scan as a matter of urgency.
A delay in treatment will increase the chances of a poor outcome.
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