Failure to Diagnose a Spinal Abscess

Spinal abscesses are not only painful, but they can also cause serious complications, including paralysis and death, if they are not treated properly. In other words, a prompt diagnosis and thorough care are essential to avoiding lasting harm. Sadly, however, doctors often overlook the signs that a person is suffering from a spinal abscess until it is too late to prevent permanent damage. If you sustained losses due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose a spinal abscess, you might be able to recover compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you should contact an attorney. The skillful Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are adept at proving the liability of doctors that negligently cause their patients harm, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf.

Spinal abscesses are caused by infections that occur between the dura matter, which is the tissue that surrounds the spinal column, and the vertebrae. Typically, these infections are caused by fungus or bacteria that enter the body following a surgical procedure or epidural. Symptoms of a spinal abscess include back pain, fever, pain at the surgical or injection site, and incontinence. Spinal abscesses are usually diagnosed through diagnostic imaging, like MRIs and CT scans. Treatment includes the use of antibiotics, drainage of the abscess, and surgery.

The failure to diagnose a spinal abscess can lead to critical complications, including chronic back pain, permanent harm to the nervous system and brain, meningitis, brain abscess, and paralysis. Tragically, some spinal abscesses cause fatal complications.

The failure to diagnose a spinal abscess is often the result of carelessness. As such, people harmed by their doctor’s incompetence may be able to recover damages via medical malpractice claims. Usually, a plaintiff pursuing damages for the failure to diagnose a spinal abscess will have to establish medical negligence.

In Maryland, this means that the plaintiff will need to prove that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff and that the defendant breached the duty. The duty healthcare providers owe their patients is to treat them in a manner that comports with the applicable standard of care, which is the care that a competent professional who works in the same specialty would offer when presented with a similar situation. Any acts or omissions that deviate from the standard of care are considered a breach.

The plaintiff must also prove that they suffered measurable losses and that the harm sustained was the direct result of the defendant’s breach. While the defendant’s actions do not have to be the only cause of the plaintiff’s harm, the plaintiff has to show that, but for those actions, they would not have suffered losses. As the duties imposed by the standard of care and the issue of whether a defendant complied with the standard are beyond the understanding of the average lay person, the plaintiff will have to hire a medical expert to explain the standard and the ways in which the defendant breached the standard, thereby causing the plaintiff’s harm, to the jury. If the plaintiff proves the defendant’s fault, they may be awarded compensation for the cost of any medical care they needed due to the defendant’s negligence, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and damages for the mental and physical pain and trauma they suffered.

People with spinal abscesses usually respond well to treatment, but the failure to diagnose a spinal abscess can cause treatment delays that result in irreparable harm. If you were injured by a doctor’s failure to provide you with a prompt diagnosis, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should consult an attorney to discuss your potential claims. The capable Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are well-versed in what it takes to prove negligent doctors should be held accountable, and if you engage our services, we will gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a favorable outcome. We frequently assist people in medical malpractice lawsuits in Baltimore, where we have an office. You can reach us via our form online or by calling (410) 889-1850 to set up a free and confidential consultation.