Death By Chiropractic Care? Yes It Can Happen

Chiropractic medicine focuses on treating neuromuscular disorders and spinal problems by manually adjusting and manipulating the body in various ways. It's typically classified as an alternative treatment and has a lot of similarities to physical therapy, which is probably why many people don't fully consider the dangers associated with chiropractic treatments. In fact, body manipulations performed wrong can severely maim and even kill patients. Here's what you need to know about this issue.

Common Chiropractic Injuries

Substandard chiropractic treatment can lead to a number of injuries, with many of them resulting from negligent manipulation of the neck and spine. For instance, researchers looked at case reports published between January 2001 and June 2006 and found over 200 patients experienced significant harm from spinal manipulations including vertebral artery dissection. Another report showed treatments had a negative impact on between 30 and 61 percent of patients.

Common injuries caused by poor chiropractic treatments include disc herniation, bladder paralysis, pinched arteries, spinal stenosis, facial paralysis, sciatic and lumbar pain, and the onset of a bone-weakening disease. However, the most serious outcome a patient can experience is vascular events caused by vertebral artery dissection.

This serious injury is caused by inappropriately manipulating the neck and tearing the major artery that supplies blood to the brain. Many people who are injured this way suffer strokes and/or die. For example, Playboy model Katie May died because a chiropractor tore the artery in her neck. The tear caused a blockage that resulted in her having a stroke and passing away.

Getting Compensated for Injuries

It is possible to get money for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages you suffer as a result of the injuries you sustained at the hands of a chiropractor. Typically, this involves proving the doctor acted negligently in some way that led to you being hurt. This isn't always as simple as it may seem.

To win in court, there has to be a clear connection between the injury and the chiropractor's treatments, which isn't always easy to make. For instance, if you were getting the treatments to fix a health problem that developed as a result of an auto accident, the doctor could point the accident as the source of the injury. You would have to show via medical reports and expert testimony that the chiropractor's manipulations caused or worsened your condition.

Litigating a personal injury case against a chiropractor involves many different legal maneuvers. It's best to work with an attorney who can guide you through the process and get the compensation you deserve.

For more information, contact offices such as Lerner, Piermont & Riverol, P.A.