When a Patient is Paralyzed by a Doctor’s Mistake
Learning that you are unable to walk or move a limb is devastating. It impacts every part of your life. When a patient is paralyzed by a doctor’s mistake, it can be even more overwhelming and frustrating. If this has happened to you, you may have a case of medical malpractice, especially if the doctor did not act in a way that other doctors would have in the same situation.
If you are suffering this type of loss, it is critical that you obtain the legal guidance and representation you need. Our Syracuse medical malpractice lawyer at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, has the experience and knowledge to be able to help you through this process.
What Causes Paralysis?
Paralysis typically occurs as the result of some type of injury to the central nervous system, the system that connects nerves that run throughout your body to the brain. This pathway of information helps the brain to tell muscles when and how to work. Paralysis often occurs when damage to one of those key nerves occurs, making it impossible for proper communication to happen. It is not uncommon for this to occur as a result of a medical mistake, especially if you are having surgery on the spinal column.
Is It Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor or another healthcare professional makes a mistake because they deviated in some way from protocol or best practices. If they did not follow the standards of care, and that is what caused the injuries you have, that may be a case of negligence, and it may be a malpractice case.
Errors may include:
- Mistakes at childbirth that cause damage to the nerves in the baby’s neck, such as being torn or compressed
- Diagnostic errors, such as when a doctor diagnoses a condition improperly, and that leads to mistakes in treatment
- Surgical errors due to oversight or negligent behavior
In order to know if you are the victim of medical malpractice, it is critical to have evidence that shows that the doctor did not follow the standards of care that other doctors in the same situation would have. By better understanding this, including through getting additional information from witnesses or speaking to medical experts, it may be possible to show that the doctor was negligent.
You May Be Owed Compensation for Your Losses
When a patient is paralyzed by a doctor’s mistake, and it is possible to show that negligence occurred, compensation for their losses may be available to them. That compensation cannot take away the limitations you feel, but it can provide an opportunity for you to pay for the best medical care and ongoing treatment you may need. You may need ongoing care and support that these funds can help you pay for going forward.
Let our Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys in Central New York help you. Contact us now for a free consultation to discuss your specific needs and what occurred in your case. Let us fight to protect your rights to compensation now.