Failure to Properly Treat Cauda Equina

New Mexico Attorneys Representing Medical Malpractice Victims

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious condition that can cause significant harm if it is not addressed in a prompt manner. Thus, it is critical for people suffering from cauda equina syndrome not only to receive an accurate and timely diagnosis but also to undergo appropriate treatment as soon as possible. If a doctor neglects to provide proper treatment for a patient with cauda equina syndrome, the doctor may be held accountable for any harm that the patient suffers because of insufficient care. If you were diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome and subsequently sustained harm due to a failure to properly treat cauda equina, you should meet with an attorney to discuss your rights. At the Branch Law Firm, our Albuquerque medical malpractice lawyers are adept at aiding parties harmed by medical negligence in the pursuit of damages.

Harm Caused by Improper Treatment of Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina refers to a group of nerves at the end of a person’s spine. As a result, cauda equina syndrome is the name for the neurological and physiological issues that arise when the nerves are compressed. Compression can occur because of inflammation, a slipped disc, sudden trauma, stenosis, or a disease. When a person suffering from cauda equina syndrome receives proper treatment, he or she may expect to see a significant improvement in symptoms. Typically, emergency surgery to relieve pressure on the nerves is the treatment prescribed for cauda equina syndrome. Surgery is usually most effective when it is performed as soon as possible after a patient’s diagnosis, and surgery within 48 hours of diagnosis gives patients the most potential for improvement of motor function and sensation. If a patient does not receive prompt and adequate treatment, however, cauda equina syndrome can cause paralysis, loss of sensation in the legs and feet, inability to control the bowels or bladder, and other issues.

Holding a Doctor Accountable for a Failure to Properly Treat Cauda Equina Syndrome

If a person suffers harm due to a doctor’s failure to properly treat cauda equina syndrome, the doctor may be held accountable for the person’s harm. Specifically, patients who believe that they suffered harm because of inadequate medical care can seek compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Generally, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice lawsuit will assert a theory of medical negligence. In other words, the plaintiff and their lawyer must demonstrate that the doctor had a duty to provide treatment that met a certain standard of care, but the doctor breached the duty owed, thereby causing the plaintiff’s harm.

Thus, in cases in which it is alleged that a doctor failed to properly treat cauda equina syndrome, the plaintiff must show that a competent doctor in the same practice area would have treated the plaintiff in a different manner than the defendant doctor when presented with the same set of circumstances. For example, if the standard dictates that surgery should be performed within 48 hours, but the plaintiff did not undergo surgery for eight days after receiving a diagnosis, this can be used as evidence that the defendant breached the duty owed. In most cases, the plaintiff will need to retain an expert to explain the standard of care and the treatment necessary to comply with the standard. Expert testimony may also be needed to prove that the plaintiff would not have suffered harm but for the defendant’s breach of the duty owed.

Speak with a Capable New Mexico Attorney

Cauda equina syndrome can cause permanent impairments if it is not treated properly. If you sustained injuries due to a doctor’s failure to properly treat cauda equina syndrome following your diagnosis, you may be owed compensation and should speak to an attorney. Our medical malpractice lawyers at the Branch Law Firm are dedicated to helping people harmed by incompetent medical care seek justice in the New Mexico courts, and we will aid you in the pursuit of any damages that you may be owed. We represent injured parties in cases throughout New Mexico, including people in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell, Clovis, Hobbs, Los Alamos, Rio Rancho, Alamogordo, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Carlsbad, Taos, Farmington, and Los Lunas. Contact the Branch Law Firm at (800) 828-4529 to schedule a free and confidential meeting.