Different types of medical malpractice can result in a variety of negative consequences for patients. Some people go months without a diagnosis and become very sick as a result. Others may undergo the wrong type of surgery and then become ineligible for the treatment they desperately need.
Occasionally, medical professionals providing treatment can cause nerve damage to a patient. Nerve damage can occur during a botched labor and delivery scenario. Either the mother or the child could develop nerve injuries because of what a doctor does. Surgeries can lead to nerve damage if the surgeon makes an error during the procedure. Even the administration of anesthesia could potentially cause nerve damage. Patients may then need help seeking compensation for the effects that the nerve damage has on their daily lives, healthcare needs or ability to work.
What does nerve damage do?
The location of the nerve damage, the extent of the damage and the type of nerve affected determine the consequences of medically-induced nerve damage. Damage to motor nerves can impair physical functions such as gripping or lifting.
Damage to sensory nerves can cause a variety of symptoms including intractable chronic pain. Damage to autonomic nerves can affect the body’s ability to regulate subconscious behaviors, like digestion. Nerve damage can impact someone’s quality of life, worsen pre-existing medical conditions and limit their ability to support themselves and their families.
Injured patients can take legal action
Frequently, nerve damage is the result of either negligence or some kind of gross deviation from the best standards of care in a particular area of medicine. For example, the improper use of forceps or suction assistance during the delivery process could lead to nerve damage in the newborn baby with long-term medical consequences.
A botched epidural or episiotomy performed on the mother could have long-term medical consequences for her. Surgical injuries often involve a slip of the wrist or a misplaced incision. Working with a bit more care and communicating proactively with patients can often prevent scenarios in which doctors cause serious nerve damage.
Patients dealing with nerve damage may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. If other medical professionals agree that the standard of care that they received does not conform to current best practices, they may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Seeking compensation for nerve damage through a medical malpractice lawsuit can potentially help people pay for treatment expenses, increased cost of living expenses and lost income. Patients shouldn’t have to live with the consequences of errors made by the medical professionals they trusted.