A spinal epidural abscess is a serious medical condition that can cause paralysis and, in the worst cases, can lead to fatal complications. As a result, as Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, “[a]n epidural abscess needs to be treated right away.”
So, what if a doctor doesn’t treat a spinal epidural abscess right away?
In these cases, a medical malpractice claim may be warranted. Patients and families can file medical malpractice claims based on both failure to diagnose and failure to treat. If a doctor fails to diagnose a spinal epidural abscess or fails to treat a spinal epidural abscess despite a timely diagnosis, these are both issues that can potentially justify claims for financial compensation.
While medical malpractice can take many different forms, some forms are more common than others. For example, two of the most common forms of medical malpractice are: (i) failure to diagnose, and (ii) failure to treat. Both of these can be—and often are—issues in spinal epidural abscess cases.
Failure to diagnose a spinal epidural abscess can result from a variety of different mistakes in the medical setting. Oftentimes, it is a combination of mistakes that ultimately leads to a doctor overlooking or misdiagnosing a patient’s condition. Some examples of common mistakes that can lead to misdiagnosis of a spinal epidural abscess include:
These mistakes (among others) can all justify medical malpractice claims in many instances. The fact that these kinds of mistakes are common does not mean that they are justified. Doctors have a legal duty to provide an adequate standard of care—and, if they fail to meet this duty, they can be held accountable for all of the financial and non-financial costs that their patients are forced to endure.
As noted above, prompt treatment is essential for mitigating the serious medical risks associated with spinal epidural abscesses. When a patient develops a spinal epidural abscess, diagnosing the patient’s condition is just the first step. The next step is to provide timely and appropriate treatment. As the National Library of Medicine explains:
“The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and reduce the risk for permanent damage. Treatment usually includes antibiotics and surgery. . . . Surgery may be needed to drain or remove the abscess. Surgery is also often needed to reduce pressure on the spinal cord or brain, if there is weakness or damage to the nerves.”
If a spinal epidural abscess is not treated promptly, this can lead to bone infections, nerve damage, severe chronic pain, and paralysis—among other serious complications. These can all leave patients facing significant financial and non-financial costs. If these costs could (and should) have been prevented with proper and timely treatment, this can provide clear grounds for patients to seek just compensation as well. If you have questions about filing a medical malpractice claim related to improper diagnosis or treatment of a spinal epidural abscess, your first step is to consult with an experienced attorney.
At Coplan + Crane, we provide experienced legal representation for patients who are suffering due to diagnostic errors, treatment errors, and other medical mistakes. If you believe a spinal epidural abscess was overlooked or not treated quickly enough, you do not have to navigate the aftermath alone. Our team can review what happened, explain your legal options, and help you understand whether malpractice may have played a role in your outcome. We are committed to fighting for those harmed by preventable medical errors, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact the Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Coplan + Crane online or at (312) 982-0588 today for a FREE case evaluation. We proudly serve clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
