Cauda Equina Emergency Care Failings and When to Claim Compensation
Diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina nerve compression is an emergency for a very good reason and failings on the part of medical professionals in relation to this life-changing condition may justify a claim for compensation.
A timely response to cauda equina compression
A slow medical response to the possible symptoms of compression of the cauda equina nerves in the lumbar region of the spine leaves the patient susceptible to a lifetime of disability.
These crucial nerves provide a person's experience of sensation and movement in the lower body. Specifically, if the functioning of these nerves is lost, an individual can suffer permanent bladder and bowel dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and loss of mobility.
Unfortunately, many professionals have little familiarity with this fairly rare condition and yet, a delay in diagnosis and surgery can be life-changing.
An early diagnosis followed by prompt surgery can bring about recovery of function and prevention of further deterioration. On the other hand, a delay in either diagnosis or surgery can allow time for the nerve compression to worsen and for the lower body symptoms to become both more severe as well as permanent.
The outcome for the patient can be bleak indeed, especially if this appalling situation need not have happened with an appropriate and timely level of medical care.
When to claim compensation
It may be possible to claim compensation if the patient suffers a worse outcome than should have been necessary due to medical negligence of some form. This may be a failure of examination, a misdiagnosis, a failure to make a referral for an MRI scan or a delay in initiating treatment in the form of surgical decompression of the spine. If the patient's condition worsens because of the delay which the negligence has caused, a claim may be appropriate.
It is important to bear in mind that compensation claims are associated with a deadline of three-years from the date of the alleged negligence. Contact a specialist solicitor as promptly as possible in order to give them time to investigate your claim before the deadline expires.
Speak to a solicitor
Glynns Solicitors specialise in medical negligence claims in general and cauda equina syndrome claims in particular. We can offer extensive experience and expertise in these complex and often high-value claims.
Contact us today to talk to a solicitor, free of charge, about the possibility of making a claim for the impact of your cauda equina syndrome.
We can offer No Win No Fee funding for medical negligence claims which we will discuss with you during your free initial telephone discussion.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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