Thousands of people in Ohio are plagued by back pain. Open a magazine, watch TV and one may get the impression it’s one of the foremost health issues in the country, and it is. The population is aging and body parts are not immune. Back pain is one of the most common complaints among those who are middle-aged or elderly. There are many types of surgeries that strive to relieve back pain, and one such surgery in another state failed and resulted in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
A 42-year-old woman suffered from numbness and pain in her lower back. Doctors performed a laminectomy, also known as spinal decompression. Complications resulting from the surgery left her mostly paralyzed from the chest down. It is believed that the complications were caused by a failure to remove a gelfoam dressing used during the surgery as well as an absence of drains to drain off excess fluid from the surgical area.
The patient has limited movement but not enough to enable her to walk. She is the mother of two young children. The lawsuit was settled for $5 million and will be paid by the state as the surgeon worked for a state-funded hospital.
People in Ohio entrust their health to skilled surgeons. While surgeons are human and mistakes can happen, proper care should be taken to help ensure a positive outcome. Anyone in Ohio who believes oneself or a loved one has suffered from complications resulting from surgery may wish to seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can review the case and advise the client as to whether a civil suit for medical malpractice is a viable option.