The failure to diagnose a patient’s true medical condition can lead to a whole host of serious consequences – from lengthy hospital stays and chronic pain to permanent disability and death. And in some cases, as our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys know, a missed diagnosis can also lead to permanent paralysis, leaving the victim a… Read More
Spinal Cord Injuries and the Law
The term “spinal cord injury” refers to a broad range of injuries causing damage to the spinal cord, causing either a loss of feeling or a loss of motor control in some part of the body. The degree of injury and loss varies widely depending upon the location of the spinal damage and the severity… Read More
Johnny Knox Puts the Spotlight on Spinal Cord Injuries
As most Chicagoans are well aware, Bears receiver Johnny Knox suffered a back injury in the Bears’ December loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Knox suffered a fractured, or broken, vertebra – one of the bones in the back which make up the spinal column. Shortly thereafter, Knox underwent surgery to stabilize the vertebra and allow… Read More
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, sometimes called HIE, is the technical medical term for a type of asphyxia: brain and/or spinal damage caused by a lack of oxygen. When HIE occurs, the body’s oxygen supply is inadequate, and when insufficient oxygen reaches the brain or spine, the cells are damaged. HIE in infants and children is often… Read More
Paralysis from Neck Surgery
Surgery on the neck or cervical spine is often necessary. Given the location of the surgery — the spinal cord — the consequences of medical negligence can be catastrophic, including the possibility of paraplegia (paralysis). Reasons for Neck Surgery Neck surgery, such as a cervical diskectomy or laminectomy, has become rather commonplace. Activities of daily… Read More
Delayed Diagnosis of Meningitis in Children
Meningitis is not a single illness, caused by a single “bug.” Instead, meningitis – often called spinal meningitis – is any one of a number of infections which can occur in the fluid of the spinal cord, or the fluid surrounding the brain. When a meningitis diagnosis is delayed in an infant or child, the… Read More
FELA Recovery for Injured Railroad Workers
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) acts as a failsafe for injured railroad workers. Although FELA is in some respects similar to workers’ compensation – it provides compensation and income for those injured on the job – its origins and operation are actually quite different. Experienced railroad injury attorneys must be familiar with FELA and… Read More
The Dangers of Epidurals
Epidural injections are a form of anesthesia administered via a needle or tube into the spinal column. When an epidural is given, the anesthesiologist (or other doctor — sometimes an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon) inserts a needle which punctures the spinal column, then enters what is known as the “epidural space.” In short, the needle… Read More
Appellate Court Supports Plaintiff’s Right to Fair Damages Award
Taking an accident or personal injury case to trial is a challenging proposition, and requires expertise and careful preparation. But as the Chicago personal injury attorneys of Passen & Powell are aware, even the best-prepared attorney can face occasional injustice at trial. A recent opinion from the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fifth District, confirms the… Read More
Preventing Summer TBI and Spinal Cord Injuries
At Passen & Powell, our Chicago brain injury attorneys and spinal cord injury lawyers are experienced at litigating catastrophic brain and spinal injuries, and getting victims the compensation they deserve. But obtaining justice after the fact is obviously not the ideal solution. Far better is to prevent these life-altering or fatal injuries before they can… Read More