What types of brain injuries are caused by medical malpractice? Brain injuries can be caused by a wide range of actions or inactions, from car accidents to falls to being struck by an object. Medical malpractice can also cause brain injuries, but it is sometimes overlooked as a cause. Anyone who gets medical treatment from a healthcare professional wants to assume that they are in the best hands possible and receiving the treatment they need. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. When a doctor makes a mistake, and it leads to a brain injury, it can affect the patient for the rest of their lives. In some cases, it can be fatal. Every case is different, but some types of injuries frequently appear when they are related to medical malpractice.
Types of Brain Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice
Brain injuries caused by medical malpractice are very different from brain injuries caused by a traumatic event. In a medical malpractice situation, you may not realize that the brain injury could have been prevented if your health care professional had done things differently. Whenever a brain injury arises after a medical event, it is worth at least considering whether medical malpractice occurred and getting a legal opinion about your situation.Underlying Medical Issues
Perhaps one of the main reasons brain injuries occur is that the patient has an underlying medical condition that leads to brain damage. The potential for a medical malpractice claim arises when the doctor or another medical health professional does not diagnose and treat the underlying problem. In those cases, the brain injury may have been prevented, but the medical professional did not take action in time.Examples of underlying medical conditions that might lead to brain damage include:
- Mumps
- Trichinosis
- Rubella
- Rabies
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis
- Myelitis
- Cerebral cysticercosis
- Abscesses.
Sepsis
Sepsis is another medical condition that can lead to brain damage. It is especially problematic, because hospitals do not often look for the signs of sepsis and notice it only after it has done significant damage. Sepsis is often contracted in the hospital. It causes organ failure, and one of the first organs to fail is the brain. Severe burns and significant wounds make the probability of contracting sepsis much higher.Oxygen Deprivation: Brain Hypoxia
Brain hypoxia occurs when the brain does not get enough oxygen. If the brain is deprived of oxygen long enough, it can result in seizures, coma, and even brain death. More mild symptoms affect your memory, concentration, ability to move and to make decisions. There are a wide variety of potential causes for this type of brain injury. However, when this brain injury is caused by medical malpractice, it is often the result of misdiagnosis, slow diagnosis, anesthesia errors, and problems related to surgery. In addition, if you have any underlying breathing problems, a delay in treatment can lead to oxygen deprivation in the brain.Acute Medical Conditions
A failure to diagnose and treat an acute medical condition can also lead to brain damage. Misdiagnosis can also have the same result. Examples of these acute conditions include:- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Pulmonary embolism
- Blood clot
- Aneurysm
- Brain bleed.
Brain Bleeds (Brain Hemorrhage)
A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke. It is caused when an artery bursts in the brain, resulting in bleeding that kills the brain cells in the surrounding area. It also results in swelling, which is called cerebral edema. The swelling increases the pressure in the brain, which then reduces the blood flow. Brain bleeds account for about 13% of all strokes. Brain bleeds can result from surgical errors, liver disease, brain tumors, head trauma, and high blood pressure. Any of these can be caused by medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis can also lead to issues that result in brain bleeds.