Many patients were left paralyzed and in agony after treatments at a hospital in Alamgordo, NM. One law firm has secured $33 million in settlements for roughly 60 malpractice claims.
The sad thing is that these paralyzed and otherwise-injured patients could have avoided it all by taking a few simple precautions.
Over 80 Paralyzed or In Pain in New Mexico
These patients were given an unconventional (and apparently untested and unproven) procedure. Patients were subjected to having cement injected in between vertebrae to "support" worn out or damaged disks.
The cement is reported to be similar to Plexiglas. The substance was meant to aid the disks in their cushioning function.
The Damage Was Done
Unfortunately for at least 80 of the patients, the cement seeped into other parts of the spine during the operation! This seepage later splintered and caused a great deal of pain-and in some cases, even paralysis-for the patients.
The hospital-the largest in Otero County, NM-filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the lawsuits. It should be able to emerge from the Chapter 11 once it has handled the settlement with the 80 patients.
Unfortunately, no amount of money will help those patients regain movement in their limbs.
How Could They Have Avoided It?
There are a few simple steps that anyone should go through before they undergo a major operation.
First of all, you should get a second opinion before invasive surgery-just to be sure. Doctors who are confident that they are doing the right thing usually won’t mind referring you for a second opinion. If your doctor seems hesitant or takes offense, that could be a bad sign.
Be sure to ask for your doctor's success rate of the type of operation he or she recommends. Again, take note of his or her reaction.
Finally, it's best to do some research on your own. This is much easier in today’s world than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Find out what others have said about it or if any medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed in relation to the procedure. Consult your doctor if you feel there is cause for concern.
Whether you or a loved one had suffered from surgical injuries or medical misdiagnosis, contact Snyder and Snyder immediately and receive a free consultation from an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland.