You may have read in the news recently about a mother from Jacksonville, Florida that recently discovered doctors left an epidural needle in her spine, fourteen years ago.  Amy Bright, 41 years old, has endured many years of severe back pain.  The source of that pain was discovered when she recently underwent a “CT scan in 2017 which revealed that three centimeters of the needle was embedded into her spine,” according to Independent.  After the scan, her doctors told her “that because of the needle’s location, it will be too risky to remove, leaving Bright with no choice other than to live with it inside of her and treat the pain with medication.”  The article goes on to say that because of the way the epidural was administered, and the size of the needle, the medical professionals must have known the needle was left inside of the Jacksonville mother.  The mother said, “It has gotten to the point where it just burns constantly.”  The Miami Herald reported the mother as saying that the pain “also shoots down the left side of my leg on my calf… and then down and into my foot.”  According to her attorney, “It’s documented in her medical records that they had an unsuccessful spinal needle attempt at Naval Hospital Jacksonville in September of 2003.”

This unbelievable account is more common than you may realize.  Medical malpractice has become a leading cause of death in this country.  CNBC reports that it is now the third leading cause of death claiming the lives of between 250,000 and 440,000 every year.  We rely on the medical community for treatment and quality of life.  Unfortunately, experiences like those of Amy Bright have led many to question medical practices.

Medical malpractice litigation is complex.  Understanding the law, and science behind medical procedures is critical to the success of your claim.  Dealing with insurance companies, deposing medical professionals, pouring through medical documents, and calculating the full extent of damages are just a few of the components that go into a thorough claim of medical malpractice.  Unavoidable mistakes sometimes happen, but more often than not patients are injured or killed by careless mistakes.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a medical professional, contact Bryan W. Crews today.  The dedicated attorneys at Bryan W. Crews will evaluate your claim for free.  Statistics published by the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences found that roughly 98,000 patients die per year in hospitals due to medical errors.  Do not hesitate to contact an attorney, and do not be intimidated by insurance companies.