Neurology & neurosurgery

Neurology and neurosurgery are complex areas of medicine involving the brain, spinal cord and nerves. When something goes wrong with the diagnosis, treatment or surgical management of a neurological condition, the consequences can be serious and, in some cases, life-changing.

At Davies and Partners, our medical negligence solicitors help people who have been harmed by avoidable mistakes in neurological care or neurosurgery. We understand that these cases are often medically complex and emotionally difficult. Our role is to listen to what happened, investigate the care you received and explain whether you may be able to bring a claim.

Neurological conditions

A neurological condition is any condition that affects the brain, spine or nerves and there are almost 500 known neurological conditions which include:

Brain tumours
Stroke
Hydrocephalus
Epilepsy and seizures
Parkinson’s
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Spinal cord problems or injuries
Cerebral palsy
Headaches and migraine

Neurosurgery by its very nature comes with risks, and complications can happen without any negligence. It is important that you are informed about the risks of neurosurgery and told about all the options for treatment before you agree – this is known as consent.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for key facts about giving consent.

When might neurosurgery or neurology negligence happen?

Examples of neurology and neurosurgery clinical negligence cases include:

failing to diagnose brain tumours
injuries resulting from the failure to give antibiotics during neurosurgery
failure to diagnose a fractured spine on a CT scan
misdiagnosing Parkinson’s disease
misdiagnosis of a shunt dysfunction
failure to manage epilepsy medication
delayed diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina syndrome
Lack of informed consent to treatment or surgery
Injury caused to the spine or brain during surgery

When there are avoidable mistakes that cause a brain injury or damage to the spinal cord, the consequences can be life changing. A person may require ongoing care and significant rehabilitation, suffer financial hardship as a result of not being able to work or need housing to accommodate a wheelchair.

We recognise that nothing can turn back the clock and put someone in the position they were in before the negligence, but a successful clinical negligence claim can ease financial hardship in the future and compensate for past losses, such as losing a job.

Compensation can provide funds for a client’s needs and may include:

Care
Equipment, such as a wheelchair and hoists
Appropriate changes to the home to allow wheelchair access – this may include a new adapted property
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Loss of earnings and pension

A successful claim can make a real difference to a person’s quality of life and that of their family helping then to manage the future with less worry and concern.

We will work closely with you and specialist medico-legal experts to investigate your claim and to understand what happened and secure the best outcome to provide comfort for the future.

If you have concerns about neurosurgery, neurological or spinal treatment you have received, please contact us to arrange a free initial discussion.