Neurology & neurosurgery

Neurosurgery and neurology are complex areas of medicine that involve problems with the nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

The nervous system is your body’s command centre and is what controls your movements, thoughts and automatic functions like breathing and digestion.

Neurological problems happen when the nervous system is not working properly or is damaged.

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 Frequently Asked Questions 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 See Frequently Asked Questions Key Facts about giving consent
• 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.