Close
Serving Clients Throughout Upstate New York with Multiple Convenient Locations Syracuse | Oneida | Watertown | New Hartford | Binghamton | Cortland | Rochester | Oswego | Albany | Buffalo

Spinal Abscess

Syracuse Lawyers for Medical Malpractice Claims

Spinal abscesses are caused by the build-up of pus and germs around or in the spinal cord, that result in infection, inflammation and irritation in that region. Pus is a collection of fluid, white blood cells, destroyed tissue cells, and live and dead bacteria or other microorganisms. Spinal abscesses can be caused by tuberculosis or a staph or fungal infection that spreads through the spine. Health care providers must follow professional standards when identifying and treating a spinal abscess. If you were harmed by a failure to diagnose or treat spinal abscess, you should discuss the viability of a lawsuit with the seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano.

Spinal Abscess

A patient may not experience symptoms when a spinal abscess is just beginning to form. However, as the infection worsens, the resulting pressure can cause sharp pain, sudden onset of pain, rapidly progressing weakness, paralysis below the abscess area, loss of sensation, fever, and loss of bladder or bowel control. You are at greater risk of developing a spinal abscess if you have certain risk factors such as a weakened immune system, ruptured gallbladder, a history of using anticoagulant agents, and injection of illicit drugs. If a doctor misdiagnosed a spinal abscess and allowed it to burst, the dispersal of bacteria throughout the body may be fatal.

Liability for Medical Malpractice

To establish liability for medical malpractice in Syracuse, you will need to prove it’s more likely than not: (1) the defendant health care provider was obliged to provide medical care to you in accord with her professional duty of care, (2) breach of the professional duty of care, (3) causation, and (4) actual damages. The professional standard of care is determined by looking at what other reasonably competent health care providers in the same geographic region and specialty would do. A general practitioner in California may need to follow a different professional duty of care than a surgeon in New York would when presented with identical symptoms. Your lawyer will need to consult with an expert to determine the applicable professional duty of care owed by your Syracuse healthcare providers when diagnosing and treating your spinal abscess.

A doctor should abide by her professional duty of care from the first time she sees you for symptoms of spinal abscess. When doctors depart from the professional standard of care in either diagnosing or treating patients, serious harm may result. Spinal epidural abscess may be treated with surgical decompression, which can be followed by four to six weeks of antibiotic therapy. It may be appropriate to treat selected patients through a nonsurgical method; in some cases, only antibiotics are needed.

When you file your complaint for medical malpractice, your attorneys will also need to file a certificate of merit attesting to their consultation with an expert and that they believe your case is meritorious.

Damages

If you can establish liability, we may be able to recover compensatory damages, which are meant to make you whole. They can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and loss of consortium. When a patient dies due to a failure to diagnose or treat spinal abscess, it may be appropriate to pursue wrongful death damages. While no amount of compensation can make up for the loss of a loved one, recovery for pecuniary losses can be helpful as a family grieves and rebuilds.

Retain a Syracuse Lawyer

If you were injured or a loved one was killed as the result of a failure to diagnose or treat spinal abscess, you should discuss whether you have grounds for bringing a lawsuit for damages with our seasoned Syracuse attorneys. We also represent patients across upstate New York in Auburn, Rochester, Watertown, Elmira, Herkimer, Canandaigua, Utica, Lowville, Oswego, Wampsville, Ithaca, Lyons, Oneida, Cooperstown, and Binghamton. Complete DeFrancisco & Falgiatano’s online form or call us at 833-200-2000.


Verdicts & Settlements
  • $10.5 Million Failure to Diagnose
  • $10.0 Million Medical Malpractice
  • $4.1 Million Birth Injury
  • $3.9 Million Medical Malpractice
  • $2.4 Million Medical Malpractice
  • $2.3 Million Medical Malpractice
  • View More
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"We were very impressed with how Jeff DeFrancisco represented us at trial and we were extremely happy when the jury found in our favor." D.M., Auburn, NY
★★★★★
"I suffered a serious injury as a result of medical malpractice. My husband and I retained Jeff DeFrancisco to assist us in this case. We were extremely happy with his representation and highly recommend him." Kelley R., Syracuse, NY
★★★★★
Since the insurance company was unwilling to settle the matter my case ultimately went to trial. At trial Jeff DeFrancisco did an absolutely amazing job by obtaining a very favorable result for me." T.H., Oneida, NY
★★★★★
"I highly recommend DeFrancisco & Falgiatano - Charlie represented me for a medical malpractice case. He is the best of the best. He is friendly and I am very happy with the representation he provided." Roger N., Oneida, NY
Contact Us