Medical malpractice happens in all fields of medicine, including chiropractic work. While you may not realize it, seeing a chiropractor can potentially be hazardous to your health.
You may suffer cervical artery damage, which may ultimately cause a stroke if your chiropractor performs neck manipulation incorrectly.
What is cervical neck manipulation, and why is it dangerous?
A chiropractic manual adjustment aims to restore a normal range of motion and flexibility in the joint, but sometimes a rare vertebral artery dissection can take place instead.
The vertebral artery is located in the back of the neck and is one of the four primary arteries that are responsible for supplying blood to the brain. It can cause a blood clot when a tear in the artery occurs. An instance in which a blood clot breaks off can cause a stroke due to the artery walls becoming more narrow, restricting blood flow to the brain.
Incidents of vertebral artery dissections typically occur when blunt force trauma is sustained, such as in an automobile accident, high-impact sports, or roller coaster rides. However, they can also happen when you see a chiropractor for neck pain. You may be most apt to suffer artery damages in a situation like this when you are already in a vulnerable state.
What should you do if a chiropractor’s manipulation resulted in a stroke?
Chiropractors may not be medical doctors, but they do have an obligation to exercise a certain standard of care. Ohio law might allow you to recover compensation for medical bills and other expenses if your chiropractor’s actions caused a stroke.
