A 34 year-old model suffered a pinched nerve during a photo shoot and went to her chiropractor for relief. The neck adjustment allegedly tore her vertebral artery, causing a stroke. Days later, she was dead.

While chiropractic care has many benefits, medical research has confirmed the risk of vascular arterial dissection and strokes from chiropractic manipulations. Chiropractic manipulations that involve rapid turning or snapping of the neck to one side may over-stretch an artery that runs along the spine. This can tear the artery, blocking blood flow to the brain and resulting in a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke.

According to a 2011 study published by the National Institute of Health (NIH), “Chiropractic manipulation of the cervical spine can produce dissections involving the cervical and cranial segments of the vertebral and carotid arteries. These injuries can be severe, requiring endovascular stenting and cranial surgery.”

The American Heart Association warns of these stroke symptoms:

• Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

Adler & Manson currently represents Kansas and Missouri clients who suffered strokes caused by a chiropractic spine manipulation.

If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke or other injury following a chiropractic adjustment to the neck or cervical region, we can help. Call us today at 816-216-6214 for a free evaluation.

As FOX News reports, 69-year-old Diana Birch lost a kidney and must now use walking sticks to walk following her rectal surgery. She has filed suit against Britain’s National Health Services, which provided the surgery and ultimately can hold the doctor’s responsible accountable.

“Diana went to the hospital for corrective surgery and left with a life-changing injury from which she will never recover,” Birch’s lawyer told The Mirror. “As a result of her injury, her mobility has been significantly diminished and she had to sell her home as she could no longer cope with the stairs. She has been unable to return to work as director of a charity and as an expert witness in child abuse cases.”

“This Has Changed My Life Completely”

It’s been three years since the surgery and Birch, who counted travel, charity work, dancing, and judo among her hobbies, told the UK press that she is still is coming to grips with what has happened to her. “This has changed my life completely,” she told The Mirror, “and three years later I am still trying to come to terms with what has happened to me and what could have been done to prevent it or correct it before it was too late.”

Fortunately, it looks like the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has little grounds to stand on to dispute Birch’s claims. An investigation into her procedure found that surgeons had done accidental damage to her femoral nerve after they entered the wrong part of her body. The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has already provided Birch some compensation for rehabilitation, but her new suit seeks damages that will address future treatment and expenses.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a medical professional, then we invite you to contact us at Adler & Manson today. Our trusted team of Kansas City medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys not only have decades of experience but have also recovered more than $80 million for our clients.

No matter what the nature of your malpractice claim is, we’re here to help you review your options. Contact us today to speak with our team.