The Dirty Truth: Chiropractors Under Fire

Chiropractors are everywhere. They have offices in many locations ranging from healthcare facilities to strip malls. It’s not out of the ordinary to hear a close friend or family member making an appointment in order to alleviate various aches and pains.  In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, nearly 20 million people seek relief in a chiropractor’s office each year.  Chiropractic visits are so common, that many people never consider that there could be risks involved.

Are Chiropractors Dangerous?

Attorney Charles Brown is the Managing Partner of MedMalFirm.com – a Houston-based medical malpractice law firm. In response to the often undisclosed risks of chiropractors, Mr. Brown has stated:

“It has become so commonplace that people don’t go to the [chiropractor’s] office thinking of what could go wrong and unfortunately, the risks are rarely discussed before treatment.”

Mr. Brown’s statements come in the wake of the death of a 30-year old man in Oklahoma in 2014.  Reports suggest that the otherwise healthy man visited a chiropractor’s office where he received “neck manipulation,” causing a tear in the artery wall.  He suffered a stroke and later died in an Oklahoma City hospital.

“Chiropractor malpractice is not as uncommon as we would hope,” says Brown.  “Our law firm is currently reviewing a case for a 25-year old man who experienced very similar circumstances here in Texas.  The most alarming parallel between the two is the fact that a person was in obvious distress and nobody called 911.”  

That man survived his injuries after an extensive stay in ICU, however he will likely suffer long-term effects.  A lawsuit was filed in this case in February 2015 by the attorneys at MedMalFirm.com.

Chiropractors in The News

It doesn’t stop there.  The Washington Post reported in January 2014 that a woman in Oklahoma also suffered a stroke during her visit to the chiropractors office.  Almost a decade later, she still suffers from paralysis to one side of her throat, making it difficult to swallow without choking, and has lost vision in her left eye.

This is not the first time chiropractic practices have been under fire, but the chiropractic community seems to be on the defensive, rather than seeing it as a problem even after The American Heart Association released a scientific statement in August of 2014, which stated that the “energetic thrusts and rotations sometimes used in neck manipulation may cause a small tear in the artery walls in the neck which can result in a stroke if a blood clot forms at the site and later breaks free to block a blood vessel to the brain.”

How do they not see the problems related to chiropractor malpractice?  Here we have just three cases where otherwise young, healthy people went in for a “quick adjustment,” and have suffered serious injuries, including death.  Families have lost loved ones and lives have been turned upside down.

“There is a basic and fundamental right to every person seeking treatment, and simply stated that is to have every effort made to save your life if something goes wrong,” continued Brown.  “The laws that govern medical malpractice are complex, so it is important that victims contact an attorney with experience handling cases involving injuries caused by chiropractors as soon as possible.”

Chiropractor malpractice is a serious issue. If you believe you have been the victim of chiropractor malpractice, contact an experienced medical professional immediately to discuss treatment options.  Next, contact MedMalFirm.com to learn more about protecting your legal rights. Request a free consultation by filling out our online form.