Medical Malpractice – Botched Cervical Epidural Causes Permanent Spinal Cord Injuries: Decker v. Michigan Primary Care Partners

Sommers Schwartz attorneys Richard Fox and Lisa Esser-Weidenfeller filed a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of a woman who suffered a permanent spinal cord injury due to the negligent administration of a cervical epidural steroid injection. 

According to the complaint, the defendant doctor diagnosed the plaintiff with cervical radiculopathy, a condition in which a nerve root in the cervical spine becomes inflamed or damaged, causing significant pain and other symptoms. The doctor told plaintiff she would benefit from a cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI).

Unfortunately, during the CESI procedure, the defendant doctor failed to properly place the needle and, as a result, instead of properly injecting the solutions in the epidural space, he negligently penetrated and injected the spinal cord itself.  As a result, the plaintiff suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries that have left her with permanent disabilities, including limited functioning in the left arm and hand, and other injuries that have required extensive physical therapy, assistive devices, and medication. 

The lawsuit seeks compensation for the plaintiff’s medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished future earning capacity, among other damages.