Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Louisiana

Spinal Taps

My wife visited a local hospital Emergency Room with high fever and a headache. The Physician, that was on duty, insisted on conductng a Lumbar Pucture to rule out Menegitis. However, he had difficulty in inserting the needle. He ended up inserting the the needle 8 to 10 times, without successfully drawing fluid. He then called in a Radiologist to perform the test. As a result of him sticking the spine so many times, he left a hole everywhere he inserted the needle. After the Spinal Tap, my wife has severe headaches. At first, the doctors did not know what was causing the severe headaches. After a MRI, it was determined that she was leaking spinal fluid. To correct the problem, she had a Blood Patch done. My wife ended staying in the hospital for 6 days and accumulating a huge hosital bill, due to the incompentance of the emergency room doctor. Did Medical Malpractice occur?


Asked on 3/15/04, 11:30 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nick Pizzolatto, Jr. Pizzolatto Law Office

Re: Spinal Taps

You need to go to the hospital and request a copy of your wife's records. Sign whatever forms they require, and contact an attorney experienced in malpractice. Spinal "taps" most always cause some fluid leaks, and the resulting headaches are normal, BUT SO are BLOOD PATCHES......So, get the records and take them to an attorney. What we do is then get an independant medical person to go over the records to determine if the doctor and/or hospital's actions fell below the acceptable standard.

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Answered on 3/15/04, 12:16 pm


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