CES: Not Operated On Because It Was The Weekend

If doctors delayed your cauda equina treatment because it was the weekend, you may be the victim of medical negligence. Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency and surgery must be carried out immediately, whatever day it may be.

Cauda equina syndrome medical emergency

A patient with cauda equina syndrome should be given either emergency surgical decompression or urgent surgical decompression. There is a slight different between the two in that emergency treatment should be provided within hours, while urgent treatment should be provided within 24 hours.

Emergency treatment should be given to those patients who still have incomplete cauda equina syndrome, meaning they have some executive control over their bladder.

Once bladder control has been lost and a patient is ‘in retention’, the nerves have been irreparably damaged. This is called complete cauda equina syndrome. A patient with complete cauda equina syndrome can be given urgent treatment, rather than emergency treatment, as the injury cannot be reversed.

Emergency surgery over the weekend

If a patient presents to hospital at the weekend with incomplete cauda equina syndrome, emergency treatment should still be arranged. It is not acceptable to say that a patient must wait until Monday to undergo surgery, as there is only a small window of opportunity in which to treat cauda equina syndrome. Any delay and the patient will progress to complete cauda equina syndrome, after which their injuries will be permanent.

However, if a patient presents to hospital at the weekend with complete cauda equina syndrome, it may be acceptable to wait until Monday, as the need for surgery is not as serious.

Were you made to wait for cauda equina surgery?

If you were made to wait for cauda equina surgery – despite the fact you needed emergency treatment – you could have grounds for a medical negligence claim. Medical professionals should be aware that incomplete cauda equina syndrome requires immediate surgical decompression. Arrangements should be made for emergency surgery to be carried out, regardless of what day it is.

If you were subject to an unacceptable delay in cauda equina treatment, you need to talk to a solicitor about the options available to you. You could be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation.

Contact us today

To talk to a solicitor about the management of your cauda equina syndrome, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in cauda equina claims and can assist you further.

Make A Free Cauda Equina Claim Enquiry

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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