An injury such as this is one which has not occurred as a direct result of trauma to the head. Rather, it is an injury which has been brought about because of a medical disorder like disease, infection or a tumour. Contrary to what its label may imply, this type of condition is very distressing for victims and their families.
An injury to the brain such as this is also classed as an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) in that is has come into existence since birth (or indeed, even during childbirth). The fundamental difference between the two types of injury (traumatic and non-traumatic), is that the latter occurs throughout the brain on a cellular level rather than in one concentrated area (localized). Symptoms vary across the spectrum, from mild to severe.
Types of non-traumatic brain injury
Anoxic Injury
Anoxic injury occurs when the brain is not receiving enough oxygen, this often happens during a cardiac arrest situation.
The 3 kinds of anoxic injury are:
Anaemic Anoxia No oxygen is present in the blood that flows to the brain.
Anoxic Anoxia The brain is starved of oxygen.
Toxic Anoxia When toxics in the blood prevent oxygen getting through to the brain.
Hypoxic Injury
Hypoxic Injury occurs when some of the brain cells die through lack of oxygen.
Detection and Diagnosis
Because of the wide spread and often microscopic damage of a non-traumatic brain injury it can be difficult to diagnose with a CAT scan; MRI scans are more successful in detecting brain damage but the high cost of using them is often somewhat limiting.
Common causes
Encephalitis - swelling of the brain caused by an infection Toxic or metabolic injury happens when a person has been over-exposed to harmful chemicals or substances Vascular problems which can result in low blood supply to the brain When cells in the brain mutate and form a brain tumour Methods of brain tumour treatment e.g. chemotherapy Degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease Viruses are a common cause of a non-traumatic brain injury Meningitis (meningeal swelling)Other instances where this type of injury has resulted includes meningitis, (meningeal swelling); Metabolic disorders; Aneurysms; Diabetic comas; Drug abuse; near-drowning experiences.
Children who suffer a non-traumatic brain injury experience more onerous symptoms in cognitive and behavioural areas. They often spend longer in a coma and can sustain muscle disorders like cerebral palsy.
Medical negligence in non-traumatic brain injuries
Because these types of brain injury do not have a direct correlation with a single physical blow to the head and are usually related to complex diseases or conditions, victims can be forgiven for presuming a claim would not be viable. However, there are a number of reasons why a medical negligence claim in a case of non-traumatic brain injury is indeed, very plausible.
Examples of situations where medical negligence may lead to a non-traumatic brain injury
Incorrect diagnosis and failure of prompt treatment Carelessness during or after surgery where there has been an interruption of oxygen to the brain Mistakes made with prescriptions Infections caught in hospital Birth injuries, e.g. cerebral palsy Failure to detect the onset of a stroke Incorrect treatment or misdiagnosis of meningitis or failureOn top of a very distressing medical condition, victims and their families have to also deal with the pressure of loss of earnings, rehabilitation & corrective treatment costs, private care outlays and other associated expenditures.
Investigating how a non-traumatic brain injury was caused and who is responsible can be a complex process but our expert legal team has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all types of personal injury and compensation claims and are fully conversant in all forms of medical protocol necessary to deal with your claim intelligently and appropriately.
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