Medical treatments have been greatly improved in the last century as technology has exploded with advances at a rate that has never before been seen. However, as technology advances, so does the need to cultivate it; doctors must be able to successfully utilize new medical equipment and surgical tools or risk doing severe or irreversible damage to patients. Newly developed techniques and procedures must also be carefully studied to ensure that they are not dangerous or can lead to potential harm. Cryotherapy is a procedure that has entered the forefront of the medical world, partially due to its widespread usage among professional athletes. Doctors and healthcare physicians have adopted the technique and administered it to their patients, but there have been reports of injuries from undergoing the process. At Normandie Law Firm, we are dedicated to bringing our clients the fairest compensation for their injuries, especially if those damages were sustained while receiving medical help. If you need an attorney to sue an entity, contact us. Our clients have approached us with questions about Cryotherapy and the legal process of filing a claim in the wake of an injury. Examples of other questions include:
- Has there been a cryotherapy death?
- I had cryotherapy resulting in second degree burns. Who can I sue for damages?
- I need a skilled attorney with expertise in cryotherapy. Who should I call?
- Does cryotherapy actually work? If it doesn’t, can I sue?
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that involves subjecting the body to extremely cold temperatures in an effort to help the person heal. The procedure is borne of the idea that applying ice to wounds will help with inflammation and reduce swelling, lower the pain in the affected area, increase blood flow, and help the proper cells inundate the area. Generally, heat and ice should be applied one after another, as regulation is important.
Cryotherapy involves the idea of ice application and takes it to another level. Cryotherapy machines are set up in such a manner that a person must stand inside of one with certain protective wear on. Then, liquid nitrogen or refrigerated air floods the chamber, dropping temperatures to numbers as low as -250 degrees Fahrenheit. These drastically low temperatures are not found anywhere on Earth and can cause death to someone if he is exposed to it for even a short period of time. Cryotherapy sessions usually last 2 to 3 minutes, which is not enough time for the body to develop any debilitating conditions like frostbite or hypothermia.
The procedure has been used in surgical rooms by doctors who need to remove potentially dangerous sections of cells; these cells may be cancerous or malignant in some way, and the only option to safely remove them is via cryotherapy. It has been used to treat abnormalities on the surface of the cervix as well as harmful cells on the prostate gland. However, it can also be used to remove non-cancerous growths and other similar abnormalities on the body, such as moles, warts, lesions, and more.
The treatment is said to also help with depression, weight loss, youthfulness, and disease prevention, but unfortunately, there have been no conclusive pieces of medical evidence to support these claims. Various studies have been conducted that measure the possible health effects, both positive and negative, that cryotherapy can have on the body, but nothing has turned up. Pair that with the fact that there is no set of guidelines or regulations present in the cryotherapy industry, and it becomes difficult to argue for or against it. There simply is not enough evidence for an educated claim to be made.
However, there are some facts that can be agreed upon. Cold therapy devices, which are essentially small, portable devices that can be used at home, are used in the wake of some surgeries to help with the healing process. These devices circulate water and ice through a pad to the affected area, which is a slightly more active version of applying an ice pack or a bag of crushed ice. Many scientists and medical professionals agree that these devices need clear instructions, as some patients may leave them on too long and develop injuries like frostbite or a second degree burn.
Types of Injuries from Cryotherapy
Incorrect administration of cryotherapy can lead to debilitating injuries. As stated, the body is not equipped to survive very long in temperatures of up to -250 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do not leave the chamber after a certain amount of time, your body temperature can drop, which can cause organ failure and force your heart to stop beating, as it will not be warm enough to pump blood through your body.
More commonly, you would be exposed to second or third degree burns and frostbite injuries. These injuries can greatly damage your flesh and layers of skin, even requiring amputation at some points (as in the case of a finger or toe). You may also be subjected to nerve damage, skin damage, disfigurement, and more. A cold therapy device that is left on an area too long may completely destroy the section of skin and flesh, forcing it to be amputated to prevent gangrene or necrosis from setting in.
Less commonly, you may suffer side effects from cryotherapy. Because it has not yet been regulated as a medical procedure and extensive research has not been conducted, the list of side effects goes on and on, and varies depending on the type of treatment and location. For instance, with treatments that affect the prostate gland, some men have reported instances of incontinence or impotence, and there may have even been links to infertility. Women who have undergone cryo treatments have also reported side effects of bleeding and infection.
If you have been injured in any way from a cryotherapy accident, contact one of our experienced lawyers at the top-rated Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles to file a lawsuit against the responsible organization.
Earning Compensation
There are numerous types of claims that you can file if you have sustained injuries from a cryotherapy treatment. An experienced attorney can help you decide which claim would be the most beneficial in filing.
You can elect to file a personal injury claim against a professional who administered the treatment at a private facility, for example; you may elect to sue a doctor or healthcare professional for medical malpractice if he or she negligently allowed you get hurt while undergoing the procedure; or you may file a product liability claim against a business if the cold therapy device malfunctioned in some way (some companies to look out for manufacture these devices are EBIce Cold System, Donjoy Iceman, and Breg Polar Care).
These claims can get you different types of compensation, but you will often be able to recover:
- Medical Expenses: If your injuries caused you to undergo surgery, stay in the hospital, receive medication and prescription drugs, or require physical therapy, you can be reimbursed for these costs. Further, you can be covered for both future and past medical costs if your injuries require you to spend time at the doctor in the future or to undergo additional surgery and treatments.
- Lost Wages: You can recover lost wages if your injuries have prevented you from going to work for a number of days. It should not be held against you that you need to receive medical treatment or miss work for other reasons. You can be reimbursed for both future and past earnings as well.
- Pain and Suffering: Emotional damage, or pain and suffering, can be argued for in the event that lasting emotional effects lingered after the injury. These effects can include anxiety, depression, fear, PTSD, emotional scarring, psychological damage, and more. It is impossible to place a dollar amount on these damages, however, and the amount you can receive varies.
- Punitive Damages: If the responsible party acted with gross negligence or with the intent to harm, you can receive punitive damages in your claim. Punitive damages are merely extra amounts of compensation awarded in lieu of criminal punishment; they are meant purely to punish the defendant and to dissuade him or her from committing similar actions in the future. Only the most accomplished lawyers can successfully argue for punitive damages, as many courts view them as excessive or unnecessary.
A lawyer experienced in handling cryotherapy cases can make sure you earn the maximum compensation for these injuries.
Why Choose Us?
Normandie Law Firm is one of the top law firms in the Los Angeles area. Our team of expert lawyers is here to make sure you receive the best restitution possible for your cryotherapy case. We want to ensure that you are healthy and safe, as well as try to help you not worry about finances while recovering from an injury.
For this reason, we offer you a zero fee guarantee on your case. We will see your claim through to the end, and throughout the entire legal process, you will not pay a dime. If we win and bring you a settlement, our fees come from the sum of the settlement itself, not out of your pocket. That way, your savings remain untouched, and the entity you’ve sued pays your lawyer fees. If we lose, you owe us nothing.
Call us today for a free legal consultation on your case. We will connect you with a qualified member of our team who will walk you through the legal process and answer any questions you have. Our attorneys have experience handling cryotherapy cases and similar claims and will not let you down.
