Brain injuries, regardless of how they are suffered, are serious injuries and should be treated as such. However, the way they are diagnosed (and eventually treated) may be fraught with hazards since different types of brain injuries register different symptoms.
To understand the science behind how brain injuries can be different, consider this: the brain is essentially divided into different sections. These sections are called lobes, and they help control different bodily functions. For example, the frontal lobe (located on a person’s forehead) regulates a person’s ability to concentrate, as well as their emotions and inhibitions. The parietal lobe helps a person understand their sense of touch, depth perception and other visual functions. Also, the cerebral lobe controls a person’s balance and motor skills.
With that said, the symptoms a person may have will differ depending on the area of the brain affected. A person who is experiencing difficulty with balance and depth perception is likely to have suffered damage to their parietal and cerebral lobes. Similarly, a person who experiences persistent headaches and depression after a concussion possibly could have suffered damage to their frontal lobe.
Either way, these distinctions are important in understanding how a particular brain injury should be treated. With doctors having a duty to use reasonable care in diagnosing and treating ailments, knowing how different injuries affect different functions is essential. If a doctor fails to use such care and a patient is injured as a result, the offending doctor could be held liable.
The preceding is not medical or legal advice. If you have questions about medical malpractice, an experienced attorney can help.