Laser Spine Injury Treatments: Fact or Fraud?

When a patient finds themselves fighting pain, they want relief – preferably fast relief as non-invasive as possible. Unfortunately, there are groups and individuals who will take advantage of a patient in this delicate and vulnerable position for their own gain. When researching treatments and methods of pain relief, a patient must be careful to fully research any treatment they consider and weed out fact from fraud.

One treatment that has been under scrutiny lately is laser spine injury treatment. Treatment facilities practicing laser spine injury treatments have been cropping up as demands for alternative pain treatments increase. Facilities that practice this treatment can grow rapidly as they promise outpatient treatments and relief for symptoms resulting from disc and spine pathology or disease. Unfortunately, this procedure has been increasingly found to be both unneeded and unsuccessful.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that some of the facilities are allegedly founded by professional physicians who have had questionable or problematic practice or financial situations before deciding to open up a clinic. For example, one such facility, the Laser Spine Institute (LSI) was founded by an Orthopedic Doctor of spine surgery, James St Louis, who was purportedly immersed in financial challenges when he opened up his new clinic. There are questions about whether those financial issues affected the judgment of Dr. St Louis when it comes to deciding whether or not surgeries are actually necessary. Increased surgeries mean increased income. But the same can be said of many businesses, and this could be an example of government overreaching.

While no one questions the right of an ethical practitioner to reap the financial rewards for years of hard work and diligent treatment of his patients with only his patients’ benefit in mind, the Laser Spine Institute seems to be another matter entirely. As of late 2009, there have been as many as 15 malpractice claims filed against LSI and Dr. St Louis. During that period, 7,500 procedures were performed while the national average for malpractice procedures is 6 claims per every 20,000 procedures.

With the potential for financial gain while promising false relief to patients, it is no surprise that other laser spine injury treatment centers are coming under close watch for possible fraud. In fact, insurance companies are taking a close look at the procedure in general, basing their scrutiny on the possibly high number of unnecessary treatments and possibly questionable scientific backing. Not only is the science or necessity of the procedure in question, but also the billing practices by groups who perform these procedures.

There are increasing cases where patients are filing personal injury claims as a result of their dealings with laser spine surgery centers. If you or your loved ones are concerned that you may be the victim of fraud at the hands of a laser spine surgery center, you still have hope. A personal injury attorney with experience concerning fraudulent medical practices or billing can help you or your loved one to not only recover recompense for losses as a result of the treatment, but also the peace of mind of knowing that someone finally has your best interests, not their own, at heart.

Michael Ehline of Ehline Law Firm PC in Southern California can help a patient or their loved ones to confront the laser spine surgery centers and their doctors and start the process of filing a claim against fraud. Call (888) 400-9721 if you or your loved one feels you may have a claim against a laser spine surgical center or if you have any questions.