An elderly man was paralyzed from the neck down after a local emergency room physician and physician assistant failed to read (or failed to appreciate) concerning findings on a cervical spine x-ray which had been ordered following the man’s fall at home. While other x-rays were documented as having been reviewed, the c-spine film was not.

The victim was discharged home and awoke the next morning paralyzed from the neck down as a result of damage sustained to his spinal column, which was not recognized at the hospital.