Pain Medicine

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What is it?

Pain medicine specialists assess, diagnose and treat patients with complex pain, caused by acute injury, chronic pain that persists after an injury has healed, related to cancer, or sometimes as a primary problem without an obvious cause.  Treatment of complex pain conditions often involves a multi-disciplinary approach. 

The Medicolegal Challenges of Chronic Back Pain

by Dr Rishi Khanna, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management

Chronic back pain affects a significant portion of the population and can lead to lasting physical, psychological, and financial challenges. Its complex causes—ranging from structural issues to psychological factors—make diagnosis and management difficult, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach.

Medicolegal issues surrounding proof of causality

The concept of causation is central to every medicolegal case. Even if duty of care and breach can be demonstrated, causality still needs to be proven. A doctor may admit to a breach of care, but if it can be successfully argued that this did not alter the outcome of treatment, the case will fail.

Chronic back pain from a medicolegal perspective

Back pain is extremely common; only the common cold occurs more frequently (1, 2). The annual incidence of back pain is around 15–20%, and up to 85% of people will be affected at some point during their lifetime (1, 3-7). It has an enormous physical and financial cost, as it restricts function, participation in daily […]