In October 2021, 29-year-old Joanna Kowalczyk sought chiropractic treatment after injuring her neck at the gym. She didn’t mention her medical history, which included migraines and joint issues.
After her fourth session, she felt dizzy, had double vision, and tingling in her hands and feet. She went home, but her condition worsened, and she later died in the hospital.
The coroner’s report linked her death to a mix of her undiagnosed condition and the chiropractic treatment.
Neck injury at the gym led to chiropractic visit
While exercising at the gym on 26 September, 2021, Kowalczyk felt a crack in her neck. The report says it was likely bilateral arterial dissections.
This is a tear in the layers of the carotid artery located in the neck, and can lead to life-threatening conditions such as a stroke or a bleed on the brain.
Joanna discharged herself from hospital
The day after her injury, the 29-year-old visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead and had a CT scan.
But she left before a lumbar puncture could be carried out, after researching alternative treatments while in hospital.
The chiropractor didn’t see Kowalczyk’s medical history
The coroner’s report said that on the fourth session, Kowalczyk “sustained acute dissections in the same location as the previous dissections during the chiropractic manipulation.”
Her chiropractor was concerned that she had suffered a stroke but tested negative, and although two people advised her to go to hospital, she decided against it.
Symptoms developed during chiropractic session
During her fourth session with the chiropractor in October 2021 she felt dizzy, developed double vision, had a tingling in her right hand and foot, and struggled with speech.
Chiropractor suspected stroke
Her chiropractor was concerned that she had suffered a stroke but tested negative, and although two people advised her to go to hospital she decided against it.
Kowalczyk felt unwell after the appointment
After several hours at the chiropractor’s, her partner helped her return home since she couldn’t walk properly, and the chiropractor gave her a note telling her to go to hospital if she felt any worse.
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Emergency help was called later that evening
Am ambulance was called and the 29-year-old was checked for signs of a stroke, while she was diagnosed with a migraine.
Kowalczyk’s condition worsened the following day
The next day she fell ‘gravely ill’ and paramedics rushed her to hospital where she died on 19 October, 2021.
Coroner’s report highlights underlying medical condition
Assistant coroner for Gateshead and South Tyneside Leila Benyounes found that it was likely Kowalczyk had undiagnosed connective tissue disorder which made her vulnerable to arterial dissections.
Chiropractic Council’s response
A General Chiropractic Council spokesman said: “We expect chiropractors to provide good quality care that is patient-centred, safe and effective, and that is consistent with the current standards for good healthcare practice.”
“We will be carefully considering the important concerns raised by the coroner in her report and will respond directly to her.”
Such a heartbreaking story. Let’s hope it sparks some change moving forward.
