A tragic incident unfolded weeks after a young woman experienced neck pain during a gym workout. Following a “crack” in her neck, 29-year-old Joanna Kowalczyk passed away after receiving chiropractic treatment, an inquest revealed. In September 2021, Joanna injured her neck at the gym and chose chiropractic therapy over hospital treatment, believing in alternative remedies. It was later discovered that she may have suffered an arterial dissection during the gym incident, as reported by The Times.
Shortly after the initial arterial dissection, Joanna experienced additional tears in the same area following a chiropractic neck adjustment. An undiagnosed connective tissue disorder made her susceptible to such complications, along with a history of migraines and joint hypermobility issues.
Assistant coroner Leila Benyounes concluded that Joanna’s death on October 19, 2021, resulted from “a combination of the consequences of chiropractic treatment following a naturally occurring medical event.” The coroner recommended that the General Chiropractic Council implement guidelines for chiropractors to review a patient’s medical history before proceeding with treatment.
After hearing a crack in her neck, Joanna initially visited the hospital. Despite doctors advising her to undergo further tests, she opted for chiropractic treatment for pain relief. The chiropractor was informed about her hospital visit and CT scan but failed to request medical records before starting treatment.
Over the next few weeks, Joanna attended multiple chiropractic sessions. On October 16, 2021, she experienced severe symptoms during an appointment and was advised to seek medical attention. Paramedics treated her at home, attributing her symptoms to a migraine. However, Joanna’s condition worsened, leading to her untimely demise at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.
The coroner recorded Joanna’s death as a hospital death but issued a prevention of future deaths report to the North East Ambulance Service and the General Chiropractic Council. Concerns were raised regarding the lack of consideration for obtaining medical records before treatment, highlighting the need for improved protocols in such cases.
The British Chiropractic Association’s updated consent form also lacked a prompt for chiropractors to request medical records before assessment, raising further concerns about patient safety.
The organizations involved have been given 56 days to respond to the coroner’s recommendations, emphasizing the importance of thorough medical evaluations before chiropractic treatment.
