This is the young woman who died after a visit to a chiropractor to treat a neck injury.
Joanna Kowalczyk, 29, refused a hospital procedure for her injury, caused during a gym training and rather rather to try chiropractic therapy after investigating alternative treatments, an investigation that was heard this month.
Her medical history showed that she regularly suffered migraine and joint hypermobility problems, but the chiropractor was not aware of that.
She also had a non-diagnosed connective tissue disorder that made her susceptible to arterial dissections, which are rare tears in the lining of an artery and can be life threatening, the research heard.
The mother-of-one Mrs. Kowalczyk of Gateeshead, Tyne and Wear, born in Polish, visited a clinic and told the chiropractor that she had dismissed herself from the hospital.
The chiropractor was not aware of her medical history and cracked her neck to try to help with the pain.
It is thought that Mrs. Kowalczyk suffered an arterial dissection when she injured her neck in the gym and that she suffered acute dissections at the same location when the chiropractor broke her neck.
On January 22, the coroner officially expressed their concern that chiropractors are not obliged to check medical files of the patient.
Packborn mother-of-one Joanna Kowalczyk lived in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Coroner Leila Benyounes called on the General Chiropractic Council to introduce new rules for obtaining medical records.
Mrs. Kowalczyk died on October 19, 2021 in Gateeshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital a few days after her chiropractic.
The research heard that she injured her neck in September 2021 during a PT session.
The next day she visited the Emergency Department of a Hospital, where it was recommended that she underwent a medical procedure called a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.
The purpose of the procedure was to exclude the possibility of bleeding, but Mrs. Kowalczyk himself from the hospital, without being implemented, was heard.
Chiropractors supported her with the diagnosis of cervical facet joint syndrome and she was recommended to undergo 'adjustments and manipulation' to which Mrs Kowalczyk agreed.
Mrs. Kowalczyk said her doctor was aware that she would see a chiropractor, who did not receive medical files before her treatment.
In the following weeks she underwent four chiropractic treatments in an unnamed clinic, was heard.
It is thought that Mrs. Kowalczyk sustained an arterial dissection when she injured her neck in the gym
During a session on October 16, after 'the left -wing adjustment to the neck', Mrs. Kowalczyk began to experience 'immediate symptoms of dizziness and space'.
She claimed to have developed a double vision, tingling in her right hand and right foot, she had trouble speaking and even surrendering.
She stayed in the clinic where she rested for a few hours.
The patient was advised to seek medical help in the hospital by both chiropractors, but she did not want to be present.
Later that day, paramedics treated Mrs. Kowalczyk after she started experiencing speech difficulties that was associated with a stroke.
They diagnosed Mrs. Kowalczyk with a migraine after hearing that the “symptoms of dizziness and migraine were normal after the chiropractic treatment.”
The research heard that the medical professional “did not know that the symptoms of a stroke could stop after a short period of time.”
The coroner said that if they had acknowledged that Mrs. Kowalczyk 'was unable to move without help', they would have taken her to the hospital on that day.
The next day Mrs. Kowalczyk fell “seriously unwell with a reduced level of consciousness” and paramedics were called again.
Mrs. Kowalczyk died on October 19, 2021 in Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital (photo)
It was heard that she deteriorated in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and required 'intubation and ventilation'.
Mrs. Kowalczyk died on October 19.
The coroner said: “Joanna Kowalczyk died because of a combination of the consequences of chiropractie -treatment after a naturally occurring medical event, in the background of a non -diagnosed medical condition.”
The coroner returned a formal judgment of Hospital Dood, but gave a prevention of future death report on the North East Ambulance Service and the General Chiropractic Council in the light of her death.
Mrs Benyounes said: 'The proof on behalf of the treating Chiropractor was that he did not consider it necessary to request general practitioner records or hospital files, before assessing whether treatment despite the fact dismissed against medical advice.
'Even in the updated consent form that I received, designed by the British Chiropractic Association, there is no prompt or question designed for the Chiropractor to ask for medical records before assessing or treatment, and when this is suitable are .
'The only reference to medical records is a permission to communicate as necessary for treatment, and to send a report after treatment to the doctor.
“I am concerned that considering obtaining medical records must always be given before the assessment, in particular when recent medical treatment or investigations have been carried out.”
Mrs. Benyounes also brought concern about how the paramedic presenter was 'not aware' that the symptoms of a stroke 'can stop after a short time'.
The organizations have 56 days to respond to the comments of the coroner.
Mrs. Kowalczyk's sister Aleksandra placed a sincere tribute on Instagram on the second birthday of her death and said, “I think we will miss you forever, as the stars miss the sun in the morning sky, our missing piece.”
