Wed Jan 29 19:16:57 IST 2025: ## Woman Dies After Chiropractic Treatment Following Neck Injury at Gym
**Gateshead, UK** – An inquest has revealed the tragic death of 29-year-old Joanna Kowalczyk, who died three days after a chiropractic treatment for neck pain sustained during a gym workout. Ms. Kowalczyk, a gym enthusiast, suffered a neck injury in September 2021, hearing a crack in her neck. While initially advised by hospital doctors to undergo further tests, including a lumbar puncture, she opted for chiropractic care instead.
The inquest, led by Assistant Coroner Leila Benyounes for Gateshead and South Tyneside, found that Ms. Kowalczyk had an undiagnosed connective tissue disorder, increasing her vulnerability to arterial dissection – a potentially fatal tear in an artery’s lining. It’s believed she suffered an arterial dissection during the gym injury, and further tears occurred following chiropractic adjustments.
Over four weeks, Ms. Kowalczyk received multiple chiropractic treatments. Following a session on October 16th, she experienced severe dizziness, double vision, and tingling, prompting a visit from paramedics who initially diagnosed a migraine. However, she later died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead on October 19th.
The coroner expressed concern that the chiropractor treated Ms. Kowalczyk without reviewing her medical history, despite being aware of her recent hospital visit and scans. The coroner noted the lack of a clear prompt in the British Chiropractic Association’s consent form for chiropractors to request medical records. A Prevention of Future Deaths report has been issued to the North East Ambulance Service and the General Chiropractic Council, recommending the latter introduce guidelines requiring chiropractors to review patient medical history before treatment. The organizations have 56 days to respond. The coroner concluded that Ms. Kowalczyk’s death was caused by a combination of the consequences of chiropractic treatment following a naturally occurring medical event.
First Piper 