"Critical injury overlooked"

After a road traffic accident last year, which incidentally was not my fault, I was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for assessment. I was found to have a broken tibia, de-gloved left shin and a badly lacerated left heel. These injuries were cleaned and bandaged with a view to operate later that day. Although I had been thrown from the motorcycle (approximately 20m) and my helmet was damaged on both sides/clothes torn off, the Emergency Dept. neglected to scan me and admitted me to the ward. My leg was fixed up the next day and the day after I was given crutches to get around. After using the crutches for 24 hrs and suffering ever increasing pain across my shoulders I requested that the doctor investigate, and after a CT scan found that I had a broken neck, at which point I was referred to Royal Perth Hospital. After X-ray, CT & MRI I was found to have a second fracture in my lower spine as well as a broken neck. This resulting in spinal surgery and a halo and body brace being fitted for three months. The surgeon explaining that getting on the crutches could have resulted in quadriplegia, and that I was very lucky not to have ended up in a wheel chair for life.