Published by Arfaa Law Group
Unfortunately, medical malpractice is common in Maryland and throughout the United States. If you were injured or you lost a loved one due to a medical professional’s error in a hospital setting, you may be able to seek compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore hospital malpractice attorney will thoroughly review the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.
The University of Maryland Medical Center, one of the nation’s oldest teaching hospitals, was recently found liable for medical malpractice in a case in which a patient was given a drug that destroyed his colon and ultimately led to his death.
The family of the deceased patient filed a claim against the hospital to seek damages for the death. The facts of the case are as follows. The patient was admitted to the hospital for kidney issues, and, during the treatment, he developed potassium levels that physicians noted were too high. To counteract the high potassium levels, physicians administered the drug Kayexalate.
The drug pulls potassium from the blood into the colon, where it is released through a bowel movement. After the drug was administered, the patient had blood in his stool. It took several hours for the medical staff to respond and determine that something was wrong with his colon. Surgery was performed, and the patient’s colon was removed, but he died the next day.
The jury in the case found that the medical professionals at the hospital committed malpractice. Medical malpractice is the legal term used to refer to a medical professional’s failure to follow the accepted standard of care for their profession, resulting in patient harm. Put another way, medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional deviates from the level of care that another health care provider in the same specialty would have used in the same situation.
Under Maryland law, victims of medical malpractice are permitted to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages generally cover things like medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and more. Non-economic damages include things like pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, and other intangible losses.
In the case at hand, the jury reasoned that the physicians in the case should have made the patient aware of the possible side effects of Kayexalate, including colon damage. Not only did the doctors not warn the patient, but also it was established at trial that they did not even know of the dangers associated with the drug. As a result, the hospital was liable for malpractice.
If you or someone close to you was injured or killed by hospital negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore hospital malpractice attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your harm. With years of experience, we understand how to navigate complex Maryland medical malpractice claims, and you can rest assured we will vigorously advocate for your rights throughout the entire legal process. For more information, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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