Hospital Negligence

Intravenous Fluid Contamination in Maryland

Published on: July 10, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Intravenous (IV) therapy involves infusing liquid (i.e., blood or medication) directly into a vein. Unfortunately, the fluid in IV bags can become contaminated with bacteria that can adversely affect a patient’s health. If you or someone close to you has been injured or harmed by IV fluid contamination, you may be able to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can examine the circumstances of your injury and determine who was at fault.

In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has investigated a number of instances of IV bag and fluid contamination. If IV bags are not properly sterilized and stored correctly, they can be a breeding ground for bacterial growth. When such contaminated fluids enter a patient’s bloodstream through an IV, the patient may suffer negative health consequences, including but not limited to:

Fever;
Flu-like illness;
Tachycardia;
Respiratory problems;
Sepsis;
Septic shock;
Endocarditis; or
Death.

Premature Discharge from the Hospital Could be Malpractice

Published on: March 7, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

When a patient is in the hospital for any reason, medical professionals should only release that patient when it is safe to do so. When patients are released too soon, it is known as premature discharge. Premature discharge puts patients at risk for health issues that could have been managed at a hospital but cannot be managed at home. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to premature discharge from the hospital, you should reach out to a reputable Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help.

There are many reasons a hospital may discharge a patient early. For instance, the hospital may be overcrowded, and there may be a concern about the number of beds or staff available. The hospital may also be extremely busy, and medical professionals may be in a rush to conclude cases. Sometimes, patients are prematurely released due to a medical professional’s error in judgment in not appreciating the risks of sending the patient home.

If you suffered harm as a result of premature discharge, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the medical professional and even the hospital. In Maryland, medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider causes injuries or death by failing to use the level of care that another health care provider in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In the context of premature discharge cases, the judge will consider if a qualified medical professional would have discharged the patient under the same circumstances. If the answer is no, the next question will be whether the patient’s injury was a direct result of the premature discharge. If the answer is yes, the patient will likely be able to obtain compensation through a lawsuit.

Bed Bug Injuries in Maryland Hospitals

Published on: January 27, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

While you may think that bed bugs are only an issue in hotels and private residences, the reality is they are also sometimes present in hospitals. If you or someone you love was harmed by a bed bug infestation at a hospital, it is important to reach out to a skilled Baltimore hospital negligence attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case. We can investigate your case and help you seek the compensation you deserve.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans. They are small, oval, and flat creatures and are typically brownish-red in color. Fortunately, bed bugs do not spread disease, but they do bite. People may react to the bite differently, depending on their individual sensitivities. As a result, some people have bite marks, while others may have an allergic reaction. The size of the bite can vary as well.

Bedrail Injuries in Maryland Hospitals

Published on: January 24, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Although bedrails are designed to improve safety, they are often the cause of injuries. If you have been injured in a hospital bed, we may be able to help. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore hospital negligence attorneys can advocate for your rights at every step of the way. You can trust that we will make every effort to get you the compensation you deserve in your case.

Bedrails are plastic or metal rails that run along the side of a bed to prevent people from accidentally falling. Unfortunately, bedrail injuries and deaths are more common than you think. Deaths and injuries often occur when the patient becomes stuck in the rails, mainly with his or her head or neck getting caught.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that since 1985, nearly 1,000 elderly care patients have been caught, trapped, or entangled in the bedrails of their hospital beds. This includes over 500 bedrail injuries that ultimately ended in death. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also reported about 160 incidents of bedrail injuries, including 155 deaths between 2003 and 2012.

Falls in Maryland Hospitals

Published on: November 2, 2016 | by Arfaa Law Group

Making sure patients are safe is the responsibility of any health care provider. Unfortunately, each year, many patients in Maryland and throughout the United States are injured in falls that could have been prevented. These falls can seriously injure patients and interfere with their ability to make a full recovery. In fact, the fall can create entirely new medical problems for the patients. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in a fall in a hospital setting, it is important to seek the help and guidance of a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, up to 40 percent of all hospital accidents are falls that could have been prevented. A report by the New England Journal of Internal Medicine highlighted that between 2.3 and seven falls happen for every 1,000 patients in hospitals. In Maryland, hospitals are required to report serious ‘adverse events’ to the Maryland Office of Health Care Quality. Level 1 adverse events are the most serious category of adverse events. The most frequently reported adverse event for 2009 was falls, comprising 52 of the Level 1 adverse events. Fourteen of these falls resulted in death.