Medical Malpractice News

Expert Says Culture of Medical Overtreatment Needs to Change in Maryland and throughout the US

Published on: November 9, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Medical overtreatment is a scary reality in Maryland and throughout the US. If you or a family member has suffered harm because of medical overtreatment, you should reach out to a Baltimore medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. Sadly, overtreatment is very common and can lead to a variety of negative health consequences for a patient and we believe that you shouldn’t have to deal with these consequences on your own.

The Research

Medical schools and facilities need to try and challenge the culture of medical overtreatment, says Barnett Kramer, MD, MPH, and the director of the cancer prevention division at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. The main issue recognized by a medical historian in the study is the insufficient training surrounding uncertainty in medical schools. In some cases, doctors must accept uncertainty because failing to do so leads to overusing tests and treatment. Another thing medical schools and doctors need to understand, according to the expert, is that it is okay to wait and see in some situations, and decisions do not have to be made right in that moment in every case.

Doctors Unwilling to Recommend their Profession in Maryland and Nationwide, Study Says

Published on: October 5, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Sadly, medical malpractice causes countless injuries in Maryland and across the United States every year. If you or a person you love has been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional, you should consult a diligent Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. Medical malpractice cases are incredibly complex but you can trust that we will help you obtain the answers you need following a medical mistake

Seven out of 10 doctors are not willing to recommend their chosen profession to their children or other family members, according to a nationwide Future of Healthcare Survey of over 3,400 doctors released by The Doctors Company. Respondents included primary care physicians, surgical specialists, inpatient medical specialists and diagnosticians.

Respondents cited electronic health records (EHRs) and value-based care as key reasons for their viewpoint. Specifically, fifty-four percent said they believe EHRs have negatively impacted the doctor-patient relationship, and 61 percent said they believe EHRs negative affect efficiency and productivity. In addition, 49 percent said they believe value0based care and reimbursed will negatively impact patient care.

Burnout Leads to Doctors Prescribing the Wrong Medication in Maryland and Throughout the Nation

Published on: September 24, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

When a doctor, nurse or any other medical professional is negligent, the results can be devastating. If you have been injured or someone you know has died due to medical malpractice, you need the help of a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to getting our clients the compensation they deserve for their harm. Time is of the essence in these cases so it is important to act as quickly as possible after your medical injury.

Doctors with burnout are twice as likely to prescribe the wrong medication and make the wrong diagnoses, according to a new large-scale study. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined 57 research papers that analyzed the responses of 43,000 doctors. The conclusion was that burnout has devastating effects on the quality of care that a patient receives. Burnout also makes doctors twice as likely to lower professional standards, such as not following set protocols and policies. For junior doctors, burnout increases the chances of lower professional standards by 3.5 times.

The study also revealed that patient satisfaction was significantly lower when doctors were physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted – key signs of burnout. The study confirms what has been known for a while: doctors work best when they are not overworked to the degree that they experience burnout. In other words, the well being of a doctor directly impacts patient care.

Study Says Real-time Technology Can Assist Physicians Reduce Complications and Save Money

Published on: August 27, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical malpractice takes place much more often than it should. If you or your family member suffered harm and you believe malpractice was the cause, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we empathize with individuals and families who have suffered preventable harm as a result of a medical professional’s error or carelessness. You can rest assured that we can compassionately guide you through the entire legal process.

A recent study printed in the American Journal of Managed Care found that real-time technology allowed physicians to make good decisions in a timely manner and provide better care to patients at lower costs. The study was conducted by Dr. Harry C. Sax, executive vice chair of surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and a variety of other physicians, researchers, and companies.

The research team placed electronic reminders into the hospital’s electronic health records, highlighting for doctors in real time when their care guidelines departed from evidence-based medical guidelines. The team then evaluated what would happen to patients whose physicians followed all guidelines versus those whose physicians did not follow any of them. The study examined almost 26,500 patients admitted to Cedars-Sinai over a three-year time span.

Radiologists Among Most Sued Medical Professionals, Study Says

Published on: August 14, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

A correct and timely diagnosis often depends on the accurate and timely interpretation of radiology reports. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. If you have been injured due to a radiology error, we may be able to help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can investigate every aspect of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options accordingly.Radiologists are involved in 15 percent of diagnosis-related medical malpractice lawsuits, second only to those involving general medicine medical professionals, according to a new report produced by Boston-based medical professional liability insurer Coverys. The report analyzed more than 10,000 claims, identifying a total of 595 radiology-related malpractice claims from 2013 to 2017. The data show that 80 percent of all diagnosis-related claims stem from the misinterpretation of clinical tests. In addition, 80 percent of missed diagnosis lawsuits in radiology involve either permanent injury or death to the patient.

Radiologists play a critical role in correctly and accurately diagnosing patients. Among those radiology claims alleging diagnostic failure, cancer misdiagnoses were the most common, according to the report, with breast, lung, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers being the most prevalent.

Maryland Court Rejects Malpractice Award Based on Patient’s Suicide

Published on: August 7, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you believe that you have been a victim of a medical professional’s mistake, you need a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who will fight to get you the best possible result. Determining whether you have a viable medical malpractice claim is not easy, but having a skilled attorney on your side can make a huge difference in your case.Last month, Maryland’s highest court tossed a $2.3 million jury verdict in a lawsuit accusing a psychiatrist and a hospital of improperly discharging a mental health patient who committed suicide on the following day, reasoning that a doctor who discharges an involuntarily admitted patient in good faith is immune from civil liability.

The Maryland Mental Health Law provides criteria for the involuntary admission of an individual to a mental health facility and a process for evaluating whether the individual meets those criteria. Hospitals, as well as their employees, have civil and criminal immunity when they follow the process in good faith. The process starts with the initiation application for involuntary admission and concludes upon a hearing officer’s decision whether to admit or release that person. If the doctor followed statutory criteria and made the decision to release an individual in good faith, that decision cannot form the basis of a jury verdict for medical malpractice.

Maryland Hospital Errors Have Decreased

Published on: July 24, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

As a society, we put great trust in medical professionals to help us to get better. If you or someone close to you has been injured at a hospital due to a medical professional’s negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our highly skilled hospital negligence attorneys will examine the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.

A recent study by the Leapfrog Group found that hospital errors have decreased from 2016-2017. The study used a wide range of sources, including Medicare; the American Hospital Association and surveys that the hospitals filled out on a voluntary basis to compile its data. After being ranked in the bottom five of the country’s safest hospitals, the state of Maryland has taken proactive steps to improve its safety rating by reducing medical mistakes and preventing injuries and infections. According to the Leapfrog Group’s evaluation, the safety measures did take Maryland out of the bottom five; however, there is still room for improvement.

Leapfrog assigned Maryland hospitals letter grades based on a range of patient safety measures. In the last assessment, only one of the state’s 44 hospitals earned an A, while seven received a B. The majority earned a C, while eight got a D and one even received an F. According to the most recent assessment, ten hospitals in Maryland have improved their grades. However, the majority of hospitals still received a grade of C or below, indicating the work that still needs to be done.

Jury Awards Nearly $30 million for Woman’s Death in Medical Malpractice Case

Published on: July 17, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

It is estimated that almost 100,000 people in the United States die every year due to medical malpractice. If you have lost a loved one due to a medical professional’s negligence, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore wrongful death attorney who can provide you with reliable legal advice.

Forty-year-old C.D. died in Iowa after having a reaction to dye used for a routine CT scan in June of 2015. C.D. was at a local hospital to receive a CT scan. She had an allergic reaction to the contrast dye given to her for the scan and went into anaphylactic shock and lost consciousness. The plaintiffs in the case allege that the doctor was negligent in his treatment of C.D. because he failed to immediately take her vital signs and did not administer epinephrine, which could have reversed the anaphylactic shock. In short, the plaintiffs sued the doctor claiming his negligence cause C.D.’s death.

The doctor and the hospital denied the negligence claims and the case went to trial.

Women Left Brain Damaged After Cosmetic Surgery; Doctor Sued for Malpractice

Published on: June 21, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Cosmetic and plastic surgeries are more popular than ever. These procedures are intended to improve people’s appearances, yet they can do more harm than good when not performed properly. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries as a result of medical malpractice during cosmetic surgery, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore surgical malpractice attorney who can help.

Last week, we covered the story about the “dancing doctor” from Georgia. This week, we dive deeper into one of the patients she hurt.

One 54-year-old woman was left brain damaged after undergoing cosmetic surgery just weeks before her wedding after going to the medical spa and cosmetic surgery center of Dr. Windell Boutte. While she initially went for Botox and anti-wrinkle treatment, the staff recommended a procedure that would give the bride-to-be a flat stomach prior to her wedding. Boutte’s website promoted her as a “doctor to the stars.”

“Dancing Doctor” Accused of Malpractice, License Suspended

Published on: June 14, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

When you undergo surgery, you expect to receive competent care. Unfortunately, not all patients receive the level of care they are owed. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to a surgeon’s negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore surgical malpractice attorneys will help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your harm. We understand this is a stressful time, which is why you can expect the utmost compassion from our entire team.

Earlier this month, a Georgia doctor made headlines for singing, rapping, and dancing during plastic surgeries. Dubbed the “dancing doctor,” Dr. Windell Davis-Boutte can be seen in one video cutting into a patient’s abdomen in sync with the beat of O.T. Genasis’ song “Cut it” as she sings along. In another video posted to the doctor’s public YouTube channel, the Atlanta-based board-certified dermatologist dances with surgical tools in each hand but without a surgical mask or gloves. She then leans over the top of a patient’s bare buttocks as she raps, her assistants act as back up dancers, and the camera zooms into the patient’s bare buttocks. The videos have since been deleted.

Now, Doctor Boutte is facing at least five malpractice lawsuits. She has reached four settlements. Female patients claim they have suffered infections, disfigurement, and even brain damage following procedures performed by Boutte. An attorney representing three women in cases against the dermatologist says nearly 100 other women have contacted her office to claim they also suffered injuries under the doctor’s scalpel. At least two former patients said they identified themselves in the doctor’s videos.