Published by Arfaa Law Group
Surgery, whether minor or major, is always daunting for a patient and his or her family. If you or someone you love has been injured by a medical professional at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), you need to speak to a skilled Baltimore surgical malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we have the experience to handle your case with the compassion and attention it deserves.
ASCs, also known as outpatient surgery centers or same day surgery centers, are health care facilities where surgical procedures not requiring an overnight hospital stay are performed. For patients, an ASC can be a more convenient and less costly alternative to a hospital. In recent years, ASCs have popped up everywhere. In fact, approximately 25 million surgical procedures are performed at ASCs each year, rather than at acute care hospitals.
Hospitals in Maryland and across the United States have to follow strict regulations. There is a standard process and procedure in place for virtually everything to minimize the risk of harm to patients. ASCs, on the other hand, are independently owned and managed. In some cases, the procedures at ASCs are not thorough enough and can lead to serious issues, such as:
- Failure to sterilize equipment properly;
- Premature discharge of a patient;
- Lack of oversight;
- Lack of accreditation;
- Poor documentation of safety procedures; or
- Failure to obtain informed consent for surgeries.
Medical professionals have a duty to provide their patients with a certain standard of care. When they fail to do so and cause an injury to a patient, they may be liable for malpractice. In order to establish medical malpractice, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the medical professional caused your injury by failing to adhere to the standard of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. In other words, an injured patient is required to demonstrate that the medical professional acted in a manner that deviated from the appropriate standard of care, and that deviation was the direct cause of the patient’s harm. For example, a medical professional adhering to the appropriate standard of care would properly sterilize equipment, understanding the risk of a patient contracting serious, even deadly infections if they did not do so.
Dealing with a surgery center error can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, victims of medical malpractice can recover a variety of damages, such as medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other costs arising from the malpractice.
Any errors before, during, or after surgery can cause serious harm to a patient. In the most serious cases, these types of errors can result in death, which is why it is critical for surgeons to use great care at every step of the way. If you or someone close to you has been harmed due to medical malpractice, it is imperative to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore surgical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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