Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

Radiation Errors in Maryland

Published on: April 5, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Patients who are undergoing radiation should be carefully and closely monitored to make sure they do not suffer any harm. When a medical professional makes an error while using radiation to treat cancer, the patient can be seriously injured or even killed. If you or someone close to you has suffered a radiation error, it is important to speak to an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the nuances of malpractice law and can help determine a course of action for your claim.

Radiation undoubtedly saves countless lives, but too much radiation can be lethal. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer and involves using high-energy radiation to kill or damage cancer cells. The problem with excessive radiation is that it can damage the normal, healthy cells in a patient’s body. Radiation injuries can be very difficult to treat. In fact, many times, patients just have to deal with the injury because recovery is not possible.

Radiation errors can happen in a number of ways, including physician or hospital staff errors due to staff shortages or inattentiveness, machine malfunctions, erroneous prescriptions for radiation therapy, improper inspection of equipment, and radiation beams being positioned incorrectly that end up treating the wrong part of the body.

Court Deems Slip and Fall in Doctor’s Office a Medical Malpractice Incident

Published on: March 28, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

A West Virginia court recently issued an opinion highlighting one of the challenges that plaintiffs may face when their injuries took place at a hospital or doctor’s office. In this case, the issue was whether a patient’s slip and fall claim should have been classified as a premises liability claim or a medical malpractice claim. The court eventually decided that since the injury took place when the patient was receiving “health care related” services, the case should be deemed a medical malpractice claim.

The facts of the case are as follows. A woman took her husband to an urgent care facility, where a staff member directed them to a private examination room. The staff member told the patient to sit on the examination table and wait for the physician to arrive. As the man tried to get onto the table, he fell. Not long after the incident, the man died as a result of complications from the fall.

The man’s wife filed a premises liability claim against the urgent care facility. Premises liability is a legal doctrine that generally comes into play in personal injury cases in which an injury is caused by some type of unsafe or defective condition on someone’s property. The urgent care facility responded, stating that the lawsuit should have been filed under the state’s medical malpractice statute because it was “related” to the provision of health care services. The court agreed.

Burn Injury Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: March 23, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Burn injuries can cause serious skin damage. The severity of a burn injury will depend on the intensity of the heat and the length of exposure. When you go to a hospital or outpatient facility to be treated for a burn injury, you expect the healthcare providers to make the condition better, not worse. Unfortunately, in some cases, healthcare providers choose treatments that exacerbate the situation. If this has happened to you, it is important to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help.

A burn injury may be caused by heat, chemicals, radiation and/or electricity. Every year, over 2 million burn injuries are reported across the United States. According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 40 percent of all burn victims sustain serious and/or permanent disabilities from their injuries. The American Burn Association reports that in 2016, there were 40,000 hospitalizations related to burn injuries, including 30,000 at hospital burn centers.

The first step to treating any burn injury is to identify the source of the burn because different types of burns may present differently and may require different types of care. Examining the source of the burn also helps the healthcare provider classify the degree of the burn properly.

IV Errors in Maryland

Published on: March 15, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

While administering an IV is a routine procedure in most hospitals and clinics, it can also be dangerous. Every year, IV errors injure a number of patients in Maryland and throughout the United States. These errors can have serious and even life-threatening consequences for a patient. If you or someone close to you has been the victim of an IV error, you may be entitled to compensation. At The Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical negligence team will analyze the facts of your case and help you understand your legal options. You can rest assured that we will advocate for you every step of the way.

Intravenous (IV) therapy involves infusing liquid (i.e., blood or medication) directly into a vein. IV errors can take place in a number of ways including, but not limited to:

Errors in preparing the IV medication;
Errors in administrating the IV medication;
Incompatible combination of drugs;
Improperly injecting medication;
Administering the IV at the wrong time;
Overdose or wrong dose of the drug;
Technical errors with IV valves and pumps.

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.

Cochlear Implant Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: February 20, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Cochlear implants are supposed to provide relief to patients who are hearing impaired. Unfortunately, many times, cochlear implants end up causing more harm than good when they are negligently implanted. If you or someone close to you was harmed due to a cochlear implant, our experienced and reputable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can help you determine your legal options. While we aim to settle every case, we are not afraid to zealously advocate for your rights in the courtroom.

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that stimulates the nerves inside the inner ear, resulting in an increased hearing capacity. These devices are helpful when hearing aids don’t work because they produce hearing sensations while nerves within the inner ear are electronically stimulated. It is important to note that cochlear implants can help both children and adults who are deaf. According to the Food and Drug Administration, as of 2012, about 324,200 people worldwide have received cochlear implants, and more than 26 percent of recipients lived in the United States.

In some cases, the cochlear device is designed or manufactured defectively, causing an injury to the patient. Some examples of problems that could occur due to a cochlear implant include loss of hearing, damage to the cochlea, tissue death in surrounding skin, pain or discomfort, popping sounds, and even shock to the patient. When a medical device malfunctions, you may be able to sue the manufacturer, retailer, or distributor through a product liability claim.

Failure to Diagnose Meningitis in Maryland

Published on: February 13, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you or someone you know has been harmed due to a medical professional’s failure to diagnose meningitis, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to holding doctors and hospitals accountable in cases involving a failure to diagnose meningitis. You can trust that we will explore the facts of your case and help you seek the compensation you deserve.

The Mayo Clinic defines meningitis as an inflammation of the membranes surrounding an individual’s brain and spinal cord. Swelling from the condition typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever, seizures, sleepiness, light sensitivity, vomiting or nausea, or a stiff neck. It is important to note that there are many types of meningitis that a person can contract: bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, spinal meningitis, parasitic meningitis, and non-infectious meningitis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 3,000 people in the United States contract meningitis every year. The CDC also reports that more than one out of every 10 cases of spinal meningitis caused by bacteria are fatal, representing about 400-500 deaths annually.

Pacemaker Implant Malpractice in Maryland

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

All medical procedures carry a certain amount of risk, but particularly those involving the heart. If you or someone you know has suffered a pacemaker implant injury, it is important to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate your case.

Pacemakers are used to treat many different types of heart conditions. A pacemaker implant is a surgical procedure in which a small electronic device is implanted into a person’s chest to help regulate the individual’s heartbeat. When the heartbeat falls out of rhythm (i.e., beats too fast or too slow), the pacemaker kicks in and sends gentle electrical currents to the heart to correct it.

According to a study conducted by the World Society of Arrhythmias, the United States has the largest number of patients with internal cardiac pacemakers, with a total of 225,567. The study also found that the number of pacemakers implanted between 1993 and 2009 increased by 56 percent.

Death of the Mother During Childbirth in Maryland

Published on: February 2, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

During childbirth, physicians have a duty to care for the mother and the child. Unfortunately, doctors and nurses sometimes fail to focus on a mother’s health during delivery, leading to serious injuries and even death. If you believe that a medical professional’s negligence caused your loved one’s death, it is important to reach out to a Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can investigate your case.

According to the National Institute of Health, maternal mortality is increasing instead of decreasing in the United States. In fact, the maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is higher than in 40 other countries. In 1982, the maternal death ratio in the U.S. was 7.5 per 100,000 live births, and by 2005 that number had risen to 15.1 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Some conditions that can lead to maternal death include preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, post-delivery infections, and cardiac arrest. If these conditions are not treated properly and in a timely manner, the mother can die.

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.