Being the victim of medical malpractice is a situation that no one ever wants to find themselves in, but the reality is that it happens all the time in Maryland and throughout the country. If you have been injured due to the negligence of an ophthalmologist, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. Our skilled Baltimore ophthalmologist malpractice attorneys have a rich legacy of providing advocacy and legal services throughout the state.
A recent study from the Google AI Research Group suggests that physicians and algorithms working together can lead to positive patient outcomes. The report, which was published in the Journal of American Academy of Ophthalmology, found that algorithms improved an ophthalmologist’s diagnostic accuracy. This is potentially groundbreaking because more than 29 million Americans have diabetes and are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding eye disease. Sadly, the screenings that are intended to detect vision loss can vary substantially. One study determined that there was a 49 percent error rate among internists, diabetologists, and medical residents. As such, recent advances in AI that are committed to improving access to diabetic retinopathy screening and improve its accuracy could really change lives.
Unfortunately, like other doctors, ophthalmologists can make mistakes that lead to patient harm. If you have suffered harm due an ophthalmologist’s error, carelessness or misconduct – you may be able to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim. The specific damages you will be able to recover will vary depending on the nature and extent of the injury suffered. Typically, however, a plaintiff will be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs and more.
To prove medical malpractice, you must be able to show that the ophthalmologist’s conduct deviated from the standard of care. The standard of care refers to the level of care that a competent doctor in the same specialty would have used in the same situation. In other words, you must show that a competent ophthalmologist would not have made the same mistake under the circumstances. As a practical matter, a medical expert witness who has adequate knowledge of the subject matter in question (i.e., a practicing ophthalmologist) typically establishes the standard of care and whether it was violated. It is important to note that it is not enough to show that the ophthalmologist’s conduct violated the standard of care. Rather, you must also show that this violation was a direct and proximate cause of your injury. In other words, the harm was a direct result of the doctor’s conduct.
If you have suffered an eye injury that you believe was caused by negligence, our seasoned Baltimore ophthalmologist malpractice attorneys can assess your situation and advise you of your next steps. At Arfaa Law Group, we will prepare your case while you focus on healing. Time is of the essence in these cases so it is important to consult an attorney as soon as possible after an injury has occurred. For a free, no-obligation consultation about your case, please do not hesitate to call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.