Unfortunately, instances of medical malpractice are common. If you or someone close to you has been the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to speak to a qualified Baltimore attorney who can analyze the facts of your case.
Last month, we highlighted a study by Johns Hopkins researchers that found medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the United States. But what are the most common types of malpractice? Diagnostic errors are at the top of the list. In fact, the study revealed that diagnostic mistakes accounted for the largest fraction of claims, the most serious patient harm, and the highest number of claim payouts. Diagnosis-related errors include a wrong diagnosis as well as a failure to diagnose.
The second most common type of malpractice involved medication errors. These include dispensing medication incorrectly, mismanaging medication, and improperly prescribing medication.
Surgical errors, anesthesia mistakes, and childbirth injuries are the next most common types of malpractice. Surgical errors can involve foreign objects being left inside the patient during a surgery or a surgery being performed on the wrong body part. Anesthesia mistakes include giving a patient too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs, using improper intubation, or using faulty equipment. Childbirth injuries can include a number of things, including labor and delivery errors such as improper use of equipment or a failure to diagnose birth defects.
Medical malpractice cases require establishing that a “medical injury” took place. Under Maryland law, a medical injury is designated as an “injury arising or resulting from the rendering or failure to render health care.” Not every injury sustained by a patient will be medical malpractice. In some cases, the adverse outcome will be a product of routine complications or risks associated with the treatment.
In order to establish medical malpractice, the patient must show that the medical professional failed to use the level of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. The difference between an ordinary negligence claim and a medical malpractice claim is that a malpractice claim hinges on an error that involves a matter of medical science or conduct requiring special skills not possessed by a layperson.
Every medical malpractice case is different, and thus the damages will vary. Victims of medical malpractice can typically seek compensation for medical treatment (including medication costs, rehabilitation costs, and future medical bills), lost wages, disability, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and other costs arising from the malpractice.
Medical malpractice claims are complex, and having the right Baltimore medical malpractice attorney on your side can make all the difference in your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we have years of experience helping clients deal with medical errors that have harmed them. You can rest assured that we will fight for your rights at every step of the way. We know the last thing you might want to think about is a lawsuit, but it is important to act quickly. To discuss your case in more detail, do not hesitate to call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts:
“Res Ipsa Loquitur” in Maryland Malpractice Cases
Maryland Court Examines Standard of Care in Medical Malpractice Claims