Medical malpractice can lead to catastrophic injuries that can impact the rest of your life. If you have been seriously harmed because of what you believe to be medical malpractice, you may be eligible to recover damages for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are committed to representing victims of medical negligence across Maryland.
A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that doctors are more likely to open solo practices or quit practicing medicine altogether after facing multiple medical malpractice claims. The researchers found that either one of these responses are more likely than the doctor moving far away to find work and “start fresh.” The study examined a national group of 480,894 physicians in the age range of 35 to 65 who practiced from 2007 to 2015. A total of 89 percent of the doctors had no claims, 8.8 percent had 1 claim and the remaining 2.3 percent had 2 or more claims, which accounted for 38.9 percent of all claims.
According to the findings, more than 9 out of 10 doctors who have five or more successful malpractice claims against them continue to see patients and are in no rush to move far away from where the malpractice occurred. In addition, doctors who have multiple malpractice claims on their record are 45 percent more likely to give up and try another profession than those who have spotless records. In sum, doctors with multiple malpractice claims are no more likely to relocate than those with no claims but they are more likely to give up practicing medicine altogether.
Medical malpractice claims arise when a medical professional (i.e., doctors, nurses, hospital staff, etc.) falls below a reasonable standard in either diagnosing or treating a medical condition. To prove a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff must establish the following elements:
- The medical professional owed the patient a duty of care;
- The medical professional’s conduct violated the appropriate duty of care (i.e., the medical professional did something that was not reasonable or prudent);
- The medical professional’s violation was a direct cause of the patient’s injuries; and
- The patient suffered compensable injuries as a result.
Each of the above elements has to be established before the plaintiff will be able to recover damages. While we cannot predict exactly how much your case will be worth, Maryland law allows victims of medical malpractice to recover a variety of damages including, but not limited to: medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, disability, lost wages and any other costs arising from the malpractice. In cases where you have lost a loved one due to malpractice, you may be able to recover wrongful death damages such as medical expenses incurred prior to the decedent’s death, funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship and more.
If you have been injured due to a medical professional’s negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we have a rich legacy of advocating for medical malpractice victims throughout Maryland. Medical malpractice is a complicated area of law, which is why it is imperative to have a knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice attorney on your side. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.