Medical overtreatment is a scary reality in Maryland and throughout the US. If you or a family member has suffered harm because of medical overtreatment, you should reach out to a Baltimore medical negligence attorney as soon as you can. Sadly, overtreatment is very common and can lead to a variety of negative health consequences for a patient and we believe that you shouldn’t have to deal with these consequences on your own.
The Research
Medical schools and facilities need to try and challenge the culture of medical overtreatment, says Barnett Kramer, MD, MPH, and the director of the cancer prevention division at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. The main issue recognized by a medical historian in the study is the insufficient training surrounding uncertainty in medical schools. In some cases, doctors must accept uncertainty because failing to do so leads to overusing tests and treatment. Another thing medical schools and doctors need to understand, according to the expert, is that it is okay to wait and see in some situations, and decisions do not have to be made right in that moment in every case.
Other research released earlier this year highlighted how hospital-based primary care clinics are more likely to order unnecessary tests and services than their counterparts. Part of the reason was that physicians who work in hospitals may order follow up tests because they are more immediately accessible and convenient.
Medical Malpractice Liability for Overtreatment
While overtreatment as a result of malpractice liability concerns has been an issue for decades, little has changed which is why doctors and hospitals continue to engage in the practice. If overtreatment has been the cause of your medical injury, you may be able to recover compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice takes place when a doctor or healthcare professional injures you by failing to provide you with the proper, acceptable standard of care or treatment. The “standard of care” is the degree of care and skill that the qualified doctor would provide to a patient who was seeking medical care for similar symptoms.
Time Frames for Medical Malpractice Claims
In Maryland, medical malpractice lawsuits must be brought within five years of the time that the injury was committed or within three years of the date the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. If you file a claim after the statute of limitations deadline has passed, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the statute of limitations has expired and the court will grant this motion. As such, failure to file your claim within this time frame could mean permanently losing your ability to sue.
Seasoned Baltimore Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Despite their best intentions, doctors who overtreat their patients often end up doing more harm than good. If you were harmed by medical overtreatment, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical and/or hospital malpractice attorneys who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our team is committed to getting victims of medical malpractice the compensation they need to move on with their lives. For more information, please call us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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Joint and Several Liability in Maryland Medical Malpractice Cases