Most women will need some type of gynecological care at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know was injured due to the negligence of a gynecologist, an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorney can help you understand your rights. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to getting our Maryland clients the compensation they deserve for their harm.
Gynecology concerns the diagnosis, investigation, and treatment of disorders related to the female reproductive system. This includes reproductive organ health, pregnancy, and prenatal care. Gynecological errors can happen in a variety of ways, including:
- Failures to timely diagnose breast, uterine, or cervical cancers;
- Wrongfully administered hormone therapy treatments;
- Wrongful pregnancy or contraception failure;
- Complications arising from abortions;
- Mistakes during surgical procedures like hysterectomy, cyst removal, or tubal ligation;
- Birth injuries due to a physician’s error; and
- Misread diagnostic tests.
Unfortunately, gynecology malpractice is more common than you may think. Data from the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed that obstetrics and gynecology are among the top 10 medical specialties with the highest malpractice rates, ranking in seventh place. Birth injuries, wrongful births, or wrongful deaths are common claims against these physicians. According to a more recent Medscape Malpractice Report from 2015, obstetricians and gynecologists are most likely to be sued among all physicians.
A gynecologist can be liable for medical malpractice in Maryland if he or she causes an injury to a patient by failing to adhere to the standard of care that a reasonably prudent gynecologist would have used under the same or similar circumstances.
Depending on the severity, gynecological errors can have devastating consequences for a woman’s life, such as cancer, damage to the urinary system, infertility, and even damage to the reproductive system. These mistakes can require long-term medical care, which can be very costly. Under Maryland law, a victim of gynecological negligence can recover both economic and non-economic damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, lost income, disability, and any other losses stemming from the malpractice.
Victims of gynecology malpractice have a limited time span to file a medical malpractice claim, known as the statute of limitations. Under Maryland law, a medical malpractice lawsuit must be filed in civil court within five years of the date of the accident, or within three years of the date the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. If the lawsuit is not filed within the statute of limitations, the plaintiff will likely be permanently barred from recovering any damages at all.
Gynecological injuries can have serious and long-term consequences for a patient. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to a gynecologist’s negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the nuances of gynecology malpractice cases and can apply our knowledge to your case. You can rest assured that we understand how sensitive these cases are, and we will handle your claim with the utmost respect and understanding. To discuss your next steps with one of our attorneys in more detail, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
More Blog Posts: