When a patient is in the hospital for any reason, medical professionals should only release that patient when it is safe to do so. When patients are released too soon, it is known as premature discharge. Premature discharge puts patients at risk for health issues that could have been managed at a hospital but cannot be managed at home. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to premature discharge from the hospital, you should reach out to a reputable Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help.
There are many reasons a hospital may discharge a patient early. For instance, the hospital may be overcrowded, and there may be a concern about the number of beds or staff available. The hospital may also be extremely busy, and medical professionals may be in a rush to conclude cases. Sometimes, patients are prematurely released due to a medical professional’s error in judgment in not appreciating the risks of sending the patient home.
If you suffered harm as a result of premature discharge, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the medical professional and even the hospital. In Maryland, medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider causes injuries or death by failing to use the level of care that another health care provider in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. In the context of premature discharge cases, the judge will consider if a qualified medical professional would have discharged the patient under the same circumstances. If the answer is no, the next question will be whether the patient’s injury was a direct result of the premature discharge. If the answer is yes, the patient will likely be able to obtain compensation through a lawsuit.
Many patients who are prematurely released are often readmitted to the hospital shortly afterward. These patients frequently require additional medical care for the existing condition. In some cases, the condition can get worse due to the premature discharge and not being treated properly the first time. According to a study conducted by the University of Maryland, patients who were released during a hospital’s busiest times were 50 percent more likely to be readmitted in three days. A readmission does not automatically mean medical negligence occurred. Instead, the premature discharge must have been the direct cause of the harm.
If malpractice is established, the plaintiff may recover both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party. These damages typically include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost income, and any other costs related to the malpractice.
A premature discharge can have serious consequences for a patient’s health. If you or a loved one was harmed in any way due to premature discharge from a hospital, you should reach out to a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we can evaluate the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. To discuss your case in more detail, do not hesitate to call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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