The skin is the largest organ of the body and is essentially our first line of defense against disease, bacteria, infection, and other maladies. As a result, when you visit a dermatologist with a skin issue, you expect to receive competent care. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury as a result of a dermatology error, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we are dedicated to getting our clients the compensation they deserve for their harm so that they can move on with their lives.
According to a recent study that analyzed characteristics of medical liability claims against dermatologists from 1991 to 2015, female dermatologists were sued less often than their male counterparts. The reason was that female dermatologists were better communicators and engaged in more patient-centered communication. As a result, male physicians were 2.5 times more likely to be sued for medical malpractice than their female colleagues. The study analyzed 90,743 closed claims and determined that nearly 70 percent of lawsuits were against male physicians.
The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that improper performance of a procedure (i.e., medical errors in skin operations) and misdiagnosis were the two most common medical errors associated with the 1,084 closed medical malpractice claims in dermatology as well as all fields of medicine. While dermatologists have seen a 2.5 reduction of closed claims in the past 20 years, this is a slight shift when compared to the 17.9 percent reduction noted for all specialties.
Dermatologists, like any other medical professionals, have an obligation to make sure that all proper diagnoses are made and proper treatment is administered. If a dermatologist injured you because he or she failed to provide you with the level of care that was within the generally accepted medical standards, that dermatologist may be liable for malpractice. For example, if a dermatologist fails to properly diagnose skin cancer, the skin cancer can spread and have devastating consequences for the patient. In such a scenario, the relevant question would become: would a dermatologist acting within the generally accepted medical standards have been able to diagnose the skin cancer? If the answer were yes, the dermatologist who failed to diagnose would likely be liable for malpractice.
Once a plaintiff establishes malpractice, he or she will be able to recover compensation for all medical and monetary losses. Examples of such losses include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, the cost of future medical expenses, and pain and suffering, as well as any other damages arising from the malpractice.
If you believe that you or a family member has been seriously injured due to a dermatologist’s negligence, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore misdiagnosis lawyers have extensive experience in handling these types of claims and can put our knowledge to use in your case. You can rest assured that we are more than your attorney; we are your voice during the entire legal process. You should be aware that there is no charge for our initial consultation. You can reach us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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