Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice cases are typically more complicated than other civil lawsuits, due to the complexities of the nature of the plaintiff’s harm. Additionally, in some instances, the plaintiff will not only have pending claims against the negligent healthcare providers but also against a person or entity that caused an injury that required the allegedly inadequate medical treatment.  In any matter in which a plaintiff is pursuing not only medical malpractice claims but also other civil claims arising out of a single injury, it is essential to understand how the resolution of one claim may affect the others.

This was discussed in a recent case decided by the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, in which a plaintiff’s workers’ compensation provider sought reimbursement from a settlement in the plaintiff’s medical malpractice case.  If you suffered an injury and were subsequently harmed by a negligent medical provider during the treatment of your injury, it is essential to retain an attorney who will fight to protect your rights.

Facts of the Case

It is reported that the plaintiff suffered an elbow injury at work, after which he sought treatment from a family practitioner who diagnosed him with a strain or sprain. He returned to work but continued to experience elbow pain. Five weeks later, however, he was diagnosed with a complete tear of his bicep. He underwent surgery and filed a workers’ compensation claim. His employer paid for his surgery and also paid him disability benefits.

The plaintiff then filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the family practitioner, alleging that he suffered permanent damages due to the practitioner’s failure to diagnose the tear or recommend follow-up testing. The plaintiff ultimately settled the medical malpractice case. The plaintiff’s employer then sought reimbursement not only for the disability benefits paid to the plaintiff but also for the cost of the plaintiff’s medical expenses. The Workers’ Compensation Commission and the circuit court found that the plaintiff’s employer was not entitled to the cost of the plaintiff’s medical treatment, after which the plaintiff’s employer appealed. Continue Reading ›

Expert testimony is an essential component of medical malpractice cases. In other words, as the standard of care that applies to medical professionals and the duties imposed under the standard are beyond the purview of most jurors, parties need medical experts to clarify the issues and support their claims. Parties must disclose their experts prior to trial to allow the opposing party to fully assess their opinions and offer a response, and if they do not, they run the risk that their expert will not be permitted to testify. In a recent ruling issued in a dental malpractice case, a Maryland court addressed when it is appropriate to strike an expert. If you were harmed by the carelessness of a dentist or other healthcare provider it is important to talk to a Maryland medical malpractice attorney about what evidence you must produce to recover damages.

The Facts of the Case

It is alleged that the plaintiff suffered harm due to incompetent dental care provided by the defendant. She subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against him asserting dental malpractice claims. The court established discovery deadlines, including a date by which the parties must set provide expert disclosures. The defendant failed to abide by the expert disclosure deadline, and instead produced an expert report that was over a month late. The plaintiff then moved to strike the defendant’s expert.

Grounds for Striking an Expert in a Medical Malpractice Case

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure dictate that parties must disclose the experts they intend to call at trial in a timely manner. Further, when they disclose their experts they must offer a written report setting forth a comprehensive statement of all of the opinions the witness will provide and the reasons and basis for each opinion The report must also include the data or facts the witness relied on in formulating its report, and identify any exhibits they will use to support or summarize their opinion. Continue Reading ›

When people visit medical facilities for emergent care, they generally expect the care to be competent. Unfortunately, however, emergency medical staff can sometimes fail to address concerning symptoms causing a patient to suffer a rapid decline. In such cases, the injured party may be able to pursue claims against the parties responsible for their damages. While it may seem as if liability is clear in many medical malpractice cases, whether the treatment providers will be deemed negligent as a matter of law depends on the sufficiency of the evidence produced by the plaintiff, as discussed in a recent opinion delivered by a Maryland Court. If you sustained injuries due to the carelessness of a treatment provider, you may be owed damages, and you should contact a trusted Maryland medical malpractice lawyer to assess your options.

The Decedent’s Care

It is alleged that the decedent was treated at the defendants’ facility for psychiatric issues. The defendants did not provide non-psychiatric care; instead, if they observed that a patient suffered from issues that required medical attention, they would refer the patient to specialty care. While the decedent was an in-patient in the facility, he developed edema in his legs, pitting, and balance and mobility issues, and reported extreme pain. The defendants’ staff members did not physically assess his legs, however. The decedent died during his admission and the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendants asserting medical negligence claims and other causes of action. The plaintiff then moved for a ruling in his favor via summary judgment.

Sufficiency of Medical Malpractice Allegations

The court declined to grant the plaintiff’s motion noting that he did not offer sufficient support for his claims that defendants should be held liable for medical negligence to garner judgment in his favor as a matter of law. Specifically, his assertions mostly included illustrations that showed the changes to the decedent’s body in the last days of his life. He also set forth statements alleging that the facts showed the defendants’ staff completely departed from the duty owed on the decedent’s last days and that the defendants’ failure to visualize the decedent’s legs and conduct pain assessments constituted negligence as a matter of law. Continue Reading ›

People housed in federal facilities are unfortunately often subject to extreme indifference at the hands of the medical professionals who work in such facilities. Further, they are frequently victims of medical malpractice. As such, it is not uncommon for them to assert medical malpractice and a variety of other claims against the negligent party in one complaint. While medical malpractice claims typically arise under state law, federal courts can adjudicate them alongside other claims in certain situations. If the other claims are dismissed, however, it is not uncommon for the court to dismiss the medical malpractice claims as well, regardless of whether they have merit. This was demonstrated recently in a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. If you suffered harm because of the negligence of a health care provider, you could be owed compensation, and you should contact a trusted Maryland medical malpractice lawyer regarding your rights.

The Plaintiff’s Allegations

It is reported that the plaintiff was housed in a federal facility. While there, he suffered harm in two separate incidents involving health care providers. In the first incident, he was given medication that caused him to suffer an allergic reaction, which he was advised was a common side effect after the fact. In the second incident, he was exposed to COVID-19. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against the defendants, setting forth multiple claims, including medical malpractice. The defendants then moved to dismiss the case in its entirety.

Supplemental Jurisdiction Over State Medical Malpractice Claims

Much of the court’s opinion focused on issues other than the alleged medical malpractice. To the extent the plaintiff asserted medical malpractice claims, however, the court specifically declined to exercise additional jurisdiction over them. According to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a district court may decline to exercise additional jurisdiction over a state law claim if it has already dismissed all connected claims over which it held original jurisdiction. Continue Reading ›

Under Maryland law, people harmed by the carelessness of their treatment providers have the right to seek compensation for their losses. They must abide by the applicable procedural rules, however, and if they do not, their claims may be dismissed. This was illustrated in a recent matter filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in which the court dismissed the plaintiff’s medical malpractice claims. If you sustained injuries because of incompetent medical care, you might be owed damages, and you should speak to a Maryland medical malpractice lawyer to evaluate your options.

The Plaintiff’s Allegations

It is reported that the plaintiff underwent treatment at a clinic that offered low-cost medical care for residents of Montgomery County. He alleged that he was subject to unjust treatment and that he suffered harm due to the dental care provided by the defendant dentist. Thus, he filed a lawsuit with the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, asserting, among other things, a medical malpractice claim against the defendant dentist.

Allegedly, he argued that the defendant breached the applicable standard of care by failing to perform a tooth extraction. The defendant moved to dismiss the plaintiff’s medical malpractice claim on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to comply with the requirements for pursuing such claims as set forth under Maryland law. Continue Reading ›

Doctors faced with claims that they committed medical malpractice will often deny liability. In some instances, they will assert that other factors caused the plaintiff’s injuries and may go so far as to argue that the plaintiff is responsible for the harm they allegedly suffered.  As demonstrated in a recent Maryland birth injury case, however, the argument that the plaintiff assumed the risk of harm is not valid in a medical malpractice case. If your child suffered harm at birth due to the negligence of a doctor, it is advisable to contact a skilled Maryland medical malpractice lawyer to discuss what evidence you must produce to recover compensation.

The Facts of the Case

It is reported that the plaintiff mother presented to the labor and delivery unit of a hospital when she was thirty-three weeks pregnant. At the time, she had high blood pressure and was experiencing vaginal bleeding. The defendant induced labor, but after four hours, she noticed the fetus’s heart rate was dropping. As such, she made the decision to perform a non-emergency cesarean section. She began to perform the procedure, but seven minutes passed between the time she made the incision in the uterus and when the infant was delivered.

Allegedly, the infant was born without a heart rate and needed 22 minutes of resuscitation. Tragically, he passed away a short time later. The plaintiff mother filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the defendant on behalf of herself and the infant’s estate. The defendant argued that the plaintiff assumed the risk of harm and was contributorily negligent, and the plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment on the issues. Continue Reading ›

In the United States legal system, parties will typically pursue claims arising out of state law in state court. While federal courts will handle state law claims in some cases, they are courts of limited jurisdiction. Thus, they will often decline to exercise jurisdiction over certain matters, like medical malpractice claims. This was demonstrated recently in a Maryland case in which the court dismissed the plaintiff’s medical malpractice lawsuit that she filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. If you were harmed by incompetent medical care, you may be owed compensation, and it is in your best interest to meet with a dedicated Maryland medical malpractice lawyer to assess your potential claims.

The Facts of the Case

It is alleged that the plaintiff sought treatment at the defendant hospital. The precise nature of the plaintiff’s ailment and subsequent care was not explained in the court’s opinion. Regardless, it is clear that she suffered harm, which she argued arose out of medical negligence. As such, she filed a medical malpractice complaint against the defendant in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. After reviewing the complaint, however, the court determined that it must be dismissed.

Federal Jurisdiction Over Medical Malpractice Claims

The court explained that federal courts have limited jurisdiction. As such, they can only handle cases if they possess the power to do so, as granted by the Constitution or a statute. If a party decides to pursue a matter in federal court, then they must allege that the federal court has subject matter jurisdiction over the case, and if the court’s jurisdiction is challenged, must prove that it is valid. Continue Reading ›