Medical Malpractice

Kidney Disease Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: August 25, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Kidney disease can have serious consequences for a person’s life. Not only can kidney disease make you very sick, but also, in the most serious cases, it can result in death. If a medical professional caused or worsened your kidney disease due to an error or carelessness, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can thoroughly examine the facts of your case and determine whether malpractice took place.

Many cases of advanced kidney failure are preventable or treatable if they are properly diagnosed and treated. Kidney disease is often difficult to identify, since it can be largely asymptomatic in the early stages. As a result, kidney disease can often sneak up on a person, and sometimes it is not detected until it is too late. This is why it is imperative for a physician to be vigilant and refer you to a kidney specialist as soon as there are any signs of a potential problem, such as protein in a person’s urine.

If your doctor failed to diagnose or treat your condition, the doctor may have committed medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when medical professionals fail to provide a reasonable standard of care, and that failure results in harm to a patient. Providing a “reasonable” standard of care does not mean that the doctor has to order every possible test. Instead, the doctor must be as competent as another doctor in the same specialty would have been under the same circumstances. In order to establish malpractice, the plaintiff must show the following elements:

Brain Hemorrhage Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: August 21, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

A brain hemorrhage can lead to serious injuries in a patient. This is why it is critical for medical professionals to correctly identify and treat brain hemorrhages in a timely manner. If you or someone you know was a victim of a medical error pertaining to a brain hemorrhage, you need to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause.

A brain hemorrhage is a type of stroke caused by an artery in the brain bursting and causing localized bleeding in the surrounding tissues. This type of bleeding is extremely dangerous because it kills brain cells. Among other causes, a brain hemorrhage can be spontaneous as a result of a broken blood vessel or aneurysm, or it can be caused by a traumatic brain injury. Of course, there may be other causes as well, such as high blood pressure, blood vessel abnormalities, blood or bleeding disorders, liver diseases, and brain tumors. Brain hemorrhages are more common than you may think. In fact, they account for 13 percent of all strokes.

Physicians are trained to identify or at lease suspect a brain hemorrhage when patients present certain signs and symptoms of the condition. Timely diagnosis and treatment is critical to prevent permanent injuries. When a physician or hospital fails to diagnose such a condition properly, they may be liable for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professionals fails to adhere to the level of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have followed under the same or similar circumstances, causing injuries or death to the patient. For example, in patients with certain bleeding disorders, a failure to give or monitor platelets and a resulting brain hemorrhage can cause significant brain damage. Therefore, a prudent physician would know this and act accordingly.

Gynecology Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: August 11, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

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;

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Medical Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: August 4, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you believe that you or your loved one has suffered from medical negligence in regard to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), it is important to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we can examine the circumstances of your DVT and help you explore your legal rights and options.

According to the Mayo Clinic, DVT takes place when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in a person’s body, typically in the legs, although it can also develop in the lower part of the body below the pelvis. DVT can cause leg pain and swelling, but it can also occur without any symptoms. While DVT can sometimes resolve on its own, DVT can be life-threatening if the blood clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, which is a condition known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). A pulmonary embolism can be fatal because it blocks the artery in the lung, cutting off the blood supply completely. A smaller clot can reduce blood flow and cause damage to the lung tissue.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that while the precise number of people affected by DVT/PE is unknown, as many as 900,000 could be affected each year in the United States. The CDC also estimates that 60,000 to 100,000 people die of DVT/PE each year. Of these deaths, 10 to 30 percent of people will die within one month of the diagnosis. Sudden death is the first symptom in approximately one-quarter of people who have PE.

Aortic Aneurysm Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: July 17, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Aneurysms commonly occur in the aorta. Unfortunately, aortic aneurysms are often subjects of medical malpractice cases. When doctors fail to properly diagnose or treat an aortic aneurysm, the consequences can be extremely serious, even life-threatening. If you or your loved one has suffered harm because a doctor failed to diagnose or treat an aortic aneurysm properly, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney can evaluate the facts of your case and determine the strength of your claim.

An aneurysm is an area of a blood vessel wall that has weakened and bulged outward. An aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or protruding of a section in the wall of the aorta caused by a tear or weak spot. The aorta can be enlarged to greater than 1.5 times its normal size. The aorta is the body’s largest artery and carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Since the section with the aneurysm is overstretched, it can burst or rupture. Once an aneurysm ruptures, the condition becomes life-threatening for the patient.

Medical professionals are trained to recognize the signs associated with aortic aneurysms, but they often do not. Injuries to a patient can result when a physician fails to recognize symptoms or simply dismisses them. Harm can also occur when a physician fails to order the appropriate tests or prematurely discharges a patient from the emergency room.

Intravenous Fluid Contamination in Maryland

Published on: July 10, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Intravenous (IV) therapy involves infusing liquid (i.e., blood or medication) directly into a vein. Unfortunately, the fluid in IV bags can become contaminated with bacteria that can adversely affect a patient’s health. If you or someone close to you has been injured or harmed by IV fluid contamination, you may be able to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can examine the circumstances of your injury and determine who was at fault.

In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has investigated a number of instances of IV bag and fluid contamination. If IV bags are not properly sterilized and stored correctly, they can be a breeding ground for bacterial growth. When such contaminated fluids enter a patient’s bloodstream through an IV, the patient may suffer negative health consequences, including but not limited to:

Fever;
Flu-like illness;
Tachycardia;
Respiratory problems;
Sepsis;
Septic shock;
Endocarditis; or
Death.

Urology Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: July 3, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Having a urology issue can be extremely painful. When you go to a doctor with this type of issue, you expect the issue to improve, rather than get worse. If you or someone you know has been harmed by urology treatment or surgery, you may have been a victim of medical malpractice. At Arfaa Law Group, our skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys will take the time to thoroughly examine the facts of your case and determine whether or not negligence played a role. You can rest assured that if we take on your case, we will fight to get you the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary tract system. Urologists also treat problems that affect the kidneys, prostate, testes, bladder, urethra, ureter, and pelvic floor. Furthermore, urologists often treat problems with male reproductive organs, including conditions such as erectile dysfunction and impotence. Urology errors can happen in a variety of ways, including:

Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of prostate, bladder, or kidney cancer;
Mismanagement of cancer patients;
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of urological issues;
Failure to perform incontinence surgery properly;
Circumcision errors;
Vasectomy errors;
Medication errors;
Failure to appropriately test patients;
Failure to properly monitor patients; or
Failure to get informed consent before a procedure.

Endoscopy Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: June 27, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

While an endoscopy is a relatively safe medical procedure, the reality is that endoscopy errors can result in serious injuries. If you or someone close to you suffered harm during or after an endoscopy, you should consult with a Baltimore medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Not all adverse outcomes are results of medical malpractice. At Arfaa Law Group, we can scrutinize the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.

An endoscopy is a nonsurgical medical procedure that allows a doctor to look inside a patient’s digestive tract using an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, flexible tube with a camera on the end that allows a physician to look deep into the body. Endoscopies can be used to examine the stomach, esophagus, abdomen, pelvis, joints, urinary system, large intestine, and lungs.

During an upper endoscopy, an endoscope is inserted in the mouth and passes through the throat into the esophagus, allowing the physician to view the upper esophagus, stomach, and part of the small intestine. A lower endoscopy, commonly known as a colonoscopy, is when an endoscope is passed into the intestine though the rectum to examine this area of the intestine. It is important to note that there are a number of different types of endoscopies aside from upper endoscopies and colonoscopies.

Pediatric Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: June 20, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

There is perhaps nothing more worrisome to a parent than a sick child. When you take your sick child to the doctor, you expect to receive competent care. If a pediatrician commits an error, it could have serious consequences for your child’s health. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the nuances of medical malpractice law and can apply our knowledge to use in your case. You can rest assured that we will help you seek the compensation you deserve for your child’s harm.

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, pediatric malpractice most commonly occurs in meningitis cases in the United States. Additionally, pediatric malpractice also occurs in appendicitis cases and errors made in medication prescribed to an infant or young child. Other examples of medical mistakes that could result in injuries include:

Failure to diagnose;
Failure to follow up;
Mismanagement of infections; or
Administration of drugs to which the doctor knew or should have known the child would have an adverse reaction.

IUD Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: June 13, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a little, T-shaped piece of plastic inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. It is a type of long-term contraception that is considered to be 95 to 98 percent effective. One type of IUD releases a hormone (progesterone) and is replaced each year. The second type is made of copper and can be left in the body for five years. The most common shape, however, is a plastic “T” wrapped with copper wire. Mirena, Skyla, and ParaGard are common brands.

Prior to the placement of the IUD, the physician should take a woman’s medical history, conducting a physical examination as well as a pap test. After a full evaluation, the physician will be able to determine whether a woman can safely use an IUD. Some women are disqualified from using the device due to a variety of reasons. For example, a woman who suffers from abnormal vaginal bleeding or who is currently pregnant would not be able to use an IUD.

If it is deemed safe, a physician places an IUD into the uterus. The physician should take great care when doing this in order not to injure the woman. The improper insertion of an IUD can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit against the physician.