Physician Malpractice

Baltimore Man Claims Lasik Malpractice Led to Irreparable Eye Injury

Published on: January 2, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

The United States Food and Drug Administration reports that approximately 600,000 Lasik procedures are performed each year in the United States. While the procedure is generally safe, the reality is that mistakes do happen. Some of these mistakes can lead to long-term, even permanent harm to a patient. If you have suffered an eye injury due to a Lasik error, you need to consult a skilled Baltimore ophthalmology malpractice lawyer who can assess the facts of your case.

Earlier this year, a Baltimore man sued the Lasik Vision Institute and one of its physicians for medical malpractice after getting surgery that left him with permanent damage in both eyes. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged that the doctor mistakenly programmed the laser and doubled the plaintiff’s astigmatism in his left eye during his Lasik procedure. The plaintiff claims that he later found out that he was not a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery, due to a lazy right eye.

At his initial consultation, the plaintiff was informed that he was a good candidate for the Lasik procedure, since he did not have prior eye conditions that would preclude him from having the procedure. Once the plaintiff underwent the procedure, he was not able to see. At his follow up appointment, he was told his symptoms were part of the normal healing process. When the condition did not get better, the plaintiff ultimately had to go through a second, corrective surgery.

Patients Want to be Heard After a Medical Injury

Published on: December 15, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical malpractice is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, according to a 2016 Johns Hopkins study. If you or someone close to you has been injured by a negligent medical professional, you should reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand this area of the law and can apply our knowledge to your case.

A new study, entitled Patients’ Experiences with Communication-and-Resolution Programs After Medical Injury, conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients who have suffered an injury due to medical malpractice feel better when medical staff, particularly the physician who made the mistake, listen attentively to what they have to say about the experience.

The interview study of 40 patients, family members, and hospital staff revealed that patients have a strong need to be heard after a medical injury that is often unmet. Patients also wanted to know what the hospital or medical facility was doing to make sure the same error does not harm other patients. While 18 of 30 patient and family participants reported positive experiences with communication-and-resolution programs overall and continued to receive care at the hospital, they said hospitals seldom communicated information about efforts to prevent recurrences.

Study Finds Medical Malpractice Claims Are Declining, but Payouts are Higher

Published on: December 1, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical malpractice injures a number of patients in Maryland and across the country each year. In the most serious cases, medical mistakes can lead to death. While all medical professionals are capable of making mistakes, some specialties, such as OB/GYNs, are more susceptible to lawsuits than others. If you or someone close to you has been harmed by an OB/GYN’s error, you should reach out to a skilled Baltimore obstetrician malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the nuances of this area of the law and can protect your rights at every step of the way.

A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that medical malpractice lawsuits are declining in the United States, but the average payment is rising. The objective of the study was to characterize paid malpractice claims by specialty. According to the report, the rate of malpractice claims went down more than 50 percent between 1992 and 2014. However, if you are a neurosurgeon or an OB/GYN, you still face a high risk of being sued, despite the overall decline in malpractice claims. Also notable in the study is the finding that the average malpractice payment has risen by almost 25 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars since the early 1990s. In fact, approximately one in 14 claims pay out over a million dollars. For neurosurgeons and OB/GYNs, these high payouts happen in almost one out of eight claims.

Not every adverse outcome is a result of medical malpractice in Maryland. Instead, a medical malpractice claim is a claim of negligence committed by a medical professional, such as a physician, nurse, dentist, chiropractor, technician, hospital, or hospital staff. Medical malpractice occurs when a patient is injured or killed because a medical professional failed to use the level of care and caution that another medical professional in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. A jury will determine if a medical professional’s actions were negligent by considering the testimony of experts, usually other medical professionals in the same specialty, who will testify whether they believe the defendant followed standard medical practices or deviated from the accepted standard of care.

Woman Wins Maryland Malpractice Case Due to OBGYN Negligence

Published on: November 28, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical mistakes are common in Maryland and throughout the United States. OBGYN errors can have serious consequences for a patient’s health. If you or your loved one has been injured by an OBGYN’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, we can investigate the merits of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.

A Maryland jury decided in favor of a woman who developed lung cancer after her gynecologist failed to follow up on the results of a hysterectomy properly. Specifically, the gynecologist failed to share with the patient a pathologist’s warnings in 2011 that the uterine tumors she discovered during the hysterectomy were potentially malignant. The pathologist had recommended close clinical follow-up treatment, but the OBGYN took no steps to institute a close clinical follow-up of the surgical pathology results.

In 2014, the patient underwent medical tests that revealed she had metastatic lung cancer that likely originated in the uterus, according to the complaint. The patient currently suffers from stage-4 sarcoma in her lungs.

Medical Malpractice in Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Maryland

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

Surgery, whether minor or major, is always daunting for a patient and his or her family. If you or someone you love has been injured by a medical professional at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), you need to speak to a skilled Baltimore surgical malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we have the experience to handle your case with the compassion and attention it deserves.

ASCs, also known as outpatient surgery centers or same day surgery centers, are health care facilities where surgical procedures not requiring an overnight hospital stay are performed. For patients, an ASC can be a more convenient and less costly alternative to a hospital. In recent years, ASCs have popped up everywhere. In fact, approximately 25 million surgical procedures are performed at ASCs each year, rather than at acute care hospitals.

Hospitals in Maryland and across the United States have to follow strict regulations. There is a standard process and procedure in place for virtually everything to minimize the risk of harm to patients. ASCs, on the other hand, are independently owned and managed. In some cases, the procedures at ASCs are not thorough enough and can lead to serious issues, such as:

Failure to sterilize equipment properly;
Premature discharge of a patient;
Lack of oversight;
Lack of accreditation;
Poor documentation of safety procedures; or
Failure to obtain informed consent for surgeries.

Psychiatry Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: November 14, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Patients who seek the help of psychiatrists expect to receive competent care. In fact, these medical professionals are trusted with the task of helping their patients deal and cope with a wide range of mental health issues. Unfortunately, some patients not only deal with psychiatrist neglect but also deal with abuse. If you or someone close to you has suffered due to psychiatric malpractice, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, you can rest assured that our Maryland psychiatric malpractice lawyers understand how to navigate these complex medical malpractice claims.

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats mental disorders. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults (18.5 percent of all adults) in the United States experience mental illness in a given year. Additionally, 1 in 25 adults in the U.S. (4 percent of all adults) experience a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Like any other type of doctor, psychiatrists can be negligent as well. Some common forms of psychiatric malpractice include:

Failure to properly diagnose a patient;

Medical Overtreatment is a Dangerous Reality in the United States

Published on: October 19, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

When you visit a medical professional, you expect to receive competent care. While we expect comprehensive care, the reality is that many patients are being overtreated, meaning they are receiving tests and treatments that they do not actually need. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to a medical professional’s overtreatment, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, we can help you assess the case and determine whether a lawsuit is the right option for you.

A recent study published in PLUS ONE has shed light on just how big the problem of overtreatment is in the United States. According to the report, at least 15 to 30 percent of overall medical care is unnecessary, said most of the 2,100 physicians who responded to a survey conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical Schools. The data also shows that about 22 percent of prescription medication, 25 percent of tests, and 11 percent of procedures that are given are not needed. For example, not every patient with back pain needs an x-ray, but an x-ray is very often ordered.

An overwhelming majority of the physicians who were interviewed for the study cited fear of litigation as the top reason for overtreatment, followed by patient pressure and difficulty assessing prior medical records. While physicians think they are being extra cautious by overtreating, the reality is that overtreatment can be harmful for patients and give rise to medical malpractice claims as well. For example, prescribing a patient with a cough or cold antibiotics when they do not actually need them might be administering too strong a medication for the problem at hand, and it could ultimately harm the patient, due to other side effects associated with those antibiotics.

Maryland Court Allows Evidence of Non-Party in Negligence Case

Published on: October 12, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you or someone close to you has been hurt because of a medical professional’s carelessness, error, or wrongdoing, our diligent Baltimore health care malpractice attorneys can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the nuances of this area of the law and can put our knowledge to use in your case. We are here to answer your questions and address your concerns at every step of the way.

Medical malpractice cases in Maryland and across the United States are about establishing fault on the part of a medical professional. In litigation, there are many tactics that the plaintiff and defense can use to build their case. The Court of Appeals of Maryland, Maryland’s highest court, recently had to decide if evidence regarding the negligence of several non-parties should have been admitted at trial. The court ultimately held that the negligence of the non-parties was properly admitted because it was essential to give the defendant physician a fair trial. Put another way, the defendant, who was generally denying malpractice in a claim, could present evidence of a non-party’s negligence and causation as an affirmative defense.

In the case at hand, a man died as a result of a fatal stroke that he suffered in 2010. The man’s estate and widow filed a medical malpractice claim against the defendant radiologist and three subsequent treating physicians, claiming that their negligence led to the man suffering the stroke. However, before the trial, each of the other named defendants settled the case outside court. Thus, the case was only against one remaining defendant.