Published by Arfaa Law Group
All medical procedures carry a certain amount of risk, but particularly those involving the heart. If you or someone you know has suffered a pacemaker implant injury, it is important to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate your case.
Pacemakers are used to treat many different types of heart conditions. A pacemaker implant is a surgical procedure in which a small electronic device is implanted into a person’s chest to help regulate the individual’s heartbeat. When the heartbeat falls out of rhythm (i.e., beats too fast or too slow), the pacemaker kicks in and sends gentle electrical currents to the heart to correct it.
According to a study conducted by the World Society of Arrhythmias, the United States has the largest number of patients with internal cardiac pacemakers, with a total of 225,567. The study also found that the number of pacemakers implanted between 1993 and 2009 increased by 56 percent.
Some common risks associated with pacemaker implantation include infection, bleeding, nerve complications, lung puncture, and more. It is also possible that damage may be caused to blood vessels during the procedure.
In some cases, the pacemaker injury may be caused due to medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a physician fails to use the level of care that another reasonably prudent physician in the same specialty would have used in the same situation, causing harm to the patient. For example, if a physician implanted a pacemaker incorrectly, puncturing a patient’s lung, that physician would likely be liable for malpractice. This is because a reasonably prudent physician would make sure that the implantation took place in a way that the patient’s lung was not harmed.
In some cases, the pacemaker injury may be the result of a manufacturing defect. If this is the case, you can still take legal action through a product liability claim against the manufacturer or retailer of the pacemaker. In some situations, the physician and hospital may also be liable in the products liability claim. For example, if a physician or hospital knows a certain brand has a history of failure, they would likely be considered negligent for using that particular brand.
Pacemaker injuries can adversely affect a patient’s life and can even interfere with a person’s ability to live and work. Victims of medical malpractice in Maryland can recover a variety of damages, including medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost income, and more. Of course, the exact amount of compensation that an individual will be able to obtain will depend on the nature and extent of the harm suffered.
If you have been injured by a faulty pacemaker implant, you should consult a Baltimore medical negligence attorney as soon as possible. At the Arfaa Law Group, we can investigate the circumstances of your case and determine the cause of your harm. You can rest assured that we are here to answer your questions and address your concerns at every step of the way. For more information, do not hesitate to call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.
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