Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

Study Highlights Serious Deficiency of Sepsis Care in Hospitals in Maryland and Nationwide

Published on: March 12, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you or a loved one has developed sepsis while undergoing medical treatment, or suffered harm as a result of undiagnosed or improperly treated sepsis, it is imperative for you to contact a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we work diligently to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.

The Study

According to a new study released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), three-quarters of US hospitals fail to provide appropriate care for sepsis. The study assigns traditional grades to the percentage of patients who receive proper care. Just 1 percent received an A, while a disturbing 74.8 percent of hospitals received a failing grade. CMS utilizes traditional school grades as opposed to a star rating system because the rationale is that it is a more accurate system. Consider the following: if a hospital only provides appropriate treatment 60 percent of the time, that is a failing grade, as opposed to three stars. The study examined data that CMS has recently released comparing hospital performance across the nation.

Study Finds that Doctors often Win Facial Trauma Medical Malpractice Cases

Published on: March 5, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you or someone close to you has suffered a facial injury because of a surgeon’s negligence, you need a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney on your side. At Arfaa Law Group, we have handled countless Maryland medical malpractice claims and can apply our experience and skill to your case. We understand that every case is unique, which is why we proudly provide unique and personalized representation to each and every client.

The Study

A new study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery found that outcomes in facial trauma lawsuits typically favor doctors, with almost 75 percent of cases being dismissed prior to trial. The study is the first of its kind focusing on facial trauma litigation. The findings reveal that around 15 percent of plastic surgeons face a medical malpractice lawsuit every year. The researchers examined 69 incidents from 1913 to 2016. Approximately three quarters of the plaintiffs with jaw injuries or numerous facial fractures were men. If you look at all the cases that went to trial, 58 percent were tried by a judge while 38 percent were tried by a jury. Almost 75 percent of cases were ultimately decided in favor of the doctors, 19 percent on behalf of the patient, 3 percent reached a settlement and 3 percent had an unknown conclusion. In addition, the study found that outcomes of facial trauma claims varied depending on the region of the country.

Maryland Appellate Court Holds Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Barred by Statute of Limitations

Published on: February 28, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, you could be eligible for compensation. At Arfaa Law Group, our knowledgeable Baltimore medical malpractice advocates will parse through the details of your case and provide you with an honest evaluation of your claim. We know the ins and outs of Maryland medical malpractice law, including the relevant legal time frames in your case and how serious courts are about these deadlines.

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals recently affirmed summary judgment granted by a lower court to a medical malpractice defendant based on the statute of limitations. The plaintiff and his wife filed a medical malpractice claim in November 2013 against the University of Maryland Medical System Corp. and the University of Maryland Medical Center (collectively UMMC), alleging that UMMC failed to properly treat an MRSA infection in his leg. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the lawsuit had been filed after the statute of limitations had expired.

The specifics of the case are as follows. On July 3, 2010, the plaintiff was diagnosed with a serious fragmented break of his left femur and open wound on his left thigh. His underwent surgery in which bolts were screwed into his bones. A few days later, he was tested for MRSA and the test results came back negative. On July 12 of that same year, he tested positive for MRSA and was placed into isolation. On July 19, 2010, he was discharged to a rehabilitation center. On July 27, 2010, he was sent back to UMMC. On July 29, UMMC sent him back to the rehabilitation center where he was treated for the MRSA infection and remained for a few weeks. In June of 2012, the plaintiff was admitted to the hospital where tests showed a heavy growth of MRSA infection. From that point onward until 2013, he had issues with the infection until he had to have a total knee replacement.

Colorado Woman Dies 9 Months After Healthy Kidneys Were Mistakenly Removed

Published on: February 21, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, surgery errors injure countless patients in Maryland and across the country every year. When surgical mistakes injure a patient, the patient and his or her family are left guessing how such a mistake occurred and what legal options are available to them. If you have suffered harm and you believe it was because of a surgeon’s negligence, our experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we are devoted to holding negligent medical professionals accountable.

An elderly woman who had both her healthy kidneys removed in what she alleged to be an erroneous surgery recently died, nine months following the procedure. She suffered a cardiac arrest and remained unconscious before she was declared dead. After her kidneys were removed, the woman was going through several hours of dialysis three days a week and was waiting to get on the national transplant waiting list. Physicians then allegedly confirmed she never had kidney cancer at all. The hospital reportedly never indicated what led to the misdiagnosis. At that point, the woman filed a medical negligence claim against the hospital, claiming that she would not have agreed to have her kidneys removed if the doctors at the hospital had not strongly advised her to do so. The hospital may now be sued for wrongful death as well.

Surgeons Under Stress Make More Mistakes While Operating; Study Says

Published on: February 14, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Undergoing surgery can be a scary experience. Patients expect to receive competent care from their surgeons and assisting nurses but, sadly, this does not always happen. If you have suffered an injury because of what you believe to be a surgeon’s error or negligence, it is important to understand your rights. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore surgery malpractice attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your injury and advise you accordingly. You can take comfort in knowing that we will handle your case diligently and compassionately.

The Study

Medical mistakes cause between 250,000- 440,000 deaths every year in the U.S., with a number of those mistakes taking place in the operating room. A recently published study conducted by Columbia University highlights that in moments of high stress in the operating room (OR), surgeons make up to 66 percent more errors on patients. Utilizing technology that measured the electrical activity of a surgeon’s heart, researchers discovered that during periods of short-term stress such as those caused by a bad thought or loud noise in the OR, surgeons are more likely make errors that can lead to bleeding, torn tissue or burns. The results could help develop future protocol designed to reduce acute short-term stress on surgeons while they are performing procedures.

Maryland Appellate Reinstates Medical Malpractice Verdict After Addressing Jury Instruction Issue

Published on: February 6, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical mistakes are routinely the cause of injury to patients in Maryland. If you or a family member has suffered undue harm because of medical negligence, our highly skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we will investigate your case and come up with a legal strategy accordingly.

The Case

In Armacost v. Davis, the plaintiff went to see a neurosurgeon after years of neck and shoulder pain, as well as numbness in his right hand. After discussing various options, the plaintiff agreed to undergo four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery. After the surgery, the plaintiff initially recovered well but then had to go to the emergency room a number of times due to a pinpoint opening at the end of his incision and, later, due to chest pain and periodic numbness in his left arm. Later, the pinpoint opening became an abscess and tested positive for a bacterial infection.

The plaintiff filed a medical malpractice claim against the neurosurgeon, claiming the procedure he underwent was not medically required and was inappropriate for someone of his age with his medical history. In addition, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant and the hospital took too long to diagnose and treat the post-operative infection. The defendant, on the other hand, argued that the diagnosis and treatment provided adhered to the appropriate standard of care.

Malpractice Related to Crohn’s Disease in Maryland

Published on: January 24, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Obtaining the correct diagnosis is vital to getting the right treatment for your health condition. If you have suffered due to a missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, you may be entitled to compensation for any harm that you suffered. At Arfaa Law Group, our diligent Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are devoted to providing you with the legal assistance you need in order to move on with your life.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that involves ongoing, chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The condition affects the entire digestive tract and can be both painful and debilitating. Currently, there is no known cure for Crohn’s disease but treatment is administered in an effort to alleviate symptoms. Treatment can also potentially prevent a person from having to undergo surgery.

A few years ago, a Baltimore jury awarded a patient millions of dollars when doctors misdiagnosed an ulcer, prompting more than a dozen unnecessary surgeries that led to the patient’s Crohn’s disease flaring up. According to the complaint, physicians were negligent in failing to diagnose the patient’s symptoms as an exacerbation of Crohn’s without considering any other conditions that could have been at play.

Supreme Court Eases Causation in Medical Malpractice Cases, Impacting Those Filed in Maryland and the Rest of the Nation

Published on: January 17, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Anesthesiologists are vital to ensuring that surgery is safe. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to an anesthesiologist’s error, you could have a claim for medical malpractice against the anesthesiologist. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys will make every effort to get you the monetary damages you rightfully deserve.

A divided Florida Supreme Court recently ruled against an anesthesiologist in a medical malpractice claim that involved a female who lost her life while undergoing surgery for a tumor in her skull. In a 4-3 decision, the court overturned an earlier verdict for the anesthesiologist who performed a pre-anesthesia evaluation of the patient. According to the complaint filed by the patient’s husband, the anesthesiologist allegedly failed to order a second electrocardiogram after the first one highlighted irregular results and failed to report these irregular lab results to the surgeon. The Supreme Court rejected the lower court’s rationale that let the anesthesiologist off the hook because he was not the “primary cause” of the patient’s death. Rather, the Supreme Court noted that a doctor can be the proximate cause of a patient’s harm even if he or she is not the primary cause of that harm. While this is a Florida case, causation is an important element of all Maryland malpractice cases as well.

Anesthesiologist Errors Leading to Malpractice

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, anesthesiologists are committed to the “relief of pain and total care of the surgical patient before, during and after surgery.” Part of an anesthesiologist’s job is to make sure patients undergoing surgery do not feel pain during the operation. This involves evaluating a patient before surgery to make sure the amount and type of anesthetic being administered is safe for the patient.

Misdiagnosis of Fibromyalgia is a Common Medical Error in Maryland and Throughout the US

Published on: January 10, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

People who suffer from chronic pain face very real day-to-day challenges that are often dismissed by medical professionals simply because the symptoms cannot be seen. If you have suffered a diagnosis error related to fibromyalgia, you need a compassionate and understanding Baltimore medical malpractice attorney on your side. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand the impact that chronic pain can have on every aspect of your life and how negligent medical professionals can make that pain worse.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that triggers pain all over the body, sleep issues, tiredness and often emotional and mental distress. Sadly, it is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed medical conditions. According to one study by the National Institute of Health, misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia for another musculoskeletal disorder occurred in approximately 13.3 percent of the patients who were included in the study population. Another report indicates that as many as 2/3 of people are told they have fibromyalgia when they are actually suffering from another medical issue.

Individuals who have fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain, fatigue and muscle stiffness than people who do not have the condition. In some cases, symptoms start after a physical trauma or significant event (i.e., psychological stress, surgery, infection, etc.) while, in other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no specific triggering event. Many people with this disease are unable to work and lead normal lives due to the pain. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are several treatment options such as pain management and medications that can improve a patient’s quality of life.

Woman Sues Surgeon Over Reconstructive Surgery

Published on: January 3, 2019 | by Arfaa Law Group

Whenever anyone undergoes surgery, there are risks. In these nerve-wracking situations, we trust our physicians to provide competent care. If you or your loved one has been injured due to a surgeon’s error, you need to contact a reputable Baltimore surgery malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we will meticulously examine the merits of your claim and create a personalized legal strategy accordingly. Our team is committed to fighting for the rights of each and every client, and you should note that we proudly serve clients throughout Maryland.

Recently, a woman claimed that she needed additional surgery due to the negligence of a Chicago doctor who performed reconstructive surgery on her after a mastectomy. The woman filed a lawsuit against her doctor as well as against the hospital where the procedure took place. According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through a mastectomy. A few months later, she went through reconstructive surgery, after which an implant rotated necessitating further surgery. While this case took place in Illinois, sadly, these types of injuries are all too common in Maryland as well.

Surgery Malpractice in Maryland

All surgeons owe their patients a certain level of care. When this level of care is not adhered to, the consequences can be devastating, long lasting and even permanent for a patient and his or her family. In order to prevail in a medical malpractice case, you must establish that the standard of care was not followed and that the deviation from the standard of care was a direct cause of patient harm. The standard of care refers to the level of care and caution that a reasonably competent medical professional in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances.