Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

Pharmacy Errors are Pervasive in U.S. Healthcare System, According to Study

Published on: October 10, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Medication errors can lead to serious harm, even death. If you have been injured by a medication error caused by a pharmacist’s negligence, you may have legal options. We routinely handle medical malpractice cases involving medication or prescription errors. You can take comfort in knowing that our skillful Baltimore medication error attorneys can assist you in every step of the legal process, from completing the necessary paperwork to negotiations and even in the courtroom.

Dispensing errors at the pharmacy may account for approximately 21 percent of medication errors that affect patients, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. These mistakes may be more common than most patients think. The study analyzed 154,816 medication error reports between January 1, 1999 and December 21, 2001. Approximately two-thirds of the errors reported reached the patient, with relatively few causing harm. Death was reported in 19 occurrences. Mistakes related to omission and improper dose/quantity were the most commonly reported. One cause of these mistakes was a consistent performance deficit, plus failure to follow procedure and protocol.

Liability for Medication Errors

Getting the correct medication to the right patient in the correct dosage in a timely manner is vital to making sure patients do not suffer preventable medication injuries. Medication errors can take place in a variety of settings including in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and pharmacies.

Doctors Unwilling to Recommend their Profession in Maryland and Nationwide, Study Says

Published on: October 5, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Sadly, medical malpractice causes countless injuries in Maryland and across the United States every year. If you or a person you love has been injured due to the negligence of a medical professional, you should consult a diligent Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. Medical malpractice cases are incredibly complex but you can trust that we will help you obtain the answers you need following a medical mistake

Seven out of 10 doctors are not willing to recommend their chosen profession to their children or other family members, according to a nationwide Future of Healthcare Survey of over 3,400 doctors released by The Doctors Company. Respondents included primary care physicians, surgical specialists, inpatient medical specialists and diagnosticians.

Respondents cited electronic health records (EHRs) and value-based care as key reasons for their viewpoint. Specifically, fifty-four percent said they believe EHRs have negatively impacted the doctor-patient relationship, and 61 percent said they believe EHRs negative affect efficiency and productivity. In addition, 49 percent said they believe value0based care and reimbursed will negatively impact patient care.

Burnout Leads to Doctors Prescribing the Wrong Medication in Maryland and Throughout the Nation

Published on: September 24, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

When a doctor, nurse or any other medical professional is negligent, the results can be devastating. If you have been injured or someone you know has died due to medical malpractice, you need the help of a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to getting our clients the compensation they deserve for their harm. Time is of the essence in these cases so it is important to act as quickly as possible after your medical injury.

Doctors with burnout are twice as likely to prescribe the wrong medication and make the wrong diagnoses, according to a new large-scale study. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined 57 research papers that analyzed the responses of 43,000 doctors. The conclusion was that burnout has devastating effects on the quality of care that a patient receives. Burnout also makes doctors twice as likely to lower professional standards, such as not following set protocols and policies. For junior doctors, burnout increases the chances of lower professional standards by 3.5 times.

The study also revealed that patient satisfaction was significantly lower when doctors were physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted – key signs of burnout. The study confirms what has been known for a while: doctors work best when they are not overworked to the degree that they experience burnout. In other words, the well being of a doctor directly impacts patient care.

Explaining Medical Mistakes Can Reduce Maryland Medical Professionals’ Liability

Published on: September 17, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Careless communication or miscommunication between medical professionals can lead to serious medical injuries. If you or a loved one suffered harm due to a physician communication error, we urge you to contact a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we are ready to represent you and help you get the compensation you are rightfully owed for your harm.

While strong communication can help reduce incidents of malpractice in the first place, clear communication can also help after malpractice has occurred. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, apologizing to patients reduces hospital defense and liability costs. Essentially, when hospital staff and doctors are willing to explain, apologize and resolve negative medical events it may substantially decrease defense and liability exposure.

The study found that using Erlanger’s Communication and Resolution Program (CRP), which was initiated in January of 2009, led to a 66 percent reduction in legal claims filed; a 51 percent reduction in defense costs; and a 53 percent reduction in the time it took to close cases. No medical mistake took place in 65 percent of adverse events. When medical professionals explained errors to patients and their families using CRP protocol, 43 percent of cases were resolved by an apology alone, even though 60 percent of those clients had legal representation.

Failure to Diagnose Brain Infections Can Lead to Serious Injury in Maryland and Elsewhere

Published on: September 10, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Diagnostic errors can lead to severe, even deadly. injuries. If a medical professional’s late or missed diagnosis harmed you, you need to reach a seasoned Baltimore misdiagnosis attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, we understand how difficult it can be to deal with medical malpractice, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost compassion. To maximize your chances of recovery, we personally prepare every case for trial.

An Ohio woman was recently awarded millions of dollars after suffering severe injuries due to malpractice. M.D., a retired speech pathologist visited Firelands Hospital in Sandusky, Ohio complaining that she was not feeling well. After undergoing several scans and tests, she was given steroids to treat a brain tumor. The only problem was that she did not have a brain tumor. She had an infection growing in her brain, which deteriorated after doctors gave her steroids. Specifically, the steroids led to the infection getting worse and spreading to other parts of the brain, leaving her nearly incapacitated.

The family sued two neurologists, alleging that if the negligence had not occurred, M.D. would have been a healthy woman who would have walked out of the hospital herself in 2013. Now, she can no longer use her legs and the cost of her care is extremely high. The jury agreed with the plaintiff and awarded over $7 million in damages.

Johns Hopkins Evades Maryland Woman’s Medical Malpractice Claim Over Misdiagnosis of Rare Disease

Published on: September 4, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

A misdiagnosis can have severe and long-term consequences for a patient. If you have been hurt because a medical professional misdiagnosed your condition, you may be able to seek compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our diligent Baltimore misdiagnosis attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim.

A Maryland appellate panel has affirmed the mid-trial dismissal of a lawsuit accusing a Johns Hopkins Hospital doctor of misdiagnosing a woman with lung cancer instead of the rare disease she firmly believed she had contracted, and settling a quarrel over when the three-year statute of limitations began to run.

The facts of the case are as follows. M.M., an Arizona resident, contracted Coccidioidomycosis (commonly known as “Cocci” or “Valley Fever”) – a disease caused by a fungus germane to the semi arid areas of the southwestern states. In 2008, M.M. believed she experienced symptoms consistent with a Cocci infection. That same year, she and her husband relocated to Maryland where she sought treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her doctor there stated that he believed her symptoms were more likely due to lung cancer rather than Cocci. In fact, the doctor said there was a 90 percent chance that M.M. had lung cancer and stated the only way to treat it was to conduct a partial lung lobotomy. In 2009, a portion of M.M.’s lung was removed. It was later confirmed that M.M., in fact, did have a Cocci infection.

Study Says Real-time Technology Can Assist Physicians Reduce Complications and Save Money

Published on: August 27, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

Unfortunately, medical malpractice takes place much more often than it should. If you or your family member suffered harm and you believe malpractice was the cause, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can help. At Arfaa Law Group, we empathize with individuals and families who have suffered preventable harm as a result of a medical professional’s error or carelessness. You can rest assured that we can compassionately guide you through the entire legal process.

A recent study printed in the American Journal of Managed Care found that real-time technology allowed physicians to make good decisions in a timely manner and provide better care to patients at lower costs. The study was conducted by Dr. Harry C. Sax, executive vice chair of surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and a variety of other physicians, researchers, and companies.

The research team placed electronic reminders into the hospital’s electronic health records, highlighting for doctors in real time when their care guidelines departed from evidence-based medical guidelines. The team then evaluated what would happen to patients whose physicians followed all guidelines versus those whose physicians did not follow any of them. The study examined almost 26,500 patients admitted to Cedars-Sinai over a three-year time span.

Surgery Centers Do Not Have to Report Deaths in Over a Dozen States

Published on: August 20, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

When people go to a surgery center to have a procedure done, they expect the safety of a hospital. Unfortunately, they do not always get that. Surgery centers differ vastly when it comes to resources and oversight and this often impacts the level of care patients receive. If you have been injured or someone you know has died during or after a procedure at a surgery center, you need to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore surgery malpractice attorney as soon as possible. At Arfaa Law Group, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of Maryland medical malpractice victims.

A recent investigation conducted by the USA Today Network and Kaiser Health News found that 17 states have no mandate to report patient deaths after surgery center care. As such, no facility oversight authority has scrutinized whether the deaths were a statistical irregularity or cause for concern.

Essentially, the report discovered that surgery centers operate under such an inconsistent mix of rules and regulations across the United States that death or serious injuries can result in no warning being issued to government officials, much less to potential patients. The lack of oversight allows centers hit with tough federal sanctions to keep operating. In fact, no rule stops a surgeon fired from a hospital for any wrongdoing from opening his or her own surgery center nearby. This gap in oversight continues even as the nation’s 5,600 surgery centers have surpassed hospitals in number and taken on increasingly difficult surgeries.

Radiologists Among Most Sued Medical Professionals, Study Says

Published on: August 14, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

A correct and timely diagnosis often depends on the accurate and timely interpretation of radiology reports. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. If you have been injured due to a radiology error, we may be able to help. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can investigate every aspect of your case and help you understand your legal rights and options accordingly.Radiologists are involved in 15 percent of diagnosis-related medical malpractice lawsuits, second only to those involving general medicine medical professionals, according to a new report produced by Boston-based medical professional liability insurer Coverys. The report analyzed more than 10,000 claims, identifying a total of 595 radiology-related malpractice claims from 2013 to 2017. The data show that 80 percent of all diagnosis-related claims stem from the misinterpretation of clinical tests. In addition, 80 percent of missed diagnosis lawsuits in radiology involve either permanent injury or death to the patient.

Radiologists play a critical role in correctly and accurately diagnosing patients. Among those radiology claims alleging diagnostic failure, cancer misdiagnoses were the most common, according to the report, with breast, lung, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers being the most prevalent.

Maryland Court Rejects Malpractice Award Based on Patient’s Suicide

Published on: August 7, 2018 | by Arfaa Law Group

If you believe that you have been a victim of a medical professional’s mistake, you need a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who will fight to get you the best possible result. Determining whether you have a viable medical malpractice claim is not easy, but having a skilled attorney on your side can make a huge difference in your case.Last month, Maryland’s highest court tossed a $2.3 million jury verdict in a lawsuit accusing a psychiatrist and a hospital of improperly discharging a mental health patient who committed suicide on the following day, reasoning that a doctor who discharges an involuntarily admitted patient in good faith is immune from civil liability.

The Maryland Mental Health Law provides criteria for the involuntary admission of an individual to a mental health facility and a process for evaluating whether the individual meets those criteria. Hospitals, as well as their employees, have civil and criminal immunity when they follow the process in good faith. The process starts with the initiation application for involuntary admission and concludes upon a hearing officer’s decision whether to admit or release that person. If the doctor followed statutory criteria and made the decision to release an individual in good faith, that decision cannot form the basis of a jury verdict for medical malpractice.