Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

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.

Diabetes and Medical Malpractice in Maryland

Published on: June 6, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people throughout the United States. The American Diabetes Association estimates that about 25 million Americans suffered from diabetes as of 2011. If it is not properly treated or left untreated, diabetes can be fatal. If your diabetes was negligently treated, causing your condition to worsen, you may have a medical malpractice claim against your health care provider. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys can meticulously analyze the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim.

Diabetes is a group of diseases in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin is compromised, resulting in an abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and heightened levels of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood stream and urine. Put simply, diabetes affects how your body uses blood glucose. According to the Mayo Clinic, glucose is vital to your health because it is an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. In addition, glucose is the primary source of fuel for your brain.

The health consequences of inadequate diabetes treatment can be severe. Potential complications include kidney failure, blindness, stroke, renal failures, limb amputation, diabetic foot ulcers, and more. In some cases, pregnant women may suffer from gestational diabetes, which must also be managed properly to avoid detrimental health effects to both the mother and the fetus.

Liposuction Malpractice in Maryland

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

Many patients undergo plastic surgery in hope of positive results, and many accomplish them. Unfortunately, however, complications do arise for a number of patients. If you or someone close to you was injured during liposuction surgery, you need to reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause.

Liposuction refers to a surgical procedure in which excess fat from under the skin is removed through a small incision and vacuum suctioning. The goal of the procedure is to remove excess fat from the human body and change the body’s shape. Liposuction can be performed on a number of body parts, such as the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, chin, and upper arms.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there was continued growth in cosmetic procedures during 2015. Since 2000, overall cosmetic procedures have risen by 115 percent. The top five cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2015 included 1) breast augmentation; 2) liposuction; 3) nose reshaping; 4) eyelid surgery; and 5) tummy tuck. In total, there were 222,051 liposuction procedures that year, a five percent increase from 2014 but a 37 percent decrease from the year 2000. Liposuction is one of the most dangerous types of plastic surgeries a person can elect to have. A study conducted by two prominent California plastic surgeons estimated that the death rate from liposuction was one in 5,000, a rate almost 20 times higher than that of other forms of elective cosmetic surgery.

Medical Malpractice Involving Broken Bones or Fractures

Published on: May 18, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Doctors are supposed to treat broken bones and fractures in ways that will improve the problem, rather than make it worse. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. If you or someone close to you has received negligent treatment for a broken bone that exacerbated the injury, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced medical negligence attorneys have the skill and determination to pursue the compensation you deserve for your harm.

A fracture refers to the cracking or breaking of a bone. It can range from a thin crack to a complete break. All bone fractures are classified in one of two ways: a simple fracture or a compound fracture. A simple fracture is defined as a broken bone within the body that does not pierce the skin. A compound fracture, also sometimes known as an open fracture, refers to a broken bone or broken bones that pierce through the skin and expose the bone.

Maryland Court Addresses Expert Witness Issue in Medical Malpractice Case

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

Under Maryland law, every medical malpractice case requires testimony from an expert witness. In fact, Rule 5-702 denotes that expert testimony may be admitted if the court decides that the testimony will help the trier of fact (either the judge or jury) understand the evidence or determine a fact at issue in the case. The expert witness in a medical malpractice case is typically a professional in the same specialty as the defendant. For example, if the defendant is an obstetrician, the expert witness will likely be an obstetrician.

In a recent case, a Maryland appeals court considered the issue of expert witnesses. In that case, the plaintiff brought a medical malpractice claim against her doctor for failing to obtain informed consent. Informed consent is the process through which a medical professional discloses appropriate information to a patient so that the patient knows the material risks and benefits associated with a particular course of treatment and can make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed.

In the case at hand, the defendant was the plaintiff’s obstetrician throughout two of her pregnancies in the early 2000s. The plaintiff’s first child was a healthy newborn with no sign of harm to the newborn’s shoulder. However, the child’s chart revealed conflicting information about whether the child had suffered shoulder dystocia. A past shoulder dystocia can increase the likelihood of dystocia in the next child, but this prospect was not taken into account for the plaintiff’s second pregnancy. During the second birth, the plaintiff’s baby suffered shoulder dystocia, which led to a serious and permanent birth injury.

Lasik Eye Surgery Malpractice

Published on: May 5, 2017 | by Arfaa Law Group

Lasik eye surgery has become increasingly popular over the years to help correct people’s vision and free them from the confines of glasses or corrective lenses. While the procedure is relatively safe, there are times when the procedure does not deliver the intended result. If you or someone close to you has experienced vision problems or an eye injury due to laser eye surgery, you should reach out to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can review the facts of your case.

According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, about 600,000 Lasik procedures are performed each year in the United States. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reports that Lasik eye surgery has an extremely high success rate, with 96 percent of patients achieving 20/20 vision or better.

Lasik eye surgery, also known as refractive eye surgery, is the term used to describe surgical procedures that correct common vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. The surgery corrects an individual’s vision through a laser reshaping the inner cornea. Specifically, the doctor makes an incision in the cornea so that the small flap of the clear tissue of the eye can be lifted up. Once this happens, the laser beam reshapes the corneal tissue under the flap. If done properly, the cornea should heal, and the patient should no longer need eyeglasses or corrective lenses.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Injuries in Maryland

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

Elective weight loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass surgery, have been commonplace in Maryland and across the United States. If you or someone close to you suffered a serious injury or even death as a result of gastric bypass surgery, you should speak to a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case. We can scrutinize what happened to determine if malpractice took place.

Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical procedure that helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and intestine handle the food that you eat. The procedure typically involves creating a small stomach and removing the rest of the stomach. The small intestine is then attached to the new stomach, allowing the lower part of the stomach to be bypassed. The surgery is intended to make your stomach smaller, so you end up absorbing fewer minerals and feeling full sooner. This helps patients eat less, lose weight, and experience an improvement in their overall health.

Bowel Perforation Injuries in Maryland

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

When you undergo surgery, you put your trust in the hands of the surgeon and other medical professionals who will be completing the procedure. While every surgery carries some inherent risk, patients are often injured due to a physician’s error. If you or a loved one has suffered from a bowel perforation after surgery, it is important to reach out to a seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case. We can seek answers as to what happened to you and help you determine your next steps.

A bowel or gastrointestinal perforation, also known as a ruptured bowel, is when the bowel is punctured in some way. The GI tract includes the bowel, intestines, and colon. A bowel perforation creates a leak in the gastrointestinal tract that spreads food, fecal matter, and other bacteria into the area, which can lead to serious infections such as peritonitis, a blood poisoning infection known as sepsis, internal bleeding, or even death. Physicians should carefully inspect the bowel before finishing surgery. In fact, it is critical to the patient’s well being that his or her doctor identify and treat any injury to the bowel in a timely manner before it gets any worse.

Failure to Recognize Heart Attack in Maryland

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

When you go to see a doctor, you trust that you will receive reliable and competent care. The sad reality is that this is not always the case. Doctors often make mistakes that have serious consequences for a patient’s health. If you or someone close to you was harmed by a doctor’s failure to recognize a heart attack, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against that doctor. At Arfaa Law Group, we can meticulously evaluate the facts of your case and determine your legal options.

Unfortunately, heart attacks are very common in Maryland and throughout the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 43 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack. Each year, approximately 735,000 Americans have a heart attack – about 525,000 are a first heart attack, while 210,000 happen to people who have already had a first attack. The American Heart Association reports that heart disease is the number one killer in Maryland.

When a patient complains about chest pains, coupled with shortness of breath or pain in the arm, a medical professional should immediately investigate for a potential heart attack. Doctors and other medical professionals are highly trained to recognize the signs of a heart attack. A patient who presents the symptoms of a heart attack should be carefully evaluated before being released from the hospital. If a doctor fails to recognize a heart attack, a patient can suffer serious consequences, including death. Put simply, a timely diagnosis may be able to prevent irreversible heart damage.