As doctors train for several years to obtain their licenses, it is normal for a patient to expect that a doctor will provide them with adequate medical care. Unfortunately, some doctors may commit acts of medical negligence that could result in a patient suffering a severe injury. If you or a family member was the victim of medical malpractice, consult with an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer today. At Bennett & Heyman, understand how an incident of medical malpractice can substantially impact a victim’s life, and we are here for you. Our firm is here to explain how to prove medical negligence in Maryland.
Establishing Liability for Medical Negligence in Maryland
To prove medical negligence committed by a medical practitioner, a claimant must show that the doctor’s standard of care was insufficient in comparison to the industry standard. This means that a doctor will be compared against other medical professionals in their profession. In some cases, a lawsuit for hospital negligence can be filed depending on a doctor’s employment status at a hospital.
It is important to note that a medical practitioner is not obligated to provide a patient with impeccable medical care. As a result, some errors made by a doctor may not rise to the level of medical negligence. This is especially true if the medical error did not cause the patient to be injured.
A claimant must also establish a patient-doctor relationship. This means that a claimant must show that a doctor did indeed provide them with medical care that resulted in an injury. Additionally, there are other elements that a claimant must prove to prevail in their case. Failure to prove these elements can result in a plaintiff’s claim being dismissed. That is why it is important to speak with an experienced attorney that understands the gravity of your case.
Common Medical Negligence Claims
Medical negligence can apply to a variety of issues that may occur during medical treatment. If a patient suffers a serious injury due to the actions of a medical practitioner, it is important to understand the cause of the injury. This can help an injured patient if they decide to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the medical practitioner or hospital that was responsible for their injury.
The following is a list of common medical negligence accidents that can lead to a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Birth injuries
The birth of a child is a life-changing event that should be celebrated by parents. However, if a mother is assigned a doctor that does not take adequate precautions during all terms of pregnancy and the delivery, this can result in a newborn suffering a severe birth injury.
Birth injuries may occur under a variety of circumstances. For example, if a doctor uses excessive force when pulling a child from the birth canal, a child could suffer a serious bruising injury that could trigger other medical conditions. If this occurs, a doctor could be held liable for the injuries suffered by a child.
Surgical Errors
There is potential to be injured in minor or major surgical procedures if a surgeon acts negligently. For example, if a patient is scheduled to have a minor dermatological operation, a dermatologist could make an inappropriate incision that could cause a patient a serious surgical injury. Alternatively, major operations like the amputation of a limb can also be dangerous if a surgeon is provided with incorrect information that leads to the amputation of the wrong limb.
Diagnose Errors
When a person feels ill and visits a doctor for a medical diagnosis, they hope that the doctor will provide them with a correct diagnosis. Unfortunately, a patient may leave their doctor’s appointment with a medical misdiagnosis or without a clear diagnosis.
As a result, the patient’s medical condition may continue to worsen until a doctor realizes their mistake or until the patient gets a second opinion. At this point, the patient may have missed multiple opportunities to treat the medical condition due to doctor’s negligence. This can be especially dangerous if the patient is suffering from a life-threatening condition like cancer.
There are other causes of medical negligence that are not listed above. If you were injured in a different type of medical negligence claim, do not delay in pursuing your case as it is subject to the statute of limitations.
Our Experienced Maryland Medical Negligence Lawyers are Here for You
If you or a family member was injured due to medical malpractice, you should contact an experienced Baltimore personal injury lawyer today. The legal team at Bennett & Heyman possess decades of combined legal experience litigating complex medical negligence claims for residents across the State of Maryland, and we would be pleased to work with you. You do not have to fight your case alone. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your legal claim, contact Bennett & Heyman at (410) 429-7856, or contact us online.
