In Maryland, there are many various types of medical malpractice. However, the most frequently reported causes of malpractice are as follows:
- Misdiagnosis: This occurs when a condition is either mistakenly detected or not detected, or unequivocal results are reached, which means the results lacked a definitive answer.
- Medication Errors: These errors include prescribing the incorrect dose or wrong medication entirely and failure to adequately determine if the patient may have an allergic reaction to the medication being prescribed.
- Surgical Errors: This is a serious and often deadly area of malpractice as it involves the healthcare professional making a grave error while operating on the patient. Examples include improper administration of anesthesia or operating on the wrong body part.
- Lack of Informed Consent: If a medical professional fails to disclose and explain all of the risk factors involved with the surgery, treatment procedures, or medication, this can result in the patient having a lack of informed consent. In Maryland, lack of informed consent, also known as a failure to divulge risk, could qualify as medical malpractice.
- Failure to Diagnose: This is actually a form of misdiagnosis. If a diagnosis is not performed in a timely manner, the patient’s conditions most likely would worsen without the proper treatment. This is particularly true in cases of patients who have cancer, heart disease, and other serious medical conditions.
If you feel that you are the victim of medical malpractice, then call our offices at (410) 484-0400 and schedule a free initial case review with one of our qualified malpractice attorneys.
How Do I Know If I Have a Strong Case For Medical Malpractice in Maryland?
Just because a medical professional commits a mistake in your care, that does not necessarily mean that malpractice has occurred. In order to prove that malpractice did occur, the burden of proof rests on you to demonstrate that the medical professional violated the standard of care. You must prove the healthcare professional harmed you in their failure to do what any other professional would have done under the same circumstances.
Two basic requirements must be met in order to successfully prove medical malpractice:
- The medical professional committed a mistake or provided negligent care.
- Your subsequent injuries were directly caused by that mistake or negligent care.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on How Long I have to File a Lawsuit?
Under Maryland law, an individual has three years in which to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. If for any reason, the injury was not immediately detected, the individual has three years from the date that the injury was discovered to file a lawsuit. In addition, in the event a minor has suffered an injury from malpractice, they have until their 21st birthday to file a claim, regardless of the age at which the injury occurred.
Should I Hire an Attorney to Help Me With a Medical Malpractice Claim in Maryland?
Medical malpractice can be extremely complicated and difficult to navigate without the assistance of a legal professional. Many of the insurance companies that provide malpractice insurance for healthcare providers have teams of attorneys who work hard to try to disprove your claim or try to negotiate with you to settle for significantly less than your claim may be worth.
You need strong legal representation to fight for your legal rights and not back down from the insurance companies. Contact our law offices today by calling (410) 484-0400 and scheduling an appointment with a member of our legal team. We can offer you a free case review and determine how to move your case forward.