Failure to Diagnose Coarctation of the Aorta

The aorta is the primary artery responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. As such, if the aorta is narrow or obstructed, the heart may be unable to maintain a normal blood flow. Typically, narrowing or coarctation of the aorta is diagnosed shortly after birth. If a doctor neglects to observe the signs that the aorta is restricted, however, it may go undiagnosed, leading to serious health concerns. If your child was harmed by a physician’s failure to diagnose coarctation of the aorta, it is smart to consult an attorney to determine whether you may be able to recover damages. The skilled Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group are proficient at proving reckless healthcare providers should be held accountable for the injuries they cause, and if you hire us, we will aggressively pursue any compensation recoverable for you and your child.

Coarctation of the aorta is the phrase used to describe the congenital heart defect that causes the narrowing or obstruction of the aorta. It typically causes a decreased blood flow to the lower half of the body. Symptoms of severe coarctation generally present in infancy and include poor feeding, inadequate weight gain, fast breathing, and gray or pale skin. Infants with coarctation of the aorta often go into shock, and in many instances, the complications of their disorder are fatal. Usually, coarctation of the aorta is diagnosed with imaging studies like echocardiograms, CT scans, and MRIs. Surgical intervention is the most common treatment for coarctation of the aorta. While children with the condition can lead relatively typical lives after they undergo surgical repair, they should continue to undergo regular monitoring to ensure that no concerning complications arise.

A doctor’s failure to diagnose coarctation of the aorta shortly after a child’s birth is often the result of inadequate care. As such, parents of children harmed by such oversights will often pursue medical malpractice claims against the doctor on behalf of themselves and their children. Generally, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice lawsuit must prove the defendant’s negligence caused their harm.

In Maryland, to establish the negligence of a physician, a plaintiff must show that defendant owed the plaintiff a duty. In the framework of a doctor-patient relationship, the duty owed is to provide care that meets or exceeds the applicable standard, which is the treatment that a reasonable practitioner that works in the same field as the defendant would provide when presented with a similar scenario.

The plaintiff then needs to demonstrate that the defendant failed to provide care commensurate with the standard. As the standard of care that applies to medical professionals falls outside of the understanding of the average judge or juror, the plaintiff will most likely need to hire a medical expert to explain the standard and the ways in which the defendant failed to uphold the standard at trial.

Lastly, the plaintiff has to establish causation. In other words, they must show that the defendant’s departure from the standard of care directly caused them to suffer quantifiable losses. Generally, expert testimony is needed to prove causation as well. A plaintiff that demonstrates a defendant’s fault may be awarded compensation for the financial harm they suffered due to the defendant’s negligence, like the cost of medical care, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages, and for the intangible damages, such as pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.

Coarctation of the aorta often causes infants to go into shock and, in many instances, is fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. If your child sustained damages due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose coarctation of the aorta, you could be owed compensation, and it is wise to talk to an attorney as soon as possible. The seasoned Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group possess the knowledge and resources needed to obtain favorable outcomes in cases against negligent healthcare providers, and if we represent you, we will advocate assertively on your behalf. We regularly represent families and children in medical malpractice cases in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can contact us through our form online or by calling us at (410) 889-1850 to set up a confidential meeting.