Medical Negligence

Medical professionals are expected to provide their patients with the level of care that is appropriate to properly diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions. Medical professionals are human, however, and they sometimes make mistakes or act carelessly when treating patients, which unfortunately can result in significant harm. If you were harmed by a health care provider’s negligence or error, it is advisable to speak with an attorney regarding the options that you may have for seeking damages. The diligent Baltimore medical negligence lawyers at Arfaa Law Group are adept at proving that negligent care providers should be held liable for the harm that they cause. If you engage our services, we will vigorously pursue the best outcome available under the facts surrounding your harm.

Medical errors are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Medication errors are a common example of medical errors. For example, an improper drug may be administered, or the patient may be given the proper drug in an incorrect dosage. In some cases, a patient may be prescribed a drug that is contraindicated due to an allergy. Communication errors are another common type of medical error. Communication errors occur when a patient is not properly advised of the risks associated with a procedure or medication, or is not thoroughly informed of any restrictions. Surgical errors also comprise a large portion of medical errors. Surgical errors can occur when a physician operates on the wrong part of a person’s body or leaves a sponge or instrument in a person during surgery. The medical negligence attorneys at our Baltimore firm have brought claims based on each of these types of errors, as well as many others.

Whether a medical error is actionable depends, in part, on whether the error constituted negligence or was merely an inevitable consequence despite the medical provider’s best efforts. For example, if a drug that is provided to a patient in a hospital was mislabeled by an outside source, the care providers that provided the patient with the medication likely had no way of knowing that it was not the proper medication and would have been unable to prevent any adverse reactions caused by the medication. In most cases, however, medical errors are caused by negligence.

A plaintiff alleging that a health care provider committed medical malpractice must show that the provider had a duty to provide treatment commensurate with the applicable standard of care, but the provider departed from the standard of care. The standard of care that applies is the care that a practitioner in the same specialty, with similar training and experience, would provide under the same circumstances. In other words, if another physician would have prescribed a different medication given the patient's medical history, the plaintiff and their Baltimore medical negligence attorney can argue that the provider departed from the standard of care. Since most people are not familiar with the standard of care that applies to health care professionals, expert testimony is typically needed to explain the standard of care and the manner in which the defendant provider deviated from the standard.

Regardless of whether a care provider negligently departed from the standard of care, he or she will not be held liable unless the plaintiff can show that the departure caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm. Put another way, if a doctor commits a medical error, such as prescribing an incorrect medication, but the patient does not suffer any adverse effects from taking the wrong medication, the error is most likely not actionable. Instead, the plaintiff must show that the error caused quantifiable harm, such as an illness or injury.

When a doctor or other health care provider commits an error, it can cause substantial harm. If you suffered injuries due to a medical error or negligence, you should speak with a medical negligence lawyer in the Baltimore area to discuss your recourse for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, we are well versed in what it takes to obtain a successful verdict in a medical malpractice case, and we will work tirelessly to help you hold your negligent care provider accountable. We assist people throughout the State of Maryland. We can be reached via our online form or at 410-889-1850 to schedule a free appointment.