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Unsanitary Surgical Instruments

Medical Negligence Lawyer Assisting Patients in Baltimore and Surrounding Cities

Failing to properly disinfect or sterilize surgical equipment may lead to infections, cross-contamination, and even the transmission of environmental pathogens that may cause diseases. As a result, using unsanitary surgical instruments may have devastating consequences for a patient’s health. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to an unsanitary surgical instrument, we can help you take the appropriate legal action. At Arfaa Law Group, a skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorney can examine the facts of your case and come up with a strategy accordingly.

Understanding the Risks Posed by Unsanitary Surgical Instruments

According to a study conducted by researchers at John Hopkins Medicine, medical mistakes are the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Hospitals have a duty to maintain policies and procedures that ensure the proper sterilization of all surgical instruments. There are a variety of circumstances that may lead to the use of dirty surgical instruments, including:

  • Insufficient policies and procedures regarding sterilization;
  • Failures to follow sterilization policies and procedures;
  • Improper packaging of an instrument;
  • Reusing one-time instruments;
  • Intentional misconduct; and
  • Accidentally using instruments that were used in a prior surgery.

If you suspect that an unclean surgical instrument caused your injury, you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. Under Maryland law, you have a limited time frame to file a claim. Generally, you have either five years from the date of your injury or three years from when your injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. Failing to file within this time frame might mean losing your right to take legal action altogether.

A medical malpractice claim is appropriate when a doctor, hospital, nurse, or other health care professional was negligent. Negligence is a failure to adhere to the level of care that another medical professional in the same specialty would have upheld in the same circumstances. Put another way, medical negligence in Maryland occurs when a health care professional fails to meet the standard of care exhibited by professionals with similar experience and training. In order to prevail in a medical malpractice claim, the defendant’s negligence must also have been a direct cause of the patient’s injury or death.

If liability for medical malpractice is established, the plaintiff may seek a variety of economic and non-economic damages. These may take into account the pain and suffering that they endured, as well as the costs of medical procedures and future treatment to address the consequences of the malpractice. Lost income and earning capacity also may be recovered.

Discuss a Medical Malpractice Claim with a Baltimore Attorney

Hospitals should adhere to strict safety procedures and protocols when it comes to cleaning surgical instruments. If you or a loved one has been seriously harmed as a result of a surgeon using unsanitary surgical instruments, it is important to reach out to a Baltimore lawyer who can evaluate the facts of your case. At Arfaa Law Group, Julia Arfaa zealously pursues the compensation that patients deserve for their harm. We represent injured people throughout the State of Maryland. To learn more, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online to set up a free appointment with an injury attorney.