Annapolis, MD Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Medical malpractice often leaves victims reeling from having their trust violated by someone they placed their care in. Fortunately, you are entitled to receive compensation for your losses if you have suffered malpractice.

While proving medical malpractice can be notoriously challenging, our experienced team has the experience and knowledge you need to hold these professionals accountable. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit often involves several hurdles, including proving that the healthcare provider breached their standard of care and resulted in your injuries. This usually requires expert testimony from medical professionals who can state what the accepted standard of care is and how your provider failed to meet it. Our firm can help you gather evidence to show your healthcare provider’s negligence and arrange for experts to testify on your behalf.

For a free case review with our medical malpractice attorneys, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.

Common Causes of Medical Malpractice in Annapolis, MD

Medical malpractice in Annapolis can manifest in various forms, each with its unique challenges and consequences. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, so too must the mechanisms for ensuring patient safety and accountability within the medical profession. When they fail in their duty, our medical malpractice attorneys can fight for the compensation you deserve. If you were the victim of any of the following types of malpractice in Annapolis, you are entitled to justice:

Doctor Negligence

Doctor negligence is perhaps the most personal and direct form of medical malpractice, deeply impacting patient trust and health outcomes. This type of negligence occurs when a physician fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent doctor would under similar circumstances.

Examples include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, surgical errors, and improper medication or dosages. These errors often lead to problems like prolonged illness, additional injuries, or even death. When a doctor’s actions deviate significantly from accepted medical practices, they should be held accountable.

Hospital Staff Negligence

While doctors often play a central role in patient care, the broader hospital staff, including nurses, technicians, and support personnel, are also pivotal. Hospital staff negligence encompasses errors and oversights by these individuals that compromise patient safety.

Common instances include administering the wrong medication, failing to monitor vital signs accurately, and inadequate post-operative care. Such negligence often stems from communication breakdowns, lack of proper protocol adherence, or insufficient training. The hospital environment, characterized by its fast pace and high-stress situations, can also make these issues worse, leading to preventable patient harm that can be life-altering.

Faulty Equipment

The reliance on medical equipment, from diagnostic tools to life-saving devices, is a hallmark of modern healthcare. However, when this equipment is faulty, either because of manufacturing defects or poor maintenance, the consequences can be dire.

Faulty equipment can lead to incorrect diagnoses, ineffective treatments, or direct injury to patients. For instance, a malfunctioning defibrillator might fail to deliver the necessary shock to a cardiac arrest patient, or a poorly calibrated diagnostic tool could miss critical signs of disease.

Liability in such cases might extend beyond the healthcare provider to include manufacturers and maintenance providers, highlighting the complex web of responsibility within medical malpractice lawsuits.

Inadequate Staffing

Adequate staffing levels are crucial for maintaining the quality of patient care. Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities, including those in Annapolis, face challenges with understaffing. Inadequate staffing can lead to overworked healthcare professionals, increased risk of errors, and diminished patient monitoring.

When nurses and other frontline staff are stretched too thin, they might be unable to perform all necessary checks and procedures, leading to neglect and oversight. The consequences of inadequate staffing are broad, affecting everything from emergency response times to the administration of daily medications.

Lack of Training or Supervision

The foundation of competent healthcare lies in thorough training and vigilant supervision. Unfortunately, deficiencies in these areas are common sources of medical malpractice. Inadequate training leaves healthcare providers ill-equipped to perform their duties effectively, potentially leading to errors in diagnosis, treatment, and patient management. The absence of adequate supervision exacerbates this problem, particularly for less experienced staff members or trainees who rely on guidance from more seasoned practitioners.

Hospital Policies Leading to Patient Harm

Hospital policies and procedures are designed to standardize care, promote efficiency, and protect patient welfare. However, when these policies are poorly conceived, implemented, or enforced, they can inadvertently lead to patient harm.

Issues can arise from policies that create excessive workloads, encourage shortcuts, or fail to prioritize patient safety adequately. For instance, policies that limit the time doctors can spend with each patient might rush diagnoses, increasing the risk of errors. Similarly, protocols that do not enforce strict checks and balances for medication administration can lead to preventable medication errors.

The complexity of hospital operations means that even well-intentioned policies can have unintended negative consequences if not carefully monitored and adjusted in response to real-world outcomes. Ensuring that hospital policies align with best practices and are subject to continuous review and improvement is essential for minimizing their potential to contribute to medical malpractice. If they do not, they can be sued for their lack of planning.

Unsanitary Conditions

The importance of maintaining a clean and sanitary environment in healthcare settings cannot be overstated. Unsanitary conditions pose serious risks to patient health, facilitating the spread of infections and diseases.

Instances of medical malpractice related to unsanitary conditions might involve the use of unsterilized equipment, inadequate disinfection of surfaces, or failure to adhere to infection control protocols. The consequences of such oversights can be severe, leading to hospital-acquired infections that complicate patients’ recovery and, in some cases, result in long-term harm or death.

To address unsanitary conditions, hospitals should employ rigorous cleaning protocols, regular staff training on hygiene practices, and enforcement of compliance with established standards. Failure to implement and maintain these measures not only undermines patient safety but also exposes healthcare providers to legal liability for malpractice.

Compensation You Can Recover in an Annapolis, MD Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Compensation for medical malpractice is typically divided into economic and economic damages. Economic damages refer to the measurable financial losses that a victim experiences or will experience as a direct result of medical malpractice. These losses can include additional medical expenses such as hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitative therapies, and any future medical care required.

In addition, victims might face significant time away from work because of their injuries, resulting in compensation to cover lost wages during this period. If the malpractice leads to a disability that affects the victim’s ability to earn a living, they might also seek compensation for lost future earnings or diminished earning capacity.

Medical malpractice victims can also suffer intangible losses that are not easily measurable in monetary terms. Non-economic damages are awarded to compensate for such losses. These damages include pain and suffering, which includes the physical pain and emotional distress experienced by the victim. Pain and suffering might result in ongoing discomfort, fear, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life, and impact of physical disfigurement or disability.

Our Annapolis, MD Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help

Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras by calling (410) 694-7291 to receive your free case assessment with our medical malpractice lawyers.