Catonsville, MD Medical Malpractice Claim Lawyers

Medical Negligence Lawyer Protecting Patients in Catonsville, MD

The medical care that patients receive will not only affect the immediate health issues they experience, but it can also play a role in their overall health and well-being in the future. When doctors or other medical professionals do not provide the correct care, or when they make mistakes, patients can suffer serious injuries that may result in pain, emotional distress, and financial losses. In some cases, medical negligence may even lead to a person's wrongful death.

When medical professionals violate the trust that patients place in them, steps may be taken to hold them responsible for their negligence. At Silverman Thompson, our attorneys represent patients in medical malpractice claims in Catonsville, Maryland. We make sure our clients have a lawyer in their corner who is fighting for them, and we will not rest until they receive the fair compensation they deserve.

Nursing Home Malpractice

When malpractice occurs in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, residents are at risk of suffering serious harm. In many cases, nursing home residents will depend on a facility's staff members to provide for their basic needs and ensure that they receive the proper medical care. Negligence at a nursing home can have severe consequences.

Physical abuse by nursing home staff members may involve the use of unnecessary restraints, rough handling, or direct physical harm like punching, slapping, or shoving. Emotional abuse may involve intimidation, humiliation, or isolation, and it can cause serious psychological harm. Sexual abuse of nursing home residents can be especially devastating, and it may be committed against people with dementia or others who may be unable to communicate with others and report what happened.

Neglect in nursing homes can take many forms. Malnutrition and dehydration can occur when staff members do not make sure that residents receive enough food and fluids. People who are confined to beds or wheelchairs may experience bedsores when they are left unattended without being repositioned regularly. Falls and serious injuries can occur when residents do not receive proper supervision and assistance.

Improper medical care may also occur because of negligence in nursing homes. Staff members may make medication errors if they do not have procedures in place to ensure that the right medications are provided to the right patients at the right times. When patients are not monitored correctly, staff members may fail to notice serious medical issues and ensure that doctors perform examinations and provide treatment. These and other issues may affect residents of nursing homes that are understaffed or fail to train staff members correctly.

Radiology and Laboratory Errors

The diagnosis of a patient's condition and the treatment they receive will often depend on the interpretation of test results. When errors occur during testing, a misdiagnosis may occur, or a patient may not receive the treatment they need to address a serious condition.

Radiology errors can occur for a variety of reasons. A radiologist may not identify a mass on a chest X-ray, or they may misread a mammogram. A technician may fail to perform an MRI or CT scan correctly, which can prevent a physician from receiving the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the appropriate care.

Laboratory errors may occur when specimens are mixed up or mislabeled. Samples that are handled incorrectly may become contaminated, affecting the results. Incorrect processing of samples or mistakes made when reporting results can prevent a doctor from making the correct diagnosis. Because of a laboratory error, a doctor may prescribe an inappropriate medication, overlook a dangerous condition, or they may not have enough information to determine the appropriate treatments.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesiologists are responsible for protecting the safety of patients during surgical procedures and in other settings. Anesthesia errors can cause patients to suffer serious harm. Administering too much anesthesia can affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and a person may experience brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Too little anesthesia can result in a patient regaining consciousness during surgery, or they may experience severe pain. Failure to account for allergies or drug interactions before administering anesthesia can lead to dangerous reactions that may put a person's life at risk.

Improper intubation is an issue related to anesthesia that can also affect patients. If a breathing tube is not placed correctly, a patient may experience oxygen deprivation. Failure to monitor a patient's vital signs while they are under anesthesia may cause an anesthesiologist to miss complications such as a drop in blood pressure, heart rate abnormalities, or breathing problems. If they do not respond to these issues correctly, a patient may be seriously injured.

Birth Injuries and Cerebral Palsy

Negligence during childbirth can lead to serious harm that may affect the child or the mother. Birth injuries may lead to conditions like cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and seizure disorders. Oxygen deprivation during labor and delivery is one of the most serious concerns that can affect newborn babies. When medical professionals fail to recognize signs of fetal distress, abnormal heart rate patterns, umbilical cord complications, or placenta problems, a child's brain may be deprived of oxygen long enough to cause serious damage.

Injuries may also occur when obstetricians use delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors incorrectly. This can lead to skull fractures or other types of harm to children. Brachial plexus injuries may occur when too much force is placed on an infant's head and neck during delivery. Mothers are also at risk of injuries during and after childbirth, including hemorrhaging, vaginal lacerations, failure to diagnose preeclampsia, or errors during cesarean deliveries that damage organs or nerves.

Failure to Provide Proper Treatment for Serious Conditions

Many of the most serious medical malpractice cases involve the failure to recognize and treat a serious condition in time to prevent permanent harm. These conditions may include:

• Stroke: A doctor may misdiagnose a stroke and fail to provide crucial medical care that can help to prevent long-term health issues. They may believe that symptoms such as sudden severe headaches, facial drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulties were caused by migraines, vertigo, or anxiety.
• Cancer: A delay in recognizing cancer may allow the disease to progress, which may limit the treatment options that will be available. A doctor may dismiss warning signs, fail to follow up on test results, or misread test results. This can prevent a patient from receiving the early intervention needed to stop the progression of the disease.
• Infections and Sepsis: A manageable infection can progress to sepsis quickly. When the early warning signs of sepsis are not recognized, including fever and elevated heart rate, a patient may not receive the antibiotics needed to prevent harm. Failure to diagnose meningitis, appendicitis, or other serious infections can also result in serious injuries for patients.

Contact Our Catonsville Medical Malpractice Claim Attorneys

When medical negligence has led to injuries that should have been preventable, the attorneys at Silverman Thompson can provide patients with legal help as they take steps to hold doctors or medical facilities accountable. Our legal team works with qualified medical professionals to build thorough cases, document our clients' losses, and obtain fair compensation for the injuries that have occurred. Contact our Catonsville, MD medical negligence injury lawyers at 410-385-2225 to set up a free consult.