Dundalk Medical Negligence Lawyers

Attorneys for Malpractice by Doctors, Hospitals, and Other Medical Providers in Dundalk, MD

Everyone who visits a doctor's office, hospital, or other medical facility believes that the medical care they will receive will address their specific needs while protecting their overall health. Unfortunately, there are some situations where the treatment provided by physicians, surgeons, hospitals, or other providers does not meet the standards that are required. When medical providers make mistakes, fail to provide the proper care, or engage in other forms of negligence, the consequences patients suffer as a result can be long-lasting.

Medical negligence can turn a routine procedure into a crisis. It may allow a treatable condition to advance to a point where options are limited or where a person's life will be at risk. Mistakes by doctors or surgeons can cause serious injuries that are likely to have a major impact on a patient's life.

Silverman Thompson represents victims of medical malpractice in Dundalk and the surrounding area. We have a record of success in these types of cases, and we have helped our clients obtain millions of dollars in compensation for injuries that were caused by medical negligence. We know the legal requirements that must be met in these cases, and we build comprehensive claims for our clients to maximize their chances of recovering the compensation they need and deserve.

How Misdiagnosis Harms Patients

Errors in diagnosis are some of the most common forms of medical negligence, and they can lead to long-lasting harm. A misdiagnosis may involve the misidentification of a serious medical condition. A doctor may fail to recognize the correct condition, or they may diagnose a patient with the wrong condition. They may eventually make the right diagnosis, but delays can affect a patient's ability to receive the proper treatment during critical windows of time. In some cases, a condition may progress beyond the point where effective care will be possible, meaning that a delayed diagnosis can lead to a death that should have been preventable.

There are several factors that can contribute to diagnostic errors. A doctor may fail to perform a complete examination of a patient. They may not take the time to consider a patient's medical history or issues that have affected their family in the past, causing them to miss crucial factors that could inform a diagnosis. Doctors may dismiss patients' symptoms without considering their potential causes, or they may not order follow-up tests that could have found a serious issue. The failure to refer a patient to an appropriate specialist may also prevent a correct diagnosis from being made.

Radiologists and pathologists may also play a role in diagnostic failures. Laboratory errors can occur, or imaging scans may be misread, preventing a doctor from receiving information that could have helped them make an accurate diagnosis. Our attorneys can take steps to identify the providers whose negligence contributed to a misdiagnosis.

Surgical Errors That Can Injure Patients

Negligence can lead to devastating harm to patients who undergo surgery. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff will need to follow the correct procedures to ensure that a patient's health is protected. Surgical errors that may be considered medical negligence include:

Damage to Organs and Nerves

Surgeons may mistakenly damage sensitive tissues inside the body during a procedure. The bowel may be perforated during an abdominal procedure, or the bile duct may be lacerated during a gallbladder removal, and these issues can result in serious medical issues. Damage to nerves can also affect patients, in some cases leading to loss of mobility or paralysis.

Foreign Objects Left in the Body

Surgical instruments like sponges, needles, or clamps may be left inside a patient after a procedure has been finished. This can lead to serious complications that may include infections, damage to internal organs, bowel obstruction, and chronic pain.

Anesthesia Errors

When anesthesiologists administer incorrect doses of medications, this may lead to cardiovascular problems, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, or awareness during surgery. Improper intubation may also be a factor that can affect a patient's ability to receive enough oxygen. When anesthesia errors cause patients to suffer harm, an anesthesiologist, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, or other personnel involved in a procedure may be liable.

Failure to Prevent Infections and Treat Sepsis

Hospitals are required to follow procedures to control potential infections and prevent patients from suffering harm. Patients may contract infections if nurses do not wash their hands or sterilize instruments correctly. Infections may also occur at surgical sites or when catheters or IVs are placed due to a failure to follow the correct procedures for treatment.

Sepsis can occur when a patient experiences a life-threatening systemic response to an infection. If it is not treated correctly, it may lead to serious injuries, including septic shock, organ failure, or death. When medical providers do not recognize warning signs such as fever, elevated heart rate, or abnormal respiration, they may delay in providing antibiotics or other treatments that can save a patient's life or help avoid further harm.

How Silverman Thompson Helps Medical Malpractice Victims

In a medical malpractice case, it is crucial to build a record that establishes what treatment should have been provided, the standards of care that were violated, and the damages the patient has suffered. When handling these cases, our attorneys will make sure the right steps are followed to maximize the compensation our clients can receive.

Thorough Case Investigation

We can perform a comprehensive review of a patient's medical records to identify the specific points at which care fell below the required standard. We will use these records to build a timeline of what happened and show that negligence led to injuries.

Working With Qualified Medical Experts

Maryland law requires plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases to file a certificate from a qualified medical expert confirming that the standard of care was breached and that the breach in the standard of care was a cause of the injuries and damages. Our attorneys work with experienced medical professionals who have the proper credentials. We make sure that claims include detailed explanations of the negligence that occurred and the harm that patients suffered because of the failure to meet the standards of care.

Documenting the Full Scope of Damages

To recover fair compensation for a medical malpractice victim, it will be important to fully document the victim's losses. Our lawyers will consider all potential damages, including past medical bills, the costs of ongoing and future treatment, the income a person has lost, and the impact that their injuries have had on their quality of life.

Fighting for Fair Compensation

Our attorneys will advocate for fair compensation for our clients. We will work to negotiate settlements that adequadely address our clients' damages. When necessary, we will take cases to court and fight for the compensation an injury victim deserves.

Contact Our Dundalk, Maryland Medical Negligence Attorneys

The team at Silverman Thompson is ready to help victims of medical negligence secure fair compensation for the harm done to them and their families. Contact our Dundalk medical malpractice lawyers at 410-385-2225 to arrange a free consultation today.