Essex, MD Medical Negligence Injury Attorneys

Medical Malpractice Attorney Fighting for Clients in Essex, MD

When treating patients, healthcare providers are required to act with the skill and judgment necessary to address their medical concerns and protect their well-being. Unfortunately, there are some cases where negligence by medical professionals can cause patients to suffer harm that should have been prevented. In these cases, the consequences suffered by patients can be severe.

People who have been affected by medical malpractice may experience injuries that can cause a great deal of pain and emotional trauma. They may need to receive additional medical treatment and pay the related expenses. Severe harm due to medical negligence can lead to permanent disabilities or even death. At Silverman Thompson, our lawyers can help injury victims address these issues and make sure medical providers are held responsible for their negligence.

Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence

During labor and delivery, a child may be at risk of injury when doctors, nurses, or hospital personnel fail to follow the correct procedures or engage in other forms of negligence. The health of a mother may be at risk as well. There are multiple types of birth injuries that may occur, including:

Brain Injuries and Cerebral Palsy

A lack of oxygen during delivery is one of the most serious issues that can affect an infant. Oxygen deprivation can occur if nurses or doctors do not respond to signs of fetal distress correctly or if the proper steps are not taken to address complications involving the umbilical cord or placenta. When a child's brain does not receive enough oxygen, serious harm can occur. In many cases, these brain injuries result in cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, or cognitive impairments.

Developmental disorders resulting from brain injuries during childbirth may lead to enormous medical expenses and other costs involved in providing care for a child. When cerebral palsy or other disorders are caused by a provider's failure to act appropriately, that provider may be held accountable for the lifetime costs of care and other damages a family has experienced.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

There are some circumstances in which a child may become lodged in the birth canal during delivery, a condition called shoulder dystocia. A doctor who applies too much force to a child's head and neck when assisting with delivery may cause injuries affecting the brachial plexus nerves in the shoulders. These injuries can result in Erb's palsy, a condition that may cause a child to experience weakness or permanent paralysis in the arm. A failure to respond correctly to shoulder dystocia or other mistakes made during delivery may be addressed through a medical malpractice claim.

Neonatal Infections

Newborn children are at risk of serious harm from multiple types of infections. Some infections may be passed from the mother to the child during delivery, while others may occur because of a failure to follow sanitary procedures in a delivery room or maternity ward. Doctors and nurses should take steps to manage potential infection risks. If they fail to identify an infection or do not respond correctly to an infection that has affected a child, they may be responsible for injuries such as meningitis, sepsis, or brain damage.

Surgical Errors

Negligence during surgical procedures can put patients at risk of serious harm. Patients may also be affected by a failure to prepare for surgery correctly or a failure to provide effective postoperative care. Our lawyers can take steps to address surgical errors such as:

Mistakes by Surgeons

If surgeons act carelessly during surgery, they can cause serious damage to various parts of a person's body. They may sever nerves, which may cause chronic pain, loss of sensation, or paralysis. They may damage blood vessels, resulting in severe blood loss that could put a patient's health at risk. They may cause damage to organs, such as by perforating the bowel, damaging the lungs, injuring the heart, or disrupting the functions of other organs. Negligence by surgeons may also lead to foreign objects being left inside a patient's body after a procedure is finished.

Anesthesia Errors

Anesthesiologists can put patients at risk if they do not administer drugs correctly or monitor a person's vital signs during surgery. Errors by anesthesiologists may lead to issues such as a lack of oxygen, brain damage, or harm to the cardiovascular system.

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Diagnosis

When examining patients, doctors need to be able to recognize conditions and ensure that the proper treatment will be provided. If a doctor fails to diagnose a condition correctly, a patient may receive ineffective treatment or no treatment at all, and their condition may get worse. A misdiagnosis can occur when a doctor does not identify a condition correctly. A delayed diagnosis may occur if a doctor takes too long to identify a condition.

A doctor may misdiagnose a condition when they do not fully evaluate a patient's symptoms. They may believe that a patient is exaggerating their level of pain, or they may decide that certain symptoms have been caused by migraines, gastrointestinal disorders, or anxiety when a patient is actually experiencing cancer, a stroke, a heart attack, or another life-threatening condition.

A doctor's failure to order the proper tests may also affect their ability to make a correct diagnosis. However, even if the proper tests are ordered, misdiagnoses may occur because of errors in testing. Laboratory errors may involve samples that get mixed up or other errors by lab technicians. Radiology errors involving X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds may occur when technicians fail to follow the proper procedures or do not recognize abnormal issues.

Other Types of Medical Malpractice Cases

At Silverman Thompson, we can address a wide range of malpractice matters that may affect patients in Essex, including:

• Medication Errors: Patients who do not receive the right medications or are given doses that are incorrect can suffer multiple forms of harm. An incorrect medication may cause an allergic reaction, or it may interact with other medications in ways that can harm patients. When a dose is too low, a medication may be ineffective, and when it is too high, a patient may suffer serious or fatal harm due to an overdose.
• Nursing Home Negligence: Abuse or neglect in nursing homes can lead to serious harm to residents. Bedsores or falls may occur due to neglect. Medication errors may occur if staff members do not manage patients' medications correctly. Physical abuse or sexual abuse may be committed by staff members or others.
• Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: Healthcare providers are required to explain the procedures that will be followed when patients receive treatment. A patient should be fully informed about the risks and benefits of different procedures, ensuring that they can make informed decisions about their care. Serious harm can occur if providers proceed with treatment without ensuring that patients have the information needed to consent to treatment.

Contact Our Essex Medical Negligence Lawyers

Medical negligence can lead to long-lasting or permanent injuries for patients. The team at Silverman Thompson can help victims of medical negligence understand their options, and we help them take the right steps to recover financial compensation through medical malpractice claims. Contact our Essex, MD medical malpractice injury attorneys at 410-385-2225 and learn about your legal options by setting up a free consultation.