Intubation Error During Cholecystectomy Found Negligent

“One of the main objectives for an anesthesiologist is to protect the patient’s airway. In a case involves a forty-four-year-old woman who was admitted to a hospital for a cholecystectomy. The woman had a history of smoking, and her vitals were normal, with a blood pressure of 124/82. She was properly prepped by both the surgeon and anesthesiologist, and was informed that she would be receiving Ketalar as her anesthetic. However, during intubation, the patient’s oxygen count began to slightly decline, and the anesthesiologist shifted the tube. The shift caused the patient’s oxygen’s level to decline further, and the endotracheal tube was removed approximately 45 seconds later. The operation was stopped, and the operating physician had the patient checked for any signs injury. It was determined that the trauma from the tube damaged the thyroid cartilage, causing a loss of oxygen and had a severely negative impact on the patient’s voice. The surgery was never completed, and the patient’s quality of life decreased substantially due to the damage on the vocal cords. The patient was a secretary, and was unable to return to work due to her loss of voice. Experts have opined, intubation is a commonly practiced technique, and the anesthesiologist failed to notice that something was wrong during the first attempt. It is a standard technique and one of the most vital. Various tools exist to ensure proper execution in a timely manner. By shifting the tube, he caused further damage to the patient, and put the patient at risk of complete lack of oxygen. Loss of oxygen can be damage many parts of the human body, with the brain being a high possibility. The patient was also at risk for neurological damage as well, which could cause an even further reduction in quality of life. The tube should have been removed sooner than 45 seconds after complications arose.” www.theexpertinstitute.com I you have questions regarding medical error please feel free to call my office. We can help you NOW. 1-888-760-7339

Gastric Bypass Leading to Punctured Heart and Delayed Treatment

This is an actual case that involved a patient who underwent gastric bypass surgery. The anesthesiologist placed a central venous pressure (CVP) catheter into the patient’s right internal jugular vein that was threaded down to rest in a blood vessel above her heart. The CVP catheter at some point punctured the patient’s heart and became embedded in a portion of her heart muscle. This caused the fluid from the IV to pass into the pericardial sac rather than into the intended blood vessel. This caused the patient to go into cardiac arrest. The nurse on duty was not able to persuade the charge nurse to summon the patient’s doctor until that evening. The deceased patient’s family sued the hospital claiming that the nurses were negligent in not detecting the patient’s deteriorating condition and notifying her doctors of her condition at an earlier time. Experts opined, " When the catheter punctured the patient’s heart, the catheter may have run down the internal jugular vein into the heart and through the heart wall with the tip just beyond the heart wall into the pericardial sac. This caused a continuing accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac that created an increasing pressure on the patient’s heart, which caused her to go into cardiac arrest. When there is an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac, this is called cardiac tamponade, which is a life-threatening condition characterized by increased CVP readings, an increased pulse rate, and decreased blood pressure. Usually, cardiac tamponade is a reversible condition if detected and treated early enough. The nurses treating the patient had a duty to interpret the patient's condition and to notify the doctor about the tamponade so that he had sufficient time to properly diagnose and treat the condition before it became irreversible. The nurses did not meet the proper standard of care in this case, because they failed to detect the patient’s increased pulse rate and her falling blood pressure. " If you your family member or friend has been injured by medical negligence call me. 1-888-760-7339

Common Medical Errors Leading to Medical Malpractice Suits

There are several deviations from the standard of care that justify filing a medical malpractice case. I have listed the most common errors. • Anesthetic Mishaps • Delayed Birth Causing Injury o Brain & Nerve Damage o Brachial Plexus o Cerebral Palsy o Erb’s Palsy • Cancer Misdiagnosis • Emergency Room Errors • Failure To Diagnose • Infection • Misdiagnosis • Lack of Informed Consent • Nursing Home Negligence • Prescription Errors • Surgical Errors If you or a family member or a friend has been injured as a result of medical negligence or you just need to have your case reviewed, please feel free to call my office. I will discuss your case over the phone at NO COST to you. 1-888-760-7339

Statute of Limitations Maryland Malpractice

The statute of limitations in medical malpractice cases in Maryland is five years from the time the injury was committed or three years from the date the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier.

Any medical malpractice action must be filed either within five years from the date when the injury was committed or three years from the date when the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109 (1995). Against a minor, the statute does not begin to run until a claimant has reached the age of eleven, and if the action involves a foreign object or injury to the reproductive system, the statute does not begin to run until the claimant is sixteen. Maryland's highest court has held that the five-year part of the statute is not measured from the date treatment ends and does not violate the state constitution. Hill v. Fitzgerald, 304 Md. 689, 501 A.2d 27 (1985). If you have questions regarding a medical malpractice claim in Maryland please feel free to call my office I am happy to answer your questions over the phone at no cost to you 1-888-760-7339

Perforated Small Intestine

A perforation to the small intestine can sometimes occur during surgery. This is a very serious and dangerous injury if left unattended. I have experience handling medical malpractice issues in Maryland involving exactly this type of injury. In the course of removal of an ovary the OB/GYN accidentally nicked or cut the small intestine. It is generally agreed by certified OB/GYN's and board-certified general surgeons that nicking an internal organ is not in and of itself a deviation from the standard of care. However many will agree that the failure to initiate an examination of the internal organs prior to completing the surgery is a deviation from the standard of care. Specifically as it relates to a perforation of the small intestine a doctor should examine the small intestine prior to completing his surgery. This examination is done by first mobilizing the small intestine so that it can be visually accessed for inspection and secondly running the bowel. There is no guarantee that every nick will be discovered. But it is certain if this inspection procedure is not followed the nick will never be discovered.

If you a family member or friend have a question about a medical procedure and you believe you may be the victim of medical malpractice please feel free to call me. I am happy to answer your questions for you right over the phone at no cost to you. 1-888-760-7339

Maryland Medical Malpractice requirements of the certificate of merit

Recently, in Barber v. Catholic Health Initiatives, Inc., 174 Md.App. 314, 921 A.2d 811 (2007), the intermediate appellate court examined previous health care claims cases of this State, including this Court's decision in Walzer, and determined that the identity of the physicians who allegedly breached the standard of care must be discernable from the Certificate, and that a failure to do so will result in dismissal. In that case, the claimant named all twelve defendants in the original claim and defined them collectively as the "Health Care Providers." The court determined that it was clear from the Certificate, about whom the physician was speaking, when the attesting physician explained that the "Health Care Providers" breached the standard of care. The court stated that "[t]he Certificate cannot be analyzed in a vacuum; it must be considered in the context of the Statement of Claim that it supported, which had already been filed with the HCAO." The court noted, however, that "[t]o be sure, if appellants had re-named in the Certificate each person or entity listed in the Statement of Claim, this appeal would have been avoided." Barber, 174 Md.App. at 351, 921 A.2d at 833. I agree that the inclusion of the specific names is the better practice, as Dr. Simmons-Clemmons indicated in her amended Certificate.

Medical Malpractice in Maryland. Those Cases Matter Too.

If you have been injured as a result of a doctor or hospital's careless treatment and you have been to the lawyers and each one tells you the damages do not justify filing suit call me before you give up the fight. A common opinion for many malpractice lawyers is that the case has to be worth seven figures to justify filing suit. I happen to disagree. I see many medical negligence issues each year where the damages are less then optimal but the case still has value beyond expenses. I am more then happy to give your case an initial evaluation or that final review after everyone has said no. Too frequently a blind eye is turned on those who deserve. This is done in favor of what many consider more prudent business decision making. Let my office be your last stop. Please feel free to call to discuss your medical malpractice case. 1-888-760-7339