When you visit a doctor, you expect competent and prompt care. Failing to diagnose an aneurysm can have serious, even deadly consequences for a patient. If you or someone close to you has suffered harm because a doctor or another medical professional failed to diagnose an aneurysm, you should consult a Baltimore misdiagnosis attorney. We understand the long-lasting effects that a medical error can have on a patient and their family. Julia Arfaa and the team at Arfaa Law Group can help you fight for all of the compensation that you deserve for your harm. We have earned some of the most substantial medical malpractice verdicts and settlements in Maryland history.
Understanding Risks Caused by Failing to Diagnose an AneurysmAneurysms are damaged blood vessels that could burst and cause significant internal bleeding that could lead to death. An aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or protruding of a section in the wall of the aorta caused by a tear or weak spot. A brain aneurysm is a bulge that forms in the blood vessel of the brain, which can leak or rupture, causing bleeding into the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aortic aneurysms contribute to over 25,000 deaths per year in the United States. Approximately 30,000 brain aneurysms rupture in the country each year, and an estimated 40 percent of these cases cause death within 24 hours.
When an aneurysm is not properly diagnosed, it can lead to excessive internal bleeding, paralysis, coma, brain damage, or death. Early detection and treatment greatly improve a patient's chances of survival. Medical professionals are trained to recognize symptoms of an aneurysm. As a result, when medical professionals fail to recognize these signs, they may be liable for malpractice. Failing to diagnose an aneurysm can happen in a variety of ways, including when a doctor or other medical professional does not recognize that a patient's symptoms are associated with an aneurysm, when a medical professional fails to order proper testing or imaging to further explore the patient's condition, or when a medical professional discharges a patient from the ER or hospital prematurely.
In Maryland, medical malpractice occurs when a doctor fails to use the standard of care that a reasonably prudent doctor in the same specialty would have used in the same or similar circumstances. In order to win a medical malpractice claim, the plaintiff's injury lawyer must prove certain elements by a preponderance of the evidence. The medical professional must have owed a duty of care to the patient. Also, the medical professional must have breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff by failing to abide by the standard of care normally used in the medical professional's specialty under the same circumstances. The medical professional's breach must have been the direct cause of the injury to the patient, such as an aneurysm rupturing.
Each of these elements must be present in order for a plaintiff to be able to recover damages. Typically, a victim of medical malpractice can recover a wide range of damages, such as medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, costs of future care, and other out of pocket expenses arising from the malpractice. If you have lost a loved one due to a doctor's failure to properly diagnose an aneurysm, you may be able to obtain wrongful death damages, such as the victim's conscious pain and suffering, funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, and the anguish of losing your family member.
Contact a Knowledgeable Malpractice Lawyer in the Baltimore AreaAneurysms are treatable conditions that can turn deadly or lead to serious conditions like paralysis if they are not treated. If your loved one or you were harmed due to a medical professional's failure to diagnose an aneurysm, you can pursue a medical malpractice claim against the emergency room staff or any other medical professional who was responsible for the error. At Arfaa Law Group, our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand how to handle these complex cases. We have helped people throughout the state of Maryland understand their rights and can help you as well. To learn more, call 410-889-1850 or contact us online.