Many women experience painful menstrual periods that cause debilitating symptoms. While some degree of discomfort is considered normal, women who have agonizing cramps during their menstrual cycle often have endometriosis. Identifying endometriosis is relatively easy, but many women suffer for years before they are correctly diagnosed, which not only causes pain but can also impact their overall health and fertility. If you sustained losses due to your doctor’s failure to diagnose endometriosis, you might be able to recover compensation in a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you should speak to an attorney. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group can evaluate the circumstances that led to your harm and gather any evidence that will help you in your pursuit of damages.
Diagnosing EndometriosisEndometriosis is a condition where the endometrium, or uterine lining, grows in parts of the body other than the uterus. Typically, endometriosis occurs in the fallopian tubes and on the ovaries, bowels, and other pelvic organs and tissues, but it can also spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, which may be chronic or occur during menstruation, painful bowel movements, heavy bleeding with periods, painful sexual intercourse, and infertility.
Endometriosis is a progressive condition, meaning it gets worse over time. Areas of endometriosis bleed during each menstrual period, causing scarring and inflammation. Many of the severe consequences, like infertility and adhesions, can be avoided with early intervention. As such, the longer it goes undiagnosed, the more damage it causes. Typically, ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies are used to diagnose endometriosis.
Recovering Damages for the Failure to Diagnose EndometriosisIn many instances, the failure to diagnose endometriosis occurs because doctors disregard their patients’ symptoms or advise them that they are normal. Missed or delayed endometriosis diagnoses can cause irreparable losses, and patients who suffer harm due to their doctor’s neglect can seek damages via medical malpractice claims.
Typically, to recover compensation in a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff must prove the defendant was negligent. In the framework of medical care, establishing negligence requires proof that the defendant had a duty to provide the plaintiff with treatment that met the applicable standard of care, which is the care that a reasonable doctor working in the same practice area as the defendant would offer in a similar situation. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant departed from the standard of care. Additionally, the plaintiff has to prove that the defendant’s deviation from the standard of care directly led the plaintiff to suffer quantifiable losses. Put another way, the plaintiff must show that they would not have suffered harm had the defendant complied with the standard of care.
Expert Testimony in Medical Malpractice CasesGenerally, the average individual does not have an understanding of what is required under the different standards of care imposed on medical professionals. As such, in most medical malpractice cases, the plaintiff will need to retain a medical expert to explain the applicable standard of care to the judge or jury and how the defendant breached the standard. The medical expert will also need to opine that the defendant’s actions or omissions caused the plaintiff’s ultimate harm. Additionally, expert testimony is often needed to quantify the plaintiff’s losses.
Contact an Assertive Baltimore AttorneyMany women suffer from endometriosis for years before receiving a diagnosis, and they should be compensated for the harm they endure due to their doctors’ delays in identifying the cause of their symptoms. If you sustained damages because of your physician’s failure to diagnose endometriosis, you should contact an attorney to discuss your potential causes of action. The assertive Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group take pride in helping families shattered by incompetent medical care in the pursuit of damages, and if we represent you, we will zealously pursue the best legal outcome possible under the facts of your case. We have an office in Baltimore, where we frequently represent parties injured by medical malpractice. You can reach us through our online form or by calling us at 410-889-1850 to set up a consultation.