Failure to Diagnose Pulmonary Atresia

A properly functioning heart is essential to an infant’s overall health. Unfortunately, some babies suffer from congenital heart defects, like pulmonary atresia, that prevent their hearts from performing adequately. Pulmonary atresia is often diagnosed via ultrasound when the mother is pregnant or shortly after a child’s birth. If a doctor overlooks the signs and symptoms of pulmonary atresia, though, it may go undiagnosed, which can lead to severe and sometimes fatal issues. If your child was injured by a doctor’s failure to diagnose pulmonary atresia, it is critical to speak to an attorney to assess whether you may be able to pursue claims for damages. The capable Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers of Arfaa Law Group understand the emotional turmoil and financial devastation inept medical care can cause, and if we represent you, we will fight to help you seek a just outcome.

Pulmonary atresia is a congenital heart defect in which the opening to the pulmonary valve fails to develop. In other words, the valve is completely closed, which means that blood cannot flow from the heart through the valve to the lungs. Pulmonary atresia can be diagnosed via ultrasound when the mother is pregnant or through other diagnostic imaging after the child is born. In infants, pulmonary atresia typically causes fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, a lack of interest in eating, and blue-tinted skin. Treatment for pulmonary atresia includes medication and surgery. If it is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can cause developmental delays, heart failure, seizures, stroke, and death.

A doctor’s failure to diagnose pulmonary atresia frequently constitutes medical malpractice. As such, parents of children harmed by such errors will often pursue claims for damages against the parties responsible for their child’s injuries. As the failure to provide a proper diagnosis is generally the result of carelessness rather than an intentional act, a plaintiff in a medical malpractice lawsuit will typically assert a negligence claim against the defendant.

Under Maryland law, negligence is made up of four components, and the plaintiff must establish each component to prove the defendant’s fault. The first part is a duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff. In a case involving medical negligence, the duty a defendant owes a plaintiff is to abide by the standard of care, which is the treatment that a reasonable doctor working in the same practice area as the defendant would render when presented with the same set of facts. The second element of negligence is the defendant’s breach of the duty owed. In the majority of cases, the plaintiff will need to retain a medical expert to testify regarding the standard of care and the manner in which the defendant breached the standard.

The third and fourth components of negligence, causation and damages, are connected. In other words, the plaintiff needs to demonstrate that the defendant’s breach proximately caused the plaintiff’s harm and that the plaintiff sustained measurable losses as a result of said harm. Proving causation also usually requires expert testimony. If a plaintiff successfully establishes a defendant’s fault, they may be able to recover compensation for the cost of any necessary medical care, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost wages. They may also be granted damages for the pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by the defendant’s negligence.

Congenital heart conditions, like pulmonary atresia, can cause permanent detriments if they are not immediately identified and treated. If your child was hurt by a doctor’s failure to diagnose pulmonary atresia, you might be able to recover damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you should speak to an attorney about your options. The knowledgeable Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group take pride in helping families harmed by preventable medical errors recover compensation for their losses, and if you engage our services, we will zealously pursue the best result possible under the facts of your case. We frequently represent families and children in medical malpractice cases in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can reach us through our form online or by calling us at (410) 889-1850 to set up a confidential conference.