Failure to Provide Post-Discharge Instructions

After a surgical procedure or stay in a medical facility, clear and comprehensive post-discharge instructions are vital to ensure that patients can recover safely at home. Unfortunately, healthcare providers sometimes fail to provide such instructions, leading to confusion, improper care, and preventable complications. When a failure to provide post-discharge instructions causes harm, it may constitute medical malpractice, and injured patients may be entitled to pursue damages. If you or a loved one suffered harm because a healthcare provider failed to provide appropriate post-discharge instructions, you should talk to an attorney about your potential claims. The seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group have extensive experience navigating the complexities of Maryland medical malpractice cases, and if you work with us, we will fight to help you seek the justice you deserve.

Post-discharge instructions are critical for helping patients manage their recovery at home and preventing complications that may require additional medical intervention. These instructions typically include details about medication usage, wound care, activity restrictions, signs of potential complications, follow-up appointments, and when to seek further medical attention. When healthcare providers fail to communicate this essential information, patients are left without the guidance they need to heal safely and effectively.

The failure to provide post-discharge instructions can lead to a wide range of adverse outcomes. Patients may take the wrong dosage of prescribed medication, improperly care for surgical wounds, or miss important warning signs of infection or other complications. This negligence can result in extended recovery periods, additional hospitalizations, permanent injury, or even death. The harm caused by inadequate post-discharge instructions is particularly concerning because it is often entirely preventable with proper communication and documentation.

People hurt by a doctor’s failure to provide post-discharge instructions may be able to recover compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial losses they incur. In order to do so, they must first establish liability for their harm, which in most instances requires them to establish the defendant’s negligence.

Under Maryland law, a plaintiff arguing a defendant healthcare provider was negligent must first show that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care. The duty a doctor owes a patient, which arises out of the doctor-patient relationship, is to deliver care consistent with the applicable medical standard. This standard is generally defined as the care a competent professional in the same practice area would offer in a similar scenario.

Next, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant breached this duty by failing to meet the standard of care. In cases involving post-discharge instructions, this may include failing to provide written or verbal guidance, omitting critical information about medications or potential complications, or not ensuring the patient understood the instructions provided.

The third element of a medical malpractice claim is causation. This means that the plaintiff must establish that the defendant’s failure to provide adequate post-discharge instructions directly caused the harm they suffered. For example, a patient may have been unable to recognize the signs of a postoperative infection because they were not instructed on what to watch for, resulting in the need for emergency surgery or other treatments. Proving causation often requires expert testimony to clarify how the provider’s negligence led to the patient’s injuries.

Finally, the plaintiff must prove damages. If they do, they may be compensated for their financial and intangible losses. Financial losses include the costs of medical treatments, hospital stays, and lost wages. Intangible losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life, are less quantifiable.

If you or a loved one experienced harm because a healthcare provider failed to provide post-discharge instructions, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim, and you should speak to an attorney. At Arfaa Law Group, our capable Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys understand the devastating impact that medical negligence can have on patients and their families, and if we represent you, we will fight to help you seek the compensation you deserve. Our firm is located in Baltimore, and we represent individuals throughout Maryland in claims arising from failure to provide post-discharge instructions and other forms of medical malpractice. Call us today at (410) 889-1850 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation.