Pediatric Neurology Malpractice

When children suffer from headaches, seizures, and other symptoms of neurological disorders, their parents will turn to pediatric neurologists for answers. Pediatric neurologists undergo extensive training to provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to provide their patients with adequate care, but unfortunately, the treatment they offer is not always commensurate with their education. Careless mistakes made by doctors treating children can result in catastrophic harm, and they should be held accountable for the losses they cause. If your child suffered harm because of the negligent diagnosis or treatment of a neurological concern, you may have grounds for pursuing pediatric neurology malpractice claims, and you should speak to an attorney. The skilled Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys of Arfaa Law Group understand the damage incompetent medical care can cause, and if we represent you, we will fight to help you seek justice for your losses.

Pediatric neurologists diagnose and treat children with neurological disorders and illnesses. Conditions they address include epilepsy, brain tumors, migraines, aneurysms, ADHD, Phenylketonuria, cerebral palsy, and autism. Many of these disorders require both immediate treatment and lifelong management.

When a patient presents to a pediatric neurologist, the neurologist will typically obtain the patient’s medical history and assess their symptoms. They may conduct diagnostic tests as well, such as CT scans, MRIs, and EEGs. If a pediatric neurologist disregards a patient’s symptoms or neglects to conduct necessary tests, the patient’s condition can decline, and in some cases, they may suffer fatal complications. Similarly, if a doctor fails to provide a patient with an adequate treatment plan, their symptoms may worsen, which could lead to permanent harm.

Children harmed by pediatric neurology malpractice often suffer lifelong detriments. As such, their parents can frequently recover damages from the providers responsible for their harm via medical malpractice claims. Typically, parents of children harmed by medical malpractice will pursue claims on behalf of their children and themselves. For adults, the statute of limitations for pursuing medical malpractice claims is three years from the date the injury is discovered or five years from the date the harm occurred, whichever happens first. For children, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of their eighteenth birthday.

The damages recoverable for parents and children pursuing medical malpractice claims differ as well. Prior to recovering damages, though, they must establish liability. Typically, plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits must show that the defendant committed negligence. To do so, the plaintiff must show that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff.

With regard to medical care, the duty a doctor owes a patient is to offer treatment that complies with the standard of care, which is the care that a competent professional practicing in the same specialty as the defendant would render when presented with a patient with similar concerns. The plaintiff then needs to demonstrate that the defendant deviated from the standard of care in some manner. Last, the plaintiff has to show that the defendant’s failure to uphold the standard of care proximately caused the plaintiff to sustain actual losses. In other words, that the plaintiff’s injuries would not have happened if the defendant had complied with the standard of care. In most cases, the plaintiff must retain a medical expert to explain the standard of care and the manner in which the defendant deviated from the standard to the jury and to establish causation.

Children with neurological issues require prompt and thorough care, but some pediatric neurologists fail to provide them with the treatment they need, leading to tragic injuries. If your child sustained harm due to pediatric neurology malpractice, you should consult an attorney to discuss your potential claims. The skilled Baltimore lawyers of Arfaa Law Group take pride in helping families devastated by negligent medical care in the pursuit of compensation, and if we represent you, we will work tirelessly on your behalf. We regularly represent injured parties in medical malpractice lawsuits in Baltimore, where our office is located. You can contact us by calling us at (410) 889-1850 or by using our online form to set up a confidential meeting.