It’s an interesting thing… the ongoing and increasing news about medical malpractice is the subject of the news itself. The headlines are related to death, disfigurement, neglect, over-diagnosis of child abuse, and so much more.
An Emergency C-Section
Birth injuries are all too common. Take, for example, the heartbreaking case of a Maryland family, who was awarded $34 million after their 2018 incident at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Maryland.
According to MD Linx, “The complaint stated that Tara Anderson was diagnosed with premature labor and fetal distress when she sought care for back pain and lower abdominal cramping at the Medical Center in December 2018. The complaint stated that medical tests given to Anderson at the time found no signs of placental abruption or labor. Anderson apparently wasn’t experiencing contractions and had no other symptoms beyond the pain.” Her baby experienced brain damage, and will now require medical care for the rest of his life.
The Celebrity Claims of Medical Malpractice
Medical Malpractice knows no bounds. It can happen to anyone. Perhaps the most well known incident involves Michael Jackson, whose doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, after it was determined that Murray’s “actions were an “extreme departure from the standard of care”, particularly with regard to (1) inappropriately treating insomnia with a surgical anesthetic (propofol); (2) failing to acquire sufficiently informed consent; (3) administering propofol without the necessary monitoring equipment; (4) delaying contacting the emergency services; and (5) making ineffective resuscitation efforts. Further medical evidence argued that Murray’s care of Jackson contained “17 egregious violations”, defined as acts that posed a foreseeable danger to the patient’s life.”
Another celebrity case involved actor and comedian Dana Carvey. Carvey sued his doctor after a botched bypass surgery because the doctor performed the surgery on the wrong artery. That case settled for $7.5 million. “Carvey, who has since recovered after getting the blockage removed in a subsequent angioplasty, said he was so weak he could work only three days of stand-up comedy performances. He also said he had to turn down offers to do commercials, a television series, and a spot on the “Hollywood Squares” game show.”
Medical Malpractice and Voluntary Procedures
One fact about medical malpractice is that it doesn’t always have to be life or death. It happens with cosmetic procedures too. “A recent healthcare malpractice case in King County, Washington saw a patient awarded a $13 million verdict following disfigurement during a cosmetic surgery procedure. The defendant, Dr. Kristine Brecht, was found liable for medical malpractice due to failure to warn the patient about risks, improper use of anesthesia, excessive skin removal, and failure to address infections.”
According to Medriva, this wasn’t the first incident. There were other medical malpractice claims previously with this very same doctor.
Do you Suspect Medical Malpractice?
If you think you or a loved one has experienced Medical Malpractice and you live in the DC, Maryland or Virginia area, call us here at The Lapidus Law Firm at (202) 785-5111. With nearly 4 decades of representing clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia, rest assured that we will fight to make it right.