$3 million awarded in medical malpractice verdict

Maryland residents place a large amount of trust in their health care providers. Although highly-trained, mistakes sometimes happen that can unfortunately have a drastic effect on a patient’s health and even his or her life. When a health care worker’s negligence is proved to have contributed to the causing of further injury, a worsening of the patient’s condition, or even death, the patients or their loved ones sometimes seek to file medical malpractice suits.

In another state, a recent medical malpractice suit resulted in $3 million being awarded to a deceased man’s estate. The jury decided that his death was the result of medical malpractice. They deemed that it could have been prevented had his doctor paid more attention to an echocardiogram and had he ordered a new echocardiogram in a timely manner.

The man had been suffering from a progressive heart condition, according to the lawsuit. He was referred to a cardiologist as the result of an echocardiogram. However, the cardiologist never checked the echocardiogram but instead performed a stress test, the results of which showed that although heart function had been reduced, there was not any defect. Unfortunately, the man’s condition worsened, at which point he was admitted to a medical center. Doctors decided that the necessary valve replacement surgery was too risky in his current state of health and, as a result, the patient died.

Unfortunately, when a mistake occurs in the realm of medicine, it can have long-term effects. When this is the case, victims in Maryland can file medical malpractice suits, which can help recover some of the financial damages as well as assess punitive damages to the guilty party. A personal injury attorney who is experienced with medical malpractice suits is often consulted to determine if there is a viable case as well as to defend the victim’s rights in a court of law.

Source: courant.com, “Jury awards $3 million in medical malpractice case”, Christine Dempsey, June 26, 2015