Lawsuit against Maryland cardiologist settled

There is a big difference between preventative medical care and unnecessary medical care. For instance, if a doctor carries out an unnecessary surgery that causes injury to a patient, the patient has grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

A Maryland cardiologist had his medical license revoked because of unnecessary stents he placed in hundreds of patients over a two-year period. The doctor and Catholic Health Initiatives, the national organization that owned Towson’s St. Joseph Medical Center, were named as defendants in 250 medical malpractice lawsuits.

The 2011 revocation of the doctor’s license came after he repeatedly violated the Medical Malpractice Act by implanting the unnecessary stents. The plaintiffs in these cases claim to have suffered lasting injuries as a result of the doctor’s malpractice.

In 2010, more than 500 patients were told by the medical facility that they may have wrongfully received stents. A federal investigation ensued, and the hospital lost significant revenue and staff. The University of Maryland Medical System eventually bought the facility.

In all, 21 plaintiffs brought about the doctor’s six-week trial in Baltimore County. The lawsuit was recently settled prior to the doctor’s giving any testimony. About 250 cases will be resolved now that the lawsuit is settled.

Other lawsuits against Catholic Health Initiatives and the doctor are expected to be litigated, as the recent settlement, the terms of which weren’t disclosed in a news report, will have little to no effect on the 45 cases still to be heard.

Going up against doctors, hospitals and insurance companies may seem like a daunting task for injured patients, but anyone who has been injured by medical negligence should know that there are options for achieving justice.

Source: The Clinical Advisor, “Maryland stent malpractice case settles before doctor testifies,” Ann W. Latner, May 15, 2013