Going into surgery is scary thought for many people, especially since it seems that each day there is another story about medical malpractice.
Imagine that you are put under anesthesia and go into a deep sleep just before surgery. You wake up several hours later to find out that the surgeon removed the wrong bone.
This is exactly what happened to a woman at Yale Hospital. The patient went in to have a rib removed due to a lesion only to wake up and find that the doctor took the wrong rib. He then tried to cover up his mistake by trying to convince her that no error had been made.
After experiencing pain in the area, an x-ray exam was conducted. The scan revealed not only that the wrong rib had been removed, but that metal coils used during the operation had also been left inside of the woman.
Doctors are human and mistakes do happen. Sometimes medical errors do not have serious consequences, but sometimes they result in severe injuries. If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, it is important to understand your rights and options. Take the necessary steps to be made whole again and contact a local Baltimore attorney for advice on your medical malpractice suit.
If you’re a victim of medical malpractice:
Contact the medical professional
Before you file a claim, contact the practitioner that caused the problem. Very often, doctors will determine what went wrong and correct the mistake at no additional charge.
Contact the licensing board
If the medical professional responsible for the error does not take steps to remedy the situation, contact the Maryland medical board. The board cannot force the practitioner to compensate you, but it can issue warning or discipline the professional.
Know the time limitation
In Maryland, you have five years from the date of the injury or three years from the date of discovery, whichever is shorter, to file a malpractice claim.
If you do not file your claim within these time limits, you risk waiving your rights to monetary compensation for your injuries.
Get confirmation
Get a professional opinion from another doctor that has the same qualifications as the one that made the error. The physician will review your medical records and certify that your original provider strayed from accepted medical practices which directly resulted in your injury.
Filing a medical malpractice claim can be a very difficult and complicated process. If you have been the victim of a surgical error that has resulted in an injury, it is important to understand your rights and options.
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