Earlier last month in Indiana, two doctors were named in a lawsuit alleging that they conducted a series of unnecessary medical procedures on a number of patients. According to a report by one news source, the doctors are facing a total of 28 lawsuits. There have also been official complaints filed to the Indiana Attorney General as well as the Medical Licensing Board.
Evidently, the two doctors were performing unnecessary surgical procedures
in order to increase their total billable accounts. Specifically, the
doctors are accused of unnecessary angiograms. unnecessary pacemaker implantations,
unnecessary open-heart surgeries, death caused by unnecessary pacemaker
installations, unnecessary stenting, and unnecessary cardiac defibrillator
(ICD) implantations.
The surgeries, the plaintiffs claim, were both unnecessary and dangerous.
In fact, several of the plaintiffs involved in the case are the family
members of patients who died as a result of these unnecessary procedures.
There is also evidence that the hospital that employed the doctors knew
or had reason to know what the doctors were doing. In fact, the attorney
for one of the plaintiffs told reporters that the evidence gathered so
far “raises troubling questions about [the doctor] and his associates
and why the hospital did not heed internal warnings they received for
nearly a decade.”
Naming the Proper Plaintiffs in Medical Malpractice Suits
Medical malpractice lawsuits can be some of the most complex and lengthy
lawsuits in the civil justice system. Part of the reason why this is the
case is because there are often multiple defendants named in
medical malpractice cases.
Take the above case, for example. Not only are the doctors named in the suit, but the hospital that employed them is also named. The hospital is named as a defendant under the theory that it knew or should have known about the doctors’ performance of unnecessary procedures. If the plaintiffs are able to prove that the hospital knew about the doctors’ conduct, it too could be held liable for the plaintiffs’ injuries.
Once a plaintiff is able to establish that a defendant doctor was negligent in some way, it must be determined what amount of damages are appropriate. This is generally determined by the jury. However, in some cases the judge may determine the damages amount. In either case, it is important to have experienced counsel to make out the best case for damages possible.
Have You Been the Victim of a Physician’s Negligence?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious medical
malpractice incident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Doctors
all have a duty of care to their patients. When they fail to live up to
their duty, they can be held financially responsible for the injuries
caused as a result of their negligence. To learn more about medical malpractice
cases in Maryland, and to speak to a dedicated Maryland malpractice attorney,
call (410) 567-0800 to set up a free initial consultation with an attorney today.