Family of Deceased Man Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Alleging Inadequate Care Led to His Early Death
Earlier this year in Connecticut, a man passed away from complications of a gall bladder surgery. According to a local news report, in the weeks after his death, his loved ones found evidence that led them to believe that the man may not have been provided the proper level of medical care. The family has since instituted a medical malpractice action against the care facility that treated the man, as well as against the nurse practitioner in charge of their loved one’s care.
Evidently, the deceased was a 56-year-old diabetes patient who had a history of prescription drug problems. However, despite the man’s past, caretakers allegedly prescribed “unlawfully high” doses of narcotic pain medication. The family also claims that the caretakers failed to see, or chose to ignore, that the man exhibited signs of “cirrhosis, gallbladder disease, internal bleeding and narcotics’ dependency.”
The man’s family was first tipped off when they noticed that the man had excessive amount of prescription painkillers in his home. As it turns out, the nurse practitioner in charge of the man’s care was recently fined by federal prosecutors for accepting over $80,000 in illegal kickbacks from prescription drug companies.
As a part of the lawsuit against the health care providers, the family included a number of letters from other practitioners, indicating that, in their opinion, there were irregularities and departures from the normal standard of care.
Medical Malpractice Cases in Maryland Courts
As noted above, the man’s family submitted letters from other practitioners in the field that supported their claim that the level of care provided to their loved one was inadequate. These letters from experts are mandatory in most Maryland medical malpractice cases and can be very important in a case’s outcome.
This is because the ultimate question in medical malpractice cases is whether the defendant health care provider failed to provide adequate care, as defined by the governing industry standards. Therefore, if several doctors submit affidavits asserting that, in their opinion, the defendant’s conduct fell below the generally accepted level of care, a plaintiff’s case becomes much stronger.
As one may guess, these cases can often boil down to a “battle of the experts,” with qualified experts on both sides. Therefore, expert selection is a critical stage in any Maryland medical malpractice case. If you have any questions about medical malpractice cases, contact a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney.
Are You Looking for an Experienced Malpractice Attorney?
If you suspect that you or a loved one has recently been the victim of medical malpractice, seek the counsel of an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. The skilled advocates at the Maryland law firm of Wais, Vogelstein & Forman have decades of combined experience successfully bringing cases against negligent doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Through their tireless work, many Marylanders have obtained the compensation they deserve. Call (410) 567-0800 today to set up a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your case. As always, calling is free, and there is no obligation.
