Attorney
A few weeks ago, a Maryland jury awarded a mother of three $2.35 million in damages, finding that doctors had negligently treated her. Initially diagnosing her condition as kidney stones, doctors gave the woman pain medication and sent her home. Doctors later discovered that she in fact had a kidney blockage, which had led to an infection causing amputation. If a doctor’s misdiagnosis harmed you or a family member, a Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you hold the negligent parties responsible.
The 24-year-old woman first went to the hospital on August 1, 2006, with pain in her left side. She returned to the emergency room two days later with severe stomach pains. It was twelve additional hours before doctors realized that they had misdiagnosed her. A surgeon removed the kidney blockage, which was the true cause for the woman’s pain, but the blockage had caused an infection that did not receive treatment due to the misdiagnosis. The infection resulted in gangrene, and the amputation of part of her left leg and part of her right foot. The tips of her fingers fell off by themselves.
A recent American Journal of Medicine study concluded that misdiagnoses occur in as many as 10-15% of cases in certain medical fields. There is a variety of errors related to misdiagnosis. Medical professionals may fail to diagnose a condition altogether. They may diagnose a condition incorrectly and, consequently, treat it improperly. There may be a cluster of diseases responsible for a patient’s condition, and healthcare professionals may fail to make a full and correct diagnosis.
If medical malpractice has resulted in pain and suffering for you or a loved one, contact a Maryland personal injury attorney at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P to learn about your options.