Amputation, Loss of Limb Due to Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice, especially instances of surgical malpractice, can leave patients without one of their arms or legs. Delays or errors in treatment can result in the loss of a limb that could have been treated properly and saved.

Amputation of the wrong limb or amputation that was not medically necessary can also leave victims with a lifetime of pain, medical bills, and lifestyle changes as a result of their disability.

If you or a loved one lost a limb as a result of medical error, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering through a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Examples of medical malpractice resulting in the loss of a limb include:

• Emergency Room (ER) Malpractice: In the ER, the most serious cases are treated first. It is up to the intake nurses to evaluate each patient and judge the severity of their condition. Failing to recognize a patient as at risk of losing a limb and forcing them to wait for treatment may be malpractice if the patient subsequently loses a limb. Other inadequate emergency treatment could include improper antibiotics or negligence that resulted in severe loss of blood, both of which could lead to the loss of a limb.

• Unnecessary Amputation: In some horrible instances, a life-changing amputation procedure was never indicated as medically necessary. This most commonly occurs as the result of misdiagnosis that indicated the need for amputation of a limb when danger never even existed. A patient also may have received amputation when there were less radical procedures available that could have saved the limb.

• Amputation of the Wrong Limb: Amputation of the wrong limb is a clear instance of medical error and leaves the victim with a lifetime of disability and pain.

• Surgical or Treatment Errors:  Surgical or treatment errors resulting in otherwise unlikely or preventable infections, loss of blood flow or circulation, and other limb-threatening conditions can also lead to the need to amputate.

Doctor Negligence:  Grounds for a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

Most medical malpractice lawsuits involving wrongful or unnecessary amputation will be brought under a theory of negligence, requiring that a patient show that the doctor owed them a standard of care; this standard of care was not met; the doctors were the real cause of the patients’ injuries; and the patient suffered damages as a result of their injuries.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Having an experienced malpractice attorney on your side will be vital in guiding you through this process so you can be granted the compensation you deserve. Damages include compensation for lost wages and medical bills as well as suffering and forced lifestyle changes as a result of disability. But without presenting all the facts of your case well and proving who was responsible for the loss of limb, it will be difficult to obtain compensation in a lawsuit.

If you suspect you or a loved one lost a limb as the result of medical negligence, call us to talk with an experienced and compassionate medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

For a free consultation, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199.  There is a statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims in Maryland and in the District of Columbia.  The sooner you call, the sooner we can start helping you.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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About Doctor and Physician Negligence

We rely on our doctors to provide a certain standard of care, and when that standard is not met then the doctor may be guilty of negligence or malpractice.  A patient who has been injured by a doctor’s negligence has rights to compensation and proper treatment – even if treatment lasts a lifetime.

Medical negligence occurs when a health care professional acts in a negligent manner when treating a patient’s condition. Medical malpractice can be the result of incorrect actions taken by a doctor or a doctor’s failure to take medically appropriate action.

Examples of Doctor Negligence

Some instances of doctor negligence include:

• Failure to diagnose a condition or misdiagnosis of a condition.

• Failure to provide appropriate treatment for a condition or providing the wrong treatment (for example: providing the wrong type of physical therapy, the wrong chemotherapy, the wrong type of blood transfusion, or the wrong antibiotics and coverings for post-surgical wounds).

• Providing the wrong medication or incorrect dose of medication.

• Failure to treat a diagnosed medical condition in a timely manner.

• Failure to get informed consent from the patient prior to a medical procedure that results in harm to the patient.  If a doctor does not tell a patient that a surgical procedure has a chance of paralyzing the patient for life and the  patient has the operation and becomes paralyzed as a result, the doctor can be held liable, even if the operation was performed correctly, because the patient might have refused the surgery if the risks were made known).

• Failure to correctly administer anesthesia, to foresee interactions between anesthesia and other drugs in the patients system, or administering anesthesia to a patient who is allergic to the medicine.

Why You Need an Experienced Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyer on Your Side

In order to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must be able to prove that the doctor made a mistake or did not meet the standard of care, that the patient was injured, and that there is a casual link between the mistake and the injury. Suing a doctor for malpractice does not mean they will lose their medical license. Most often the doctor will continue to practice medicine normally both during and after the lawsuit, while you will receive monetary compensation for your injuries and suffering.

Medical malpractice laws are notoriously complex and confusing, so contacting an experienced lawyer immediately will be vital in receiving compensation for your suffering. They can help you collect and present all the facts of the case and guide you through the process of filing a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Get the Compensation You Deserve

If you suffered harm, or someone you love died as a result of medical neglect or malpractice, you may be entitled to damages related to physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of wages or earning capacity, and medical or injury related expenses.

For a free consultation, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199.  There is a statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims in Maryland and in the District of Columbia.  The statute of limitations in Virginia cases is even shorter. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start helping you put your life back together.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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Fatal Medical Malpractice and Fatal Medication Errors

Medical malpractice and medication errors account for nearly 100,000 deaths a year, leaving families horrified and devastated for the rest of their lives.

“Wrongful Death” is defined as death as a direct result of the negligence of another individual, company, or entity. Elements of most wrongful death cases include determining the cause of death, determining strict liability for the death, and determining who can claim the award or settlement amount.

If a patient was prescribed the wrong medication or dosage, received the wrong treatment, suffered from surgical errors, or otherwise was a victim of medical negligence and died then the medical-care provider may be liable in a wrongful death lawsuit.

There are many different ways for wrongful death to occur as a result of medical malpractice, including:

• Surgical errors or malpractice (caused by use of unsanitary surgical utensils, incorrect incision, organ puncture or damage, surgery on the wrong part of the body, delayed surgery, or prolonged surgery);

• Medication or Prescription Errors;

• Misdiagnosis and Mistreatment;

• Delayed Treatment or Lack of Follow-Up Treatments;

• Bacterial Infections;

• Anesthesia Error; and

• General Negligence.

Equipment failure, blood transfusion problems, infected founds or surgical sites, or misinterpretation of medical order may also result in wrongful death. All of these may be instances of medical malpractice and victims may be entitled to compensation for damages.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Experienced and Aggressive Legal Representation, Free Consultation

The standard of medical care in this country is very high, and if that standard was not met and resulted in the wrongful death of a loved one you may be entitled to damages.

If a parent was lost, the child may recover damages for mental anguish, loss of companionship, and money that would have been required to raise the child. Damages for a lost spouse include loss of companionship, potential financial contributions, and mental anguish.

For a free consultation, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199.  There is a statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims in Maryland and in the District of Columbia.  The sooner you call, the sooner we can help you.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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About Emergency Room Negligence

Hospital and emergency room (ER) negligence occurs when hospital or ER medical staff fails to do what they were supposed to do.

Emergency rooms are crammed full of injured and ill patients in need of medical treatment, and this constant demand for care can lead to mistakes and failures of medical care.

To help protect patients, each emergency room has a code of conduct as well as procedures in place for virtually any type of illness or injury. Failing to abide by this code or follow these procedures could constitute negligence.   If you or a loved one suffered harm as a result of ER negligence, you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit for suffering that occurred as a result of poor hospital or ER care.

Types of Emergency Room Negligence and Errors

Examples of ER negligence include misdiagnosis, failure to adequately evaluate a patient’s condition resulting in delayed or improper treatment, or failures in informed consent.

Other common emergency room errors/malpractice include:

• Errors in diagnosis (commonly misdiagnosed conditions include appendicitis, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm and internal bleeding);

• Misread x-ray results; and

• Unnecessary surgeries or procedures.

Holding ER Staff Accountable for Your Injury or Loss

We place our trust in ER staff in particular, because ER visits are not anticipated and patients often do not have a voice in decisions regarding their care and treatment options.  This can make it difficult to prove a decision made by the ER in an emergency, say, while you were unconscious was in your best interested or not.

Issues of liability when it comes to hospital and ER negligence are particularly complicated and confusing, so having an experienced medical malpractice trial lawyer to guide you through the process is vital.

While specific doctors, nurses, or technicians may be held responsible for negligence, the hospital itself may also be liable.  In a hospital negligence case, you must prove that the hospital staff acted unreasonably and that their conduct was a direct cause of your injury. The fact that the efforts of the hospital staff were unsuccessful is not necessarily grounds for a malpractice case.

Emergency Room Medical Negligence and Malpractice Trial Lawyers

If you or a loved one experienced substandard or counterproductive care from a hospital or emergency room, contact our law offices immediately. The statue of limitations (the time period in which you can file a malpractice claim) varies from state to state. Generally, but not in all cases, the statute of limitations in Maryland  is five years from the date of treatment, or three years from the date one should have realized, with the exercise of due diligence,  there was negligence whichever period is shorter.  Frequently, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of negligence.

The statute of limitations in the District of Columbia, depending on the case is three (3) years from the date of discovery and in Virginia the statute of limitations is generally two (2) years from the date of negligence.   There are different statutes of limitations when a child is injured and a short statute of limitation in the District of Columbia for Wrongful Death Act claims.  To determine the specific statute of limitations in your case you should contact us.

You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and damages resulting from your injury or condition, but you need to take the first step and by contacting an attorney.

For a free consultation, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199 to learn more about how we can help you and to see if you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, hospital and medical bills, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity.

The sooner you call, the sooner we can start helping you get the compensation you need to help with your recovery process.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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About Hospital Negligence and Errors

Hospital staff owes a duty of care to their patients and, when we go to the hospital for treatment, we expect to be cured or relieved of our symptoms.  When a member of the hospital staff does something they are not supposed to do given the patients’ circumstances or does not do something they must do in a situation, then that amounts to hospital negligence.

Hospital and emergency room (ER) negligence occurs when hospital or ER medical staff fails to do what they were supposed to do.  Examples of hospital negligence may include misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose, hospital acquired infections, inadequate supervision, monitoring, and follow-up treatment.

Doctors, nurses, technicians, anesthetists, x-ray technicians are usually employed by the hospital and the hospital can be held liable for their negligence.

Examples of Hospital Negligence

Common instances of hospital negligence include:

• Misdiagnosis, delayed, or failure to diagnose;
• Improper, incorrect, or delayed treatment;
• Failure to properly inform the patient of the possible risks, dangers and complications of the proposed treatment;
• Lack of hygienic surroundings and overall cleanliness;
• Incorrect medication or dosage;
• Incorrect anesthetic or dosage of anesthetic;
• Misuse of medical equipment or use of damaged medical equipment;
• Unnecessary surgeries and procedures; and
• Sub-standard hospital procedures resulting in infections or injuries.

Failure to diagnose, treat, and monitor a patient are the three principle hospital malpractice areas, and our trial lawyers have the experience you need no matter what type of malpractice claim you have.

If you or a loved one experienced inadequate and substandard hospital care, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering.   The only way to know for sure what you are entitled to is to speak to an attorney – the hospital may offer you an immediate settlement, but know that hospitals will always attempt to settle for the least amount possible.

Why You Need an Experienced Hospital Negligence and Medical Malpractice Attorney

Issues of liability when it comes to hospital and ER negligence are particularly complicated and confusing, so having an experienced attorney to guide you through the process is vital. While specific doctors, nurses, or technicians may be held responsible for negligence, the hospital itself may also be liable.

In a hospital negligence case, you must prove that the hospital staff acted unreasonably and that their conduct was a direct cause of your injury. The fact that the efforts of the hospital staff were unsuccessful is not necessarily grounds for a malpractice case.

If you or a loved one experienced substandard or counterproductive care from a hospital or emergency room, contact an attorney immediately — you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and damages resulting from your injury or condition even if the hospital told you that you were not.

Medical Malpractice and Hospital Negligence Attorneys

For a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199.  We can tell you if you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, hospital and medical bills, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity.

The statue of limitations (the time period in which you can file a malpractice claim) varies from state to state. In Maryland it is five years from the date of treatment, or three years from the date of discovering the injury or condition.   The sooner you call, the sooner we can get you the compensation you need to help with your recovery process.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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About Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice Claims

Some birth injuries are minor and heal within a few days or weeks. But others are serious medical conditions that require lifelong treatment and cause endless suffering for children and their parents. Sometimes no one is at fault for these injuries, but often the injury is the result of negligence or mistakes made by doctors, nurses, and other medical-care providers.

Every medical professional is required by law to conform to a uniform standard of care and if the treatment you received fails to meet that standard and causes you or your child hardship, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice suit.

Types of Birth Injuries Resulting From Medical Malpractice or Negligence

Birth injuries may occur before, during, or after delivery. Some birth injuries that occur from medical negligence include:

• Oxygen deprivation (supply of oxygen to the baby may be impaired, often by twisting or compressing the umbilical cord. This may cause serious brain injury, resulting in lifelong seizure disorders, mental impairment, and cerebral palsy;

• Facial paralysis (caused by pressure on the babies face during labor or birth);

• Brachial/Erb’s Palsy (injury to the brachial plexus, the group of nerves that controls movement of the arms and hands. Often caused when the babies shoulder impairs movement through the birth canal);

• Shoulder  Dystocia;

• Bone fractures;

• Asphyxiation; and

• Death.

 Your Obstetrician Has a Responsibility to Provide Proper Care for You and Your Baby

We trust and rely on doctors and medical professionals to provide a certain standard of care, and if your child suffered a birth injury, that standard was not met. There may have been a delay in treating a condition, such as bleeding or umbilical cord entrapment. There may have been a failure to anticipate birth complications or respond to fetal distress, or a delay in delivering the baby or ordering a c-section when it was medically necessary. Or a doctor may have misused medical devices, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor.

Injuries may also be a result of a fatigued or overworked staff, poor training, lack of experience, of failure to follow hospital policies. Injuries may be caused by poor care after delivery, such as improper circumcision or failure to treat infections.

Medical Malpractice, Medical Negligence and Birth Injuries Attorneys

If you think your child suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice negligence, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you get a full grasp on your situation. Our attorneys are experienced trial lawyers and can provide you with outstanding and effective legal representation.

For a free consultation, call our law offices today at 301-838-0199 to see if you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, hospital and medical bills, emotional distress, and loss of earning capacity.

There is a statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims in Maryland and in the District of Columbia.  The sooner you call, the sooner we can start helping you.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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Paralysis is a very serious medical condition where a person has lost feeling in, and the ability to move a group of muscles or a limb. Paralysis is caused by injury to the nerves in the spinal cord or in a nerve group after it exits the spinal cord.

Paralysis can occur as a result of a medical injury like a stroke or from a physical accident such as diving into a shallow pool, a car accident, or falling down stairs. But paralysis can also result from medical negligence or malpractice.

If a doctor failed to provide a high standard of care and you or a loved one is now paralyzed as a result, you may be entitled to compensation for your suffering.

Examples of medical malpractice causing paralysis include:

• Surgical errors (a mistake was made during a surgical procedure that affected your spine and caused paralysis);

• Faulty medical equipment (failures of malfunctions may cause or increase the likelihood of mistakes);

• Misdiagnosis, delay in treatment  and mistreatment (you were given the wrong diagnosis, underwent a procedure or treatment that resulted in paralysis) or appropriate treatment was not administered on a timely basis; and

• Negligence (someone was careless in treating your baby and did not follow standard medical practice or failed to provide the proper level of care).

Types and Degrees of Paralysis

There are many types and degrees of paralysis. Paralysis may be partial or total, and its effect may range from a single group of muscles to multiple limbs and even the entire body.

Paralysis of the legs is called paraplegia, while paralysis of both the arms and legs is called quadriplegia.

Paralysis may also affect one side of the body (hemiplegia), the same region on both sides of the body (diplegia), one limb (monoplegia), the hands and wrists, and parts of the face or neck.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Serving Maryland • Washington, DC • Free Consultation

A patient who has been paralyzed as a result of medical mistakes will suffer for the wrongdoings of a careless medical professional for the rest of their life.

The risk of paralysis is a potential outcome of many procedures:  Invasive surgeries pose the greatest risks, but even procedures that are relatively low-level can cause paralysis if errors occur or equipment fails. Your doctor should explain all risks to you, as well as if the risks outweigh any potential benefits.

We rely on medical professionals to meet a certain standard of care. If the treatment you or a loved one received resulted in paralysis, that standard of care was not met. While you will need to prove that the mistake made by your medical-care provider was the actual cause of the injury (and that your injury was preventable), you may be entitled to compensation for emotional anguish and suffering, lost wages, and of course the cost of further medical treatment.

We understand that the process of suing a doctor is complicated and difficult for you.  You can rest assured knowing that our attorneys are experienced trial lawyers that will work hard to get a fair settlement for you.  If we cannot, we are prepared to fight for you in court.

Call us today at (301) 838-0199 to schedule a free initial consultation, or use the contact form provided on this site.

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Medical Malpractice and Shoulder Dystocia

Baby shoulder dystocia occurs when after the delivery of the head, the shoulder of a newborn gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone. This occurrence requires special attention and care from the doctors and medical care providers, as it can result in damage to nerves in the baby’s shoulder and neck that would risk paralysis and permanent disability. Brain injury is also a risk of shoulder dystocia if delivery of the baby is mismanaged.

If your baby was injured as a result of negligent delivery and shoulder dystocia, contact our law firm immediately for compassionate and experienced legal representation in medical malpractice cases. You may be entitled to compensation for your babys’ suffering and compensation to pay your child’s medical bills and future medical expenses.

The Obstetrician’s Responsibility to You and Your Baby

While it is difficult to predict whether a baby will be at risk of shoulder dystocia, there are many factors that a doctor should recognize as potential signs of delivery problems. These include large infants, an abnormally narrow birth way, diabetic mothers, or failure on the part of the doctor to perform certain screening tests. Failure to offer or provide a c-section to the mother after knowing an infant was abnormally large may qualify as negligence and malpractice if the infant experiences shoulder dystocia and is injured.

While larger infants are more at risk, normal weight babies are at risk as well. If you feel your baby was injured during delivery, don’t dismiss your own case because your infant is not abnormally large.

Medical Malpractice and Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injuries Attorneys

We rely on medical professionals to provide a certain standard of care, a standard that includes the safe and effective delivery of our children when their eyes first gaze upon the world. If a medical professional fails to meet that standard then the mother may be entitled to compensation for the pain and suffering, disability, and medical bills that resulted from their child’s injury.

If you feel your child suffered an injury during birth as the result of doctor, hospital, or post-operative nursing care negligence, contact our law offices as soon as possible. Medical malpractice law is notoriously complicated and confusing, so having an experienced medical malpractice trial lawyer will be vital in sorting out the facts of your case and in establishing liability on the part of the medical provider.

We work hard to get you compensation fast, but if we are not able to obtain a fair settlement for you, we we will  go to court to  hold those responsible for your baby’s injuries accountable for their actions.

Call us today at (301) 838-0199 to schedule a free initial consultation, or use the contact form provided on this site.

Law Firm Contact Information

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email: main@ainsteinlaw.com

Wrongful death and medical malpractice attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of medical errors. Our law firm offers a free consultation and takes cases on a contingent fee basis.

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Single-car accidents can be caused by unsafe road conditions, for which the state or municipality can be held responsible, but a growing and not-so-surprising number of single car accidents happen when drivers swerve to avoid hitting another car or truck when the other driver is either talking on his cell phone, texting, listening to an iPod, arguing with his spouse, lighting a cigarette, or simply not paying attention.  This type of accident has become so common it has a name:   Distracted Driver Accidents and has caused many states and the District of Columbia to enact laws restricting or prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving.

Cell Phone Laws in the District of Columbia

Washington, D.C. law prohibits the use of cellphones while driving:

• It is illegal in the District for any driver to text message or read texts while driving.
• The use of handheld cell phone is illegal for all drivers in D.C..
• “Novice” drivers with learner’s permits are prohibited from using any cell phones while driving including Blue Tooth devices and hands-free cell phones.
• School bus drivers may not use a cell phone at all while driving if there are passengers on board except in an extreme emergency.

Proving Liability in Distracted Driver Cases

It is not only illegal to use a handheld cell phone or text while driving in Maryland, it is extremely dangerous because looking away from the road for even a brief moment can lead to an accident. In some accidents caused by illegal texting, authorities have been able to correlate the exact time a text was sent to the time of the accident, establishing liability beyond a shadow of a doubt. This may or may not be a viable option in your case, but there are other ways to establish that the texting driver was at fault.

In single-car accidents where you had to swerve to avoid hitting another car because the other driver was distracted, insurance companies may disbelieve your claim that the accident was not your fault. Even if you’re not able to obtain the other vehicle’s license number or other identifying information (such as the color or model of the vehicle), the team of experts at Ain & Stein LLC may be able to reconstruct the accident in a way that demonstrates that you were not at fault.

Distracted Driver Car Accident Attorneys

Serving the District of Columbia

If you were injured in a car accident that was caused by a distracted driver, call us to discuss your case before accepting an insurance settlement offer. Because the factors that contribute to an accident are different in every case, we offer a free consultation. Our attorneys can tell you if you have a case, and advise you of your rights. Insurance companies are businesses — they are not your legal advocate and may attempt to convince you that you have no right to compensation for damages, or offer you an amount less than what is fair.

For your free initial consultation:

• Phone: 301-838-0199
• Email Us

Attorneys Michael Ain and Gary Stein have recovered millions of dollars for victims of accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, mass transit. From personal injury law offices in Rockville, MD, our trial lawyers for plaintiffs represent accident victims throughout Washington, DC and Maryland.

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