Bowie Maryland Legal Blog

When a person enters the hospital in Maryland for a surgical procedure, a signed consent form is typically required before the surgery can proceed. This form highlights the risks associated with the procedure to be performed. In addition, doctors are required to inform patients of known potential risks. This is known as "informed consent." If complications occur and a patient was not informed of the risks grounds for a medical malpractice claim may exist.

Doctors typically try to foresee all of the things that might go wrong during a procedure and inform the patient of these risks. But what if something unforeseen occurs during the surgery resulting in a complication the patient was not made aware of prior to surgery? Consent forms often provide for this eventuality with a clause that says the patient consents to treatments that may become necessary during the procedure.

Parents do not expect to their sons or daughters to die before them. The norm is that parents raise children to adulthood and hopefully live to see the birth of the next generation. Wartime is an exception as sons and daughters go off to fight and sometimes die in battle. But a parent does not expect one serving in the military to die as a result of a fairly routine surgery. Such a situation occurred on a Maryland naval base and has led to a possible medical malpractice lawsuit.

A 23-year-old Naval corpsman had shoulder surgery in 2017. Shortly after waking up in recovery, he complained to his mother of being in excruciating pain. His mother summoned medical help. The surgeon did not respond but other medical personnel administered oxycodone, an opioid, and also gave the patient a morphine drip. The corpsman was found dead a few days later of an apparent opioid overdose.

Professional athletes in Maryland and elsewhere rely on their health and ability to allow them to perform in their sports at peak competitive levels. Team doctors are employed by the organizations to help protect the athletes and recommend treatment for them in the event of injury or illness. A professional football player is claiming that team medical professionals failed to live up to that commitment, and it may result in a medical malpractice case.

The player, a tackle with a local team, had noticed what appeared to be an abnormal growth on his head. He first noticed it a few years ago, and when he told team doctors about it, they reportedly dismissed it as a cyst and therefore something minor. In the intervening period, the growth was removed and found to be cancerous. The team sent him to a specialist where it was determined that the cancer had progressed to a more serious stage and required several surgeries to fully remove the cancerous tissue.

Life in the military involves hard work. When family relationships are added to the mix the challenge of maintaining a strong relationship with loved ones can seem overwhelming. Overseas deployments can mean a long separation for families from Maryland who have loved serving in the armed forces. If the stress and strain of lengthy separations are not addressed, the outcome can lead to a military divorce.

One of the biggest causes in any divorce is financial discord and this is no less true where military families are concerned. Financial situations can change during deployments and how the situation is handled can determine the impact it has on family relationships. Honest conversations and financial planning can help keep long-term financial goals on track. As in other facets of a relationship, communication is critically important. Discuss concerns openly and honestly.