Articles Posted in Medical Malpractice

Many Maryland medical malpractice lawsuits stem from cases of medical error, surgical error, or medical negligence that occur in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting.

But now a news report suggests that complications resulting from medical procedures performed in doctors’ offices may in fact occur more frequently than is reported. An estimated 83,000 procedures are performed in U.S. doctor’s offices every year. A news report out of Boston states that “the number of complications that occur secondary to these procedures is unknown.”

The report states that in a recent study, 886 patients who underwent procedures to treat their basal or squamous cell cancers were asked if they experienced any type of problem. Twenty-seven percent of patients surveyed reported they did have a problem during or after the treatment, with 14 percent reporting medical problems such as bleeding, infection, pain, swelling, poor wound healing, or allergic reactions to the bandage or antibiotics. However complications were noted by doctors in only 3 percent of the patients’ charts.

Patients put their trust in their doctors to not only treat their ailments and preserve their health — but to maintain patient privacy at all times. When a patient enters a doctor’s office in Baltimore, Maryland or anywhere else, they expect to be treated with respect. They expect their confidentiality and privacy to be upheld. It’s an understanding that makes going to the doctor a little bit easier.

This is why the criminal investigation into alleged medical misconduct by a Johns Hopkins Hospital gynecologist is so shocking and difficult to understand. The story broke earlier this month. Baltimore media reported that a hospital employee had tipped off officials that an OB GYN doctor was allegedly taking unauthorized photos and videos of patients — possibly with his own photographic equipment — and storing them electronically.

Here at The Law Offices of Butschky & Butschky, LLC, we have begun consulting to patients and others who are concerned their privacy may have been violated by the OB-GYN doctor under investigation at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. These are serious and disturbing allegations, and our clients have justifiable concerns about whether their privacy may have been breached.