This medical malpractice claim was filed in Carroll County after a woman suffered from an untreated and progressing liver disease for five years before his doctors began to appreciate the severity of his condition. It was filed in Health Claims Arbitration on March 15, 2018, and it is the 127th medical malpractice case filed in Maryland this year.
Summary of Plaintiff's AllegationsA man in his fifties saw his primary care doctors routinely for a number of years. During his last five years under their care, the man's lab test results showed low platelets and high bilirubin, abnormal findings when compared with his previous laboratory studies. In spite of the concerning change in the man's lab test results, his doctors never made an appropriate diagnosis based on his lab findings or determined that the woman should get further testing from a specialist.
The man's primary care doctors ordered ten lab studies over those five years. His lab results became increasingly abnormal, indicating liver disease, but his doctors never made an appropriate diagnosis or referral to a proper specialist. After the seventh round of lab testing, the man was referred to a hematologist because of the low platelet levels in his blood. The hematologist performed an ultrasound and noticed the man's spleen was enlarged. Even though the spleen enlargement was, in fact, caused by liver disease, the hematologist incorrectly attributed it to the man's large body size.
In the fifth year after his initial abnormal test results, the man developed a bacterial skin infection and a MRSA infection. He was hospitalized twice at Carroll Hospital Center and diagnosed with blood and plasma deficiencies, suggestive of possible underlying chronic liver failure as a result of his obesity. Nothing, however, was done to confirm the diagnosis or provide medical intervention for his condition.
For a third time that year, the man returned to Carroll Hospital with severe abdominal pain. Finally, he underwent an abdominal CT scan which confirmed an unusually small liver with a nodular shape, consistent with chronic liver failure. The man was advised to follow-up with a liver specialist, which was the first time in five years that his doctors expressed concern about his liver. When he did eventually see a liver transplant specialist, the man was immediately placed on the transplant list due to the severity of his ongoing disease.
Eight months later, the man received a liver transplant. He developed a postoperative infection, causing an inflammation of his heart valve and the need for a mitral valve replacement. He also developed inflammation in his colon from the bacteria C-diff, requiring antibiotic therapy. The man will have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life. He is unable to walk without a cane and suffers from chronic fatigue.
Misdiagnosis of Liver ConditionsAt our firm, our lawyers have seen a troubling pattern: patients presenting with elevated bilirubin levels or other signs of liver dysfunction are often misdiagnosed or their conditions are overlooked entirely. This is not just a medical oversight. It is a failure that can lead to life-altering consequences.
High bilirubin levels, for instance, are a red flag that should prompt immediate and thorough investigation. Yet, we've encountered cases where such indicators were dismissed or attributed to less serious conditions without proper testing. This kind of negligence can delay critical treatment, allowing diseases like cirrhosis or liver cancer to progress unchecked.
Misdiagnosis is not limited to overlooking serious conditions; it also includes incorrectly identifying benign issues as malignant, leading to unnecessary stress and potentially harmful treatments. For example, patients with Gilbert's syndrome—a harmless liver condition—have been mistakenly diagnosed with more severe liver diseases, resulting in unwarranted interventions.
Facilities like the William E. Kahlert Regional Cancer Center at Carroll Hospital are equipped to provide comprehensive care for liver conditions. However, even in such centers, the importance of accurate diagnosis cannot be overstated. A misstep in diagnosis can negate the benefits of advanced treatment options available.
Additional CommentsHave you suffered a hospital injury due to the negligence of a doctor? Miller & Zois can help you. Call us at (800) 553-8082 and speak to one of our medical malpractice attorneys who can help you or get an online case review.
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