Hematologist

Medical Malpractice with Baltimore Hematologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

A hematologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases that affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. These diseases can include anemia, blood clotting disorders, leukemia, lymphoma, and also other blood cancers. Hematologists work closely with other medical specialists, such as oncologists, pathologists, and surgeons, to provide comprehensive care for patients with blood disorders. However, hematologists can commit medical malpractice. If you have been injured, you may need Baltimore hematologist lawyer Mark Kopec at the Kopec Law Firm.

Education and Training

To become a hematologist, a physician must complete a four-year medical school program and then a three-year residency in internal medicine. After completing their residency, hematologists must then complete a two- to three-year fellowship in hematology. This fellowship provides training in the diagnosis and also treatment of blood disorders.

Licensing and Board Certification

All hematologists must be licensed to practice medicine in the state where they work. Licensing requirements vary by state, but generally include passing a medical licensing exam and completing a certain number of continuing medical education (CME) hours each year.

Hematologists may also choose to become board certified in hematology. Board certification is a voluntary process. To become board certified in hematology, a physician must pass a written and also an oral examination administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Medical Conditions Treated by Hematologists

Hematologists treat a wide range of blood disorders, including:

• Anemia
• Blood clotting disorders
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemia
• Other blood cancers

Baltimore hematologist lawyer Mark Kopec will review your medical condition to evaluate whether the treatment you received was appropriate.

Tests and Treatments Used by Hematologists

Hematologists use a variety of tests and treatments to diagnose and treat blood disorders. Some of the most common tests include:

• Blood test
• Bone marrow biopsy
• CT Scan
• MRI scan
• PET scan
• Ultrasound

Some of the most common treatments used by hematologists include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Stem cell transplantation
• Blood transfusions
• Medication

Baltimore hematologist lawyer Mark Kopec can review your treatment and also assess a potential medical malpractice claim.

Where Hematologists Work

Hematologists generally work in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. They may also work in academic settings, such as medical schools and research institutions.

Medical Providers Hematologists Work With

Hematologists work closely with a variety of doctors and other medical providers, including:

• Oncologists
• Pathologists
• Surgeons
• Primary care physicians
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Pharmacists

Medical Malpractice Claims with Baltimore Hematologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

Hematologists, like any other medical professional, can be held liable for medical malpractice if they fail to provide care that meets the standard of care. Some of the most common types of medical malpractice claims brought against hematologists generally include:

• Failure to diagnose a blood disorder
• Misdiagnosis of a blood disorder
• Failure to treat a blood disorder
• Improper treatment of a blood disorder
• Failure to obtain informed consent
• Medication errors
• Surgical errors

Verdict Report

A Howard County, Maryland jury awarded $7.25 million in a case where a 23-year-old died of a recurrent pulmonary embolism five weeks after his hematologist took him off of blood thinners. A year and a half before his death, the plaintiff went to the emergency room with shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary emboli and was put on blood thinners. He also had a history of hypertension and obesity.

The plaintiff told his doctor he was considering surgery to remove a facial lipoma, a benign piece of tissue. His health had been improving, and the defendant hematologist took him off blood thinner and replaced it with baby aspirin. Five weeks later the plaintiff died. Lewis v. MD Oncology Hematology.

Analysis by Baltimore Hematologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

The young man in the Lewis case suffered pulmonary emboli in both lungs at a young age. That was a life-threatening condition and blood thinners was the appropriate response. Management becomes complicated when the patient has to undergo a procedure. The risk of an uncontrollable bleed has to be considered. Factors include the type of procedure, the timing, the patient’s medical history and current medical condition.

In Lewis, there was an upcoming procedure. But it also appears that the doctor was removing the blood thinner due to improved medical condition. If the hematologist was only removing it for the procedure, it probably would not have stopped for five weeks. The jury apparently concluded that the patient was not a safe candidate for permanently discontinuing blood thinners.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, be sure to understand the doctor’s reasons for any recommendation of stopping blood thinners, temporarily or permanently. it can be a matter of life and death.

Next Step: Call Baltimore Hematologist Lawyer Mark Kopec

If you believe you have been harmed by the negligence of a hematologist, you should consult with a medical malpractice attorney. We can review your case and determine whether you have a valid claim.

If you have been injured by an internal medicine doctor, visit the Kopec Law Firm free consultation page or video. Then contact the Kopec Law Firm at 800-604-0704 to speak directly with Attorney Mark Kopec. He is a top-rated Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer. The Kopec Law Firm is in Baltimore and also pursues cases throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.