Heart Attack in Maryland Medical Office
Cardiac arrests and other life-threatening heart problems can occur in virtually any situation and often with little warning. It would be reasonable to assume that a healthcare facility is an optimal place to experience this kind of problem. However, while immediate access to emergency care can dramatically boost an individual’s chances of surviving a heart attack, not everyone within every medical facility has appropriate training to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and some facilities may not have AEDs at all.
When you suffer serious harm or lose a family member due to a heart attack in a Maryland medical office, support from a knowledgeable heart attack attorney could be crucial to pursuing fair financial compensation. Cases of this nature tend to be uniquely complicated in both legal and procedural terms, so professional help is often vital to establishing liability and effectively demanding recovery for all compensable losses.
AED Requirements for Medical Facilities in Maryland
Any facility dedicated to the general practice of medicine, including hospitals and private practitioner’s offices, should have AEDs available and multiple personnel on site who know how and when to use these devices effectively. Importantly, though, not every type of medical facility in Maryland is subject to the same standards regarding the availability and use of AEDs.
Under state law, dental facilities are mandated to have functional AEDs available in the same way that public education facilities and public pools are. However, no such requirements are explicitly laid out in the Maryland Code for various other facilities that provide specialized care.
For example, physical therapist offices are not currently required to have AEDs on the property, despite a legislative attempt in 2010 to expand this requirement. For this reason, the absence of an AED at a specialized medical office in Maryland may not always serve as grounds for litigation over a heart attack that occurred at that facility.
Good Samaritan Rules and Heart Attack Claims
Facilities that are mandated by law to have AEDs and facilities that voluntarily seek registration with the EMS Board to have AEDs may have special protections known as “Good Samaritan” rules. Good Samaritan protections may absolve individuals and businesses who attempt to use AEDs in good faith but are unsuccessful in saving a cardiac arrest victim’s life from civil liability. Importantly, though, these protections may not apply in every situation.
Most notably, medical offices that are not in full compliance with EMS Board regulations regarding AED placement, maintenance, reporting, and application may not be afforded Good Samaritan immunity from litigation if injury or death occurs. This is worth emphasizing, especially in light of recent changes to state law that have made many pre-existing AED programs non-compliant with current rules. A qualified legal professional could discuss in further detail whether a heart attack in a Maryland medical office might allow for civil litigation based on such a violation.
A Maryland Attorney Could Help After a Heart Attack in a Medical Office
Despite the presence of qualified medical personnel, a person who suffers cardiac arrest or heart attack inside a medical facility may still fall victim to negligence by an AED owner, operator, or manufacturer. In this kind of scenario, effective civil recovery could be crucial to protecting the long-term financial security and personal prospects of people impacted by AED failure.
After a heart attack in a Maryland medical office, contacting a heart attack attorney to discuss legal options should be a priority. Call today to schedule a meeting.
