Many patients assume that medical errors happen because a doctor or nurse simply made a mistake. While individual negligence can play a role, there is a broader issue that is driving more errors in hospitals and clinics: staffing shortages. When there are not enough physicians or support staff to safely manage patient care, the risk of misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, medication errors, and preventable complications rises significantly.
At Schlachman, Belsky, Weiner & Davey, P.A., our personal injury lawyers have seen how staffing problems can directly contribute to serious medical malpractice cases in Maryland. We also understand the legal reality that a physician shortage does not automatically excuse negligent care. If a hospital or healthcare system fails to maintain safe staffing levels, it may be held liable for the harm caused by overworked providers.
Maryland’s Healthcare Staffing Crisis: An Overview
Maryland, like many states, is facing a growing healthcare staffing crisis. Aging populations, increased demand for care, and a shrinking workforce have created pressure on hospitals, emergency departments, and specialty clinics. The result is a system where physicians and nurses are asked to do more with less, often without adequate support.
While the shortage may be driven by broader systemic factors, the consequences are felt directly by patients. When staffing levels fall below what is safe, the risk of errors and medical malpractice increases.
How Understaffing Directly Leads to Medical Errors
Physician shortages can affect patient safety in multiple ways. Even highly skilled doctors can make mistakes when they are exhausted, rushed, or handling more patients than is safe.
Physician Burnout and Cognitive Fatigue
Burnout is not just an emotional issue. Cognitive fatigue can slow reaction times, reduce attention to detail, and increase the likelihood of errors. Physicians working long shifts without sufficient breaks are more likely to:
- Miss critical symptoms
- Overlook abnormal test results
- Make medication mistakes
- Misinterpret patient complaints
Rushed Consultations and Misdiagnosis
When physicians are overbooked and under pressure, consultations can become rushed. Patients may not have enough time to explain symptoms fully, and doctors may not have enough time to thoroughly review medical histories. This can lead to:
- Incomplete assessments
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Failure to order necessary tests
- Inadequate follow-up
Communication Breakdowns During Shift Handoffs
Shift handoffs are a common weak point in overburdened systems. When staff are rushed, important information may not be properly communicated. This can cause:
- Missed changes in patient condition
- Failure to follow up on abnormal labs
- Medication errors
- Delayed treatment decisions
Communication breakdowns can be especially dangerous in hospitals where patients are unstable and conditions can change quickly.
The Legal Reality: Is a Shortage a Valid Defense for Malpractice?
A hospital or healthcare provider cannot simply claim that a physician shortage made the mistake unavoidable. In Maryland, the key question is whether the care provided met the accepted standard of care under the circumstances.
Even in an understaffed facility, physicians and hospitals are expected to provide care that meets professional standards. If the staffing situation created an environment where safe care was not possible, the hospital may be liable for negligent administration or failure to maintain safe staffing levels.
Hospital Liability: Negligent Hiring and Staffing Levels
Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure that staffing is sufficient to safely care for patients. When they fail to do so, they may be responsible for the resulting harm. Hospital liability may arise from:
- Negligent hiring or credentialing
- Inadequate supervision of medical staff
- Failure to maintain safe nurse to patient ratios
- Assigning too many patients to a single physician
- Ignoring warnings about staffing shortages
In cases involving staffing-related malpractice, the hospital may be held responsible even if the individual physician is also negligent.
Common Injuries Resulting from Staffing Shortages
When care is rushed or incomplete, the consequences can be severe. Common injuries associated with physician shortages and understaffing include:
- Delayed diagnosis of cancer or infections
- Surgical errors due to fatigue or poor communication
- Medication errors and incorrect dosing
- Failure to monitor critically ill patients
- Birth injuries and complications from delayed care
- Failure to respond to emergencies promptly
These injuries can result in long-term disability, fatalities, increased medical costs, and devastating outcomes for patients and families.
Proving Malpractice in an Overburdened System
Proving medical malpractice in a staffing shortage case requires demonstrating that the care provided fell below the standard of care and that the failure caused harm. This often involves:
- Reviewing medical records for signs of delayed or inadequate care
- Consulting medical experts to evaluate whether staffing contributed to the error
- Establishing that the hospital’s staffing policies were unsafe or unreasonable
- Showing that the hospital knew or should have known about staffing risks
In many cases, documentation will reveal that staff were overworked, that critical communications were missed, or that the hospital failed to respond to known risks.
How an Experienced Maryland Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one was harmed in a hospital where staffing shortages were a factor, it is important to understand your legal options. Medical malpractice cases can be complex, especially when multiple providers and systems are involved. An experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney can:
- Review the facts of your case and identify potential negligence
- Consult with medical experts to establish the standard of care
- Investigate hospital staffing practices and policies
- Build a case that connects the staffing issues to the injury
- Advocate for fair compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and long-term needs
If you believe a staffing shortage contributed to your injury, you do not have to navigate the legal system alone. Schlachman, Belsky, Weiner & Davey, P.A. can help you understand your rights and pursue accountability.
Contact us today at (410) 685-2022 to schedule your free, confidential consultation. One of our medical malpractice lawyers will listen to your story and walk you through your options for moving forward.
