Medical malpractice occurs every day. Some victims are affected by medical malpractice for the rest of their lives. Others become fatality statistics. According to a recent study at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
Some Examples of Medical Malpractice
If a person believes that he or she or a member of their family was a victim of medical malpractice, a consultation with an experienced and effective Chicago medical malpractice attorney should be arranged as soon as possible. Here are some examples of just a few of the most common types of medical malpractice errors and omissions that are seen:
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Failure to diagnose a condition or the misdiagnosis of a condition.
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Delayed diagnosis when a misdiagnosis occurs, and the delay in obtaining a correct diagnosis allows the condition to worsen due to lack of treatment.
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The failure to properly treat a condition when there is a correct diagnosis.
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Surgical errors like performing an incorrect procedure, performing a procedure on the wrong part of the body or wrong patient, leaving sponges or medical equipment inside of a patient or causing damage to other parts of the body during surgery.
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Birth injuries like inadequate prenatal care and injuries suffered by the mother or baby during birth.
The Standard of Care
Medical malpractice occurs when there is a deviation from the standard of care for a condition or procedure. The patient must suffer damages though. Even a gross deviation from the standard of care won’t constitute medical malpractice if the patient didn’t suffer damages.
Damages
Illinois recognizes a variety of damages in medical malpractice cases. Here are some of those damages that are commonly recognized:
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Additional medical bills.
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Lost earnings.
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Any permanent disfigurement or disability.
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Pain and suffering.
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Diminished quality of life.
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Other substantial damages in the event of a wrongful death.
Medical malpractice cases are some of the most difficult cases that an attorney can bring. You certainly don’t want to try to pursue such a case on your own. If you believe that you or a member of your family was a victim of medical malpractice, contact a Chicago medical malpractice attorney from the Shea Law Group as soon as possible by calling 877-365-0040. You can also use our online contact form at www.shealawgroup.com.
