Medical Malpractice Examples
Below are examples of medical malpractice cases that can be filed in Illinois. If you have circumstances that are the same or similar to the situations described below, it does not mean that you will have a successful lawsuit but it does mean that you may have grounds for filing suit and should seek the assistance of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Also, if you don’t see your situation there it does not mean you don’t have a claim. We will talk about any possible case with you for free and our attorneys will provide an honest opinion.
Contact us if you would like our help or a referral to a malpractice law firm in Illinois.
Errors in the doctor’s office, in surgery or in the lab
Diagnostic Errors
In Illinois, failure to properly diagnose can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. For example if a doctor concludes back pain to be muscle-related when in fact it is kidney-related, leading to a worsening infection and possibly death. The most common diagnostic errors are misread x-rays, MRI’s and CT scans. If this error leads to a permanent injury you probably have a claim.
Errors related to Fractures
Fractures are usually easily cured and normally not of high concern. However, if a fracture is not cared for correctly – for example, if it is not properly set - it can actually result in serious injury, including permanent disability. Fractures are missed a lot, but you must show that this negligence led to a permanent harm. An example of that would be something awful like compartment syndrome. Just walking around on a broken leg for two weeks probably isn’t enough to show that they caused you harm.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia is a precise medicine. It must be administered with extreme care because, if it is not, the consequences can be devastating, including death or brain injury. For example, if an anesthesiologist runs out of administrable oxygen before the surgery is finished or provides too much oxygen, a major medical error can occur.
Surgical Errors
Surgery is serious. It involves risks and, with that, the possibility for complications. If complications are the result of professional misconduct, then you may have a medical malpractice claim. Examples of surgical errors include not properly evaluating a blood clot that results in permanent disability or leaving behind a surgical sponge.
Laboratory Error
Laboratory tests are not completely computer generated. They involve humans and, therefore, the possibility for mistakes. For example, if a lab technician misreports the results of a blood test and having the correct information would have made a difference, there may be grounds for a malpractice case against the lab technician or his employer.
Errors specifically related to birth
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that impair the control of movement and can occur before, during or immediately after birth. The damage is the result of insufficient oxygen to the newborn or fetus that could happen because a doctor fails to notice problems during the delivery or does not respond quickly enough or appropriately. If a health care provider’s actions or inactions or delays resulted in cerebral palsy, there may be medical malpractice.
Shoulder Dystocia and Erb's Palsy
Shoulder dystocia results when a baby’s shoulder becomes temporarily lodged inside the mother during the delivery. Typically, the baby’s head has been delivered, and in order to continue the deliver, too much pressure is applied to the baby's neck. This can result in the baby's muscles being torn and may have a limp arm.
Erb's palsy, also known as brachial plexus injury, is the result of injury to the nerves that control the muscles in the shoulder, arm, and hand, causing a lack of movement or impaired mobility in the shoulder or upper arm. If the damage is to the lower arm, wrist and hand, it is referred to as Klumpke's palsy.
If a health care provider’s actions or inactions or delays resulted in shoulder dystocia or Erb’s palsy, there may be medical malpractice.
Service Errors
Prescriptions
Unfortunately over the years we have seen many times when a patient’s chart said that they were allergic to a certain medication and the hospital still provided the medication to the patient. In the worst case scenarios this has resulted in brain damage or death. One client was allergic to sulfa drugs and there was a note at the top of his chart and on his room door that said he couldn’t have any. It was still prescribed and his skin literally burned off his body. In other instances we have seen pharmacies provide to strong of a dose or give more than one pill that shouldn’t go with others.
General Treatment
Most hospitals are staffed by hard working, underpaid nurses. But in some cases call buttons haven’t been answered when a patient is choking on food or needs other help. In many cases a patient who wants help going to the bathroom is ignored so they try to do it themselves. This often leads to falls with serious results. Other times patients are not tended to and developed pressure ulcers also known as bed sores.
These are just some examples. If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, you should seek the opinion of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Depending on the facts of your case and the type of medical malpractice, we can recommend the right lawyer for you. Our service is free and we will match you with someone who is experienced and has had success in the area of medical malpractice that your case relates to.
Contact us at any time. All calls are free and confidential.