Illinois residents trust their doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to accurately diagnose them and then competently treat them. Unfortunately, these medical professionals do not always live up to this expectation. When doctors or nurses act in a careless or reckless manner, an injured patient may be able to recover compensation for their suffering. Because every situation is different, you should contact an Oak Lawn medical malpractice lawyer to learn about any legal options that may be available. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you try to obtain the peace of mind necessary for recovery.
While a doctor can cause harm to a patient by their negligent or risky actions in many ways, there are several common forms of medical malpractice. Common malpractice cases include:
Oak Lawn medical malpractice lawyers have seen that when a physician fails to properly diagnose their patient in a timely manner, the consequences can be dire. Doctors and other medical professions have a legal obligation to act with the “same degree of knowledge, skill, and ability as an ordinarily careful professional would exercise under similar circumstances.” Thompson v. Webb, 486 N.E.2d 326 (1985).
Under the Medical Patient Rights Act (410 ILCS 50), physicians must obtain the informed consent of their patient’s before performing any medical procedure or surgery. The consent must be informed which generally requires the physician to disclose alternative treatment options, as well as any potential risks or complications.
Whenever a doctor’s negligence or carelessness results in harm during the birthing process, victims may have recourse in the legal system. Whether the medical malpractice was due to a hospital administrator, nurse, doctor, or other medical professional, any potential injuries suffered by either the mother or her fetus may be recoverable.
While no professional is immune to mistakes, the mistakes of medical professionals like doctors or nurses can result in great harm or even death to a patient. Even innocent mistakes such as failing to record a medical event in a patient’s medical record can be grounds for a lawsuit.
Many patients expect their medical devices to function correctly and accurately. For some, the proper functioning of these medical devices is necessary to their health. When they malfunction, patients can suffer severe harm or even death. In the event of a malfunction of medical equipment, an injured patient may seek compensation with the help of an Oak Lawn medical malpractice lawyer.
A medical professional can commit malpractice through medication errors in different ways. First, the doctor or nurse may prescribe a medication that is inappropriate, or the patient has a documented allergy or an interaction with another medication. Similarly, the medical professional could also prescribe an inappropriate amount of a drug or a wholly ineffective drug.
Recognizing the high standards applied to doctors and the severe harm that can be the result of failing to meet this standard, malpractice laws provide harmed patients options through the legal system. However, because of the strict time limits for when someone can file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you should contact an Oak Lawn medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible.
By: Erica S
Title: Highly recommend
Highly recommend! My case took almost a year but they kept me up to date every step of the way. Staff was friendly and respond time was quick.