When we go to a doctor or a hospital, we expect that our families will receive the best possible care. Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen, and the results are devastating. Many people are gravely injured or even die as a result of medical mistakes each year. In hospitals alone, as many as 98,000 people are killed each year as a result of avoidable, medical errors. (Source: Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences).
Many times, when health care providers commit medical malpractice, they refuse to admit their wrongdoing. Or, the insurance companies who represent them choose to fight rather than do what is right to compensate the victim (and their families) for the horrific loss that resulted from the malpractice.
Healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and hospitals, need to be held accountable for their negligence and the losses that result. Medical malpractice is considered an epidemic that continues to spread in the United States and is on the rise. Every year, there are more deaths as a result of medical malpractice than AIDS, breast cancer and car accidents combined.
Typical Medical Mistakes and Types of Malpractice
Some types of medical malpractice may be:
- Delay in diagnosis or failure to properly diagnose;
- Anesthesia errors;
- Failure to obtain consent before a procedure or for a particular procedure;
- Surgical errors;
- Failure to properly treat an illness or disease;
- Birth injury, including cerebral palsy, brachial plexus and brain damage;
- Prescription drug errors;
- Emergency Room Negligence;
Medical Malpractice and Illinois Law
In Illinois, medical malpractice actions generally must be brought within two years from the date the victim knew, or should have known of the malpractice. Some specific situations involving medical malpractice have a shorter statute of limitations periods and some (like negligence or malpractice involving a minor) may have ones that are longer.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a medical error, it is important to consult with lawyers who specialize in medical malpractice cases. The attorneys at Baizer Kolar & Lewis P.C. have a proven track record against insurance companies and their health care provider clients.
Contact the Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Baizer Kolar & Lewis P.C. for a free consultation to discuss your case.
