Chicago, IL Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Aggressive Lawyers for Injuries to Patients Due to Medical Negligence in Chicago, Illinois

Relationships between medical professionals and patients are built on trust. Patients rely on doctors, nurses, and medical facilities to provide competent care, follow the correct procedures, and make decisions that will protect their health and safety. When medical professionals make preventable mistakes, that trust is broken, and the consequences can be devastating. A single error by a medical professional can result in permanent injuries, serious illnesses, or even wrongful death.

Medical malpractice cases can be complex. Patients may struggle to deal with physical pain and ongoing medical issues, but they may also be confused about what went wrong and whether the outcome could have been avoided. Patients who suffer harm because of negligent medical care can take steps to obtain compensation for the damages they have suffered. Understanding the steps that can be taken to address medical malpractice can help patients make sure their rights will be protected.

At Gallagher & Kosner Law, our attorneys handle medical malpractice claims in Chicago and other parts of Northern Illinois. We can guide injured patients and their families through these challenging cases. We will investigate the facts and consult with qualified medical professionals to identify negligence by doctors, nurses, or other medical providers. By taking steps to address medical negligence, we can help injury victims receive the compensation they need to move forward with their lives, and we can help prevent these types of mistakes from affecting others in the future.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

When a health care provider fails to follow the correct procedures or does not provide the level of care that meets accepted medical standards, and patients suffer injuries as a result, this may be considered medical malpractice. In general, medical malpractice claims will require an injury victim to show that a medical provider failed to provide treatment that met the accepted standards of care. This violation of a medical professional's duty must have been directly responsible for the injuries or damages suffered by the patient.

Examples of Medical Malpractice in Chicago

Medical negligence can occur in nearly any health care setting, including hospitals, private practices, urgent care clinics, surgical centers, and nursing homes. Common examples of medical negligence include:

• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: A doctor's failure to correctly diagnose a condition such as cancer, a stroke, a heart attack, or a serious infection may allow a disease to progress and cause a patient to suffer harm. A delayed diagnosis may limit the options for treatment, and in cases involving serious conditions, this could reduce a person's chances of survival.
• Surgical Errors: Mistakes in the operating room may include operating on the wrong part of the body, leaving surgical instruments inside a patient, damaging organs surrounding the surgical site, or failing to monitor a patient properly during or after surgery.
• Medication Errors: A doctor may prescribe the wrong drug or fail to account for allergies, drug interactions, or harmful side effects. Drugs may be administered at the wrong doses, or medications may be mislabeled when they are stored in medical facilities. These errors can lead to severe reactions, organ damage, overdoses, or other issues that may affect a patient's health.
• Birth Injuries: Negligence by medical professionals during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can result in injuries to the baby or the mother. Examples of errors during childbirth may include failure to respond to fetal distress, delays in performing cesarean sections, improper use of delivery tools, or misuse of drugs that induce labor. When a child experiences oxygen deprivation due to errors during labor and delivery, this can lead to conditions such as cerebral palsy.
• Doctor Errors: A physician may fail to order the proper tests, misinterpret diagnostic results, or fail to recognize and address symptoms of a serious condition. They may not refer a patient to a specialist to address specific issues, or they may attempt to perform certain procedures when they do not have the required experience and training.
• Nursing Malpractice: Nurses are responsible for monitoring patients, administering medications, and reporting changes in condition or other concerns. Failure to provide the necessary care in hospitals or other settings can result in harm when a patient does not receive the proper treatment.
• Hospital Errors: Inadequate staffing, improper training, unsanitary conditions, or other issues at hospitals can cause patients to suffer harm. A hospital may be held liable for its failure to provide the proper care or because of negligent hiring practices that allowed unqualified providers to treat patients.

Injuries Resulting From Medical Negligence

The impact of medical malpractice can affect patients in many ways. A person may suffer injuries due to mistakes by medical providers, and they may require additional surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, home modifications, assistive devices, or ongoing medical treatment. Some people may be unable to return to work for an extended period, or they may experience permanent disabilities.

A medical malpractice claim may provide a person with compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income and reduction in earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

If medical negligence led to a patient's death, their surviving family members may recover compensation through a wrongful death claim. The damages they can receive in these cases may address medical expenses, the loss of income and benefits that the person would have provided for their family, loss of companionship, and mental anguish due to grief and sorrow.

Holding Doctors, Hospitals, and Other Entities Accountable

Medical malpractice cases may involve more than one responsible party. Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend to:

• Individual physicians
• Surgeons and anesthesiologists
• Nurses and other medical staff
• Hospitals and health systems
• Clinics or urgent care centers
• Medical corporations or practice groups

A comprehensive investigation may be required to identify all liable parties and determine how systemic failures contributed to a patient's injuries. Our lawyers understand how to uncover the information needed to demonstrate that a person was injured by medical malpractice, ensuring that they can receive the full compensation they deserve.

Contact Our Chicago, IL Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical negligence can result in multiple types of physical, emotional, and financial burdens. When an injury has occurred because of a misdiagnosis, surgical error, medication mistake, birth injury, or other form of medical malpractice, the lawyers at Gallagher & Kosner Law can help patients take steps to address the harm they have suffered. We will work to secure compensation from the doctors, hospitals, or other entities who were responsible for a patient's injuries. Contact our Chicago, IL medical negligence attorneys at 312-910-5050 to discuss your case in a free consultation.