Many individuals who suffer from injuries or illnesses related to or caused by medical malpractice are often unaware that they may have the right to compensation. This is partly because they aren’t even aware of the fact that they were victims of malpractice.
For this reason, we have provided more information below regarding some of the ways you can recognize medical malpractice when it happens to you in Chicago, Illinois. Continue reading to learn more about what the medical standard of care is and some of the more common types of medical malpractice.
A Breach in the Medical Duty of Care
In order for a medical malpractice claim to be successful in Illinois, you will need to be able to prove that there has been a breach in the medical duty of care. Before we move any further, it’s important that you understand what the duty of care is and how it works.
Every medical professional is held to a high standard of care. This standard of care is breached when a serious mistake has been made. However, in the medical industry, accidents do sometimes happen to even the most seasoned professionals.
For this reason, the medical duty of care can only be considered breached when a mistake is made that another healthcare provider of similar training, experience, and education would not have made. As long as there has been a breach in the standard of care, the victim should have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice
Now that you know what constitutes a medical malpractice lawsuit, it’s time to take a look at some of the common types of medical malpractice claims. There are countless different ways that healthcare providers can make mistakes that deserve to be taken to court. But some happen more frequently than others, including:
- Medication errors
- Birth injuries
- Failure to provide follow-up care
- Surgical errors
- Failure to diagnosis
- Misdiagnosis
- Anesthesia errors
It is important to keep in mind that when your healthcare provider is discussing the risks of a certain treatment with you, this is known as informed consent. It is not a way to excuse the healthcare provider from making medical mistakes. Risks of a particular treatment and medical errors are two completely different things and should not be confused.
It is equally as important that you carefully review your medical records in great detail, especially after becoming further injured or ill in the care of a medical professional.
It would not be surprising for a healthcare provider to fail to inform you that they had made a mistake, and they may even try to excuse their error as a side effect or risk. Have your medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago closely examine the details of your case to determine whether malpractice has occurred.
Get Help from a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Chicago
If you or someone you love has been a victim of malpractice and you are interested in discussing your legal options, contact a qualified Chicago medical malpractice lawyer at Lane Brown, LLC. You can give our office a call at 312-332-1400 or reach us through the convenient contact form provided below.
