Medical mistakes can lead to devastating injuries or illnesses for victims. Not only can medical mistakes exasperate existing patient conditions, but they can also cause new injuries or illnesses that afflict the patient. Unfortunately, researchers at Johns Hopkins show that preventable medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.

These mistakes also leave many survivors in their wakes, such as victims and family members that are left dealing with the devastating consequences. Here, our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers want to discuss whether or not the amount of compensation available in a medical malpractice lawsuit is capped by law in Illinois.

The post Are Damages Limited or Capped in Medical Malpractice Cases? appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

Hospital-acquired infections are more common than most people realize, and they can have devastating effects on those who contract the infection. Although there has been significant progress made over the last few decades in preventing many healthcare-associated infections, there is still a long way to go.

In some cases, a hospital-acquired infection may be the result of medical malpractice on the part of one or more medical professionals. If you are somebody you care about has been harmed due to an infection acquired in a healthcare facility, you need to know when you can file a lawsuit to recover compensation. For more information, contact a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer today.

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Medical malpractice cases arise anytime a preventable medical error occurs that harms a patient. These medical mistakes are often devastating, particularly when they occur to an expectant mother or a child.

One common birth injury is called pregnancy-induced hypertension, or PIH. While this type of injury may not be well-known to many people, this can be devastating for a woman who is giving birth.

The post Medical Malpractice and Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins inside of a person’s body. DVT typically occurs in the legs, thighs, or pelvis. This type of medical emergency can lead to long-lasting or permanent disabilities for a victim. DVT can even cause death. In some cases, DVT is caused by medical negligence. Here, we want to discuss how this can occur and what you can do if you believe your DVT was caused by a medical mistake.

How Does a DVT Occur?

The post Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Caused By Medical Negligence appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

If you or somebody you care about has been injured due to the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional, it may be necessary to seek assistance from a medical malpractice lawyer to secure the compensation you need. Medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Here, we want to discuss some of the common questions to ask your medical malpractice lawyer.

Do I Have A Medical Malpractice Case?

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Informed consent is almost always going to guide the course of treatment that you undergo when you go see a medical professional. Whether you need surgery, are undergoing some type of physical therapy, or receiving any other medical care, you must generally give your consent before a procedure or treatment begins. Here, we want to discuss what happens if there was a lack of informed consent and a patient is injured.

What is Informed Consent/Informed Consent Law Illinois?

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The last thing that anybody expects when they go seek treatment from a doctor or other health care professional is that they will be further injured. However, there are times when the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional cause significant harm to patients. Most people do not realize that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in this country, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. If you or somebody you love has been injured or become ill due to a medical mistake, you need to know the following information regarding medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois. To get more information on your particular case, speak to a Chicago medical malpractice attorney at Seidman, Margulis & Fairman, LLP today.

What constitutes medical malpractice in Illinois?

The post Your Guide to Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Illinois appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

Surgical errors are frightening. Many patients never consider the possibility that the hospital, surgeon or surgical staff will injure them through negligence. Nevertheless, mistakes do occur and anyone who goes to a doctor or hospital can become a victim.

Imagine this scenario. You go to the hospital for a routine hernia operation. The next thing you know, you’re waking up after two weeks in a coma – and you can barely remember who you are. You spend the next several years in therapy trying to get your brain and your body back. You pile up millions of dollars in medical expenses while coming to the realization that you’ll never be able to work again.

The post Brain Injury Symsurgical Mistakes: Does Apologizing Help? appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

Double-checking to make sure that you’re operating on the right patient and the right body part seems like it should be pretty standard behavior — but a surprising number of wrong-site surgeries still take place.

In a study that was published in 2011, it was estimated that wrong-site surgeries still took place about 40 times a week!

The post Communication and Proactive Steps Can Stop Wrong-Site Surgeries appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.

What’s the difference between the cautious use of a medication or medical device “off-label” and carelessly exposing a patient to unnecessary medical risks?

Using a medical product off-label means using it in a way that isn’t approved or recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The off-label use of drugs and medical devices is a perfectly acceptable practice that’s actually led to a lot of progress. For example, Botox injections made the leap from cosmetic surgery to use for everything from migraines to cervical dystonia over time through its careful off-label applications.

The post Off-Label Use of Medical Products Can Lead to Malpractice appeared first on North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates.