Cook County residents may find medical malpractice cases quite intriguing as there are reports of patients who sustain serious injuries due to a doctor’s negligence. In some cases, patients die as a result of the erroneous acts of health care providers. Medical malpractice lawsuits may stem from cases alleging misdiagnosis, medication errors, anesthesia errors and failure to diagnose. The malpractice victim often files a medical malpractice lawsuit to compensate for his or her losses.
According to a recent study, medical malpractice claims are taking a toll on doctors. The doctors’ fears of medical malpractice lawsuits have prompted more referrals to emergency rooms and more diagnostic tests. By merely judging this scenario, an individual may think that the doctors are finally learning from their mistakes. However, other experts in the field think that some doctors may be overdoing it. As a result, patients may be subjected to more tests and visits to specialists, which can be costly.
One expert added that as more tests are performed to diagnose the patient’s disease, the probability of negative results become higher than the positive results. This is especially true in cancer-related cases.
Still, even with all the tests that are being performed by doctors, there are still diagnoses that lead to serious outcomes. A wrong diagnosis can result in a treatment that is not appropriate for the patient’s condition. A patient’s life is on the line every time a doctor commits a mistake such as misdiagnosis.
In Cook County, Illinois, patients and their families can always count on the services provided by a legal professional who is experienced at handling Chicago medical malpractice claims. In the case of doctor errors that result in the death of a person, the family may file a wrongful death lawsuit. The victim’s family may receive compensation as part of a settlement, which can be used for funeral expenses, medical expenses and other incurred losses.
Source: Marketwatch.com, “How doctors’ malpractice fears cost you,” Jen Wieczner, Aug. 7, 2013