Doctors, nurses, and hospitals all have a duty to provide top-notch care to their patients. A medical malpractice claim is pursued when a patient is injured due to a healthcare professional’s negligence.  

In many malpractice claims, a hospital may be found liable for malpractice. If you or a loved one have experienced hospital malpractice, our Chicago hospital malpractice attorney has the skills and dedication to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

What You Need to Know About Medical Malpractice 

Medical malpractice occurs anytime a medical professional deviates from the expected standard of care and a patient suffers injuries as a result. In 2022, there were 411 medical malpractice payment reports filed against medical personnel and hospitals in Illinois.

Regarding personal injury cases, medical malpractice is often seen as a subset that only encompasses intentional acts of negligence. However, this narrative is far from the truth. Medical malpractice cases can involve various types of negligence, not just intentional acts. Today, we will debunk the misconception that medical malpractice is only for intentional acts while also shedding light on the different aspects of medical malpractice that are essential to understand. If you have suffered from medical malpractice, contact a personal injury attorney right away to discuss your legal options at this time.

Understanding Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs if a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, nurse, or provider, fails to provide an adequate "standard of care" that is expected and required in healthcare. The patient then suffers harm or an injury through this unmet standard of care. Deviation from the accepted medical standard can occur in many ways, including misdiagnosing someone, making errors during surgery, providing the wrong medication to a patient, or failing to communicate with other providers, resulting in the patient receiving poor care.

Important Types of Negligence in Medical Malpractice

Here are the forms of negligence you need to be aware of, including:

Medical malpractice is a serious issue that can have devastating consequences. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. It is essential to be aware of the different types of medical malpractice to protect yourself and your loved ones from suffering unnecessary harm due to medical negligence.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

A doctor’s failure to diagnose a condition correctly or promptly can create a whole host of problems for the patient in question. This medical malpractice can lead to misinformed treatment decisions and serious health complications, including death.

Surgical Errors

Surgeons make mistakes all the time, but when those mistakes occur during surgery, it is the patients who suffer—and often greatly. Some common examples of surgical errors include leaving behind a foreign object in the patient’s body, performing the wrong surgery, or operating on the wrong area.

There is little room for carelessness in a medical setting. When the lives and health of patients are at stake, it is critical to use a high level of professional care at all times. A single negligent error by a medical professional can result in severe and lasting harm to a patient who relied on the care provider. Missed or delayed diagnoses are very common and can result in the unchecked progression of a disease such as cancer to a point at which it can no longer be treated as easily or effectively. Prescription drug errors might fail to treat the underlying health issue, and they can lead to all manner of harmful reactions to an unneeded or errantly prescribed drug. Surgical errors frequently require repeat surgery to correct and can leave a patient hospitalized and in pain for a prolonged period, even if the damage can be reversed.

Medical malpractice can be incredibly dangerous for the patient. If you believe that you have suffered harm as a result of medical malpractice, it is advisable to speak with an attorney upon your first suspicion. 

What Must be Proven in a Medical Malpractice Claim?

Two of the most critical facts that must be proven are that your healthcare provider was negligent in treating you, and that you suffered harm as a result. It is not necessary to prove any sort of malicious intent on the part of the doctor. Even a well-meaning care provider can make a mistake that would not generally be made by a reasonable person in their profession. If said unreasonable mistake ultimately results in avoidable harm to you, it is likely that you have a valid claim for medical malpractice. 

People tend to trust their doctors completely. We are taught from a young age that the doctor knows best and is doing everything they can to help us. Unfortunately, doctors are not always right, and they are not always careful. If you have ever had a serious concern brushed off, or found that a prescription drug caused more harm than it prevented, you are not alone - and you may have been affected by medical malpractice. Some types of malpractice have an immediate effect, so you know right away that something has gone wrong. Other forms are more insidious, sometimes taking years to become apparent. If you have been harmed by a doctor’s mistake or failure, then you may be able to recover compensation. Our attorneys can assess your case to determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit. 

Shockingly Common Forms of Malpractice by Medical Professionals

Medical malpractice cases usually fall into one of a few categories. These common types of malpractice include: 

• Prescribing errors - Doctors should verify that the drug they are about to give their patients is safe for them. This means that they should check to see whether any of your medical conditions or current medications are contraindications for the new medication they are considering. For example, prescribing Toradol as a pain medicine to someone with a history of kidney disease can seriously harm a patient. 

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