There are very few people who have not visited an emergency room at some point in their lives. Even the most cautious person can slip and fall, or cut their finger with a kitchen knife, and end up being taken to the emergency room. In addition to emergency rooms, urgent care…
According to a recent report published in the Journal of Patient Safety, it is estimated that over 400,000 patients die each year in the United States because of medical errors that could have been avoided. Another report found that medical errors like these cost Americans about $19.5 billion annually because…
According to a news report, there is a movement afoot in Naperville intended to warn residents of the risk of addiction to prescription painkillers. The movement is being led by two local non-profit organizations, with the cooperation of the Naperville Police Department and local teen activists. The awareness campaign will…
According to a newly published report, patient safety varies significantly among hospitals across the country. Significant variations also occur within states, with Illinois being no exception. The company that conducted the study also stated that over 400,000 people die each year due to preventable hospital errors in the United States. The…
According to a news report, a woman recently filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against an Illinois surgeon and hospital for medical malpractice. The surgeon operated on the lumbar, or lower, portion of the woman’s back. Two other defendants are also named in the lawsuit. According to the…
According to news reports, eight patients who underwent heart bypass surgery at a Pennsylvania hospital most likely suffered bacterial infections because of a contaminated medical device used during the surgeries. The device is a heater-cooler unit used to control a patient’s blood pressure during open-heart surgery. Of the eight patients…
In a recent case in front of an Illinois appellate court, a woman lost her right to recover for injuries that she claimed were due to negligent treatment by her attending physician. In the case, McDonald v. Lipov, the court determined that the “certificate of merit” requirement is strictly enforced…
An Illinois Appeals Court recently confirmed that some plaintiffs in medical battery claims are required to include a certificate of merit at the same time that they file the initial lawsuit. According to one news source, this was the second appeals court to require the certificate in this type of…
Earlier this year, an Illinois appellate court decided a case holding that the time of accrual for a wrongful death action based on the legal theory of medical malpractice is the time of death, rather than the time the alleged negligence was discovered. In the case, Moon v. Rhode, the…
A local woman sued a surgeon recently after undergoing surgery to improve a condition involving her upper, or cervical, spine. The cervical spine is the portion of the spine located closest to the neck. The patient initially sought treatment from the doctor due to ongoing neck pain. According to the…