CHICAGO, IL – When you need to make a trip to a doctor or hospital, you do so thinking you’ll receive proper treatment and care. When medical negligence is at play, your hospital visit could become extremely damaging or even deadly to your death.
What is medical negligence?
Medical negligence refers to any behavior by a healthcare professional that defies industry standards and results in injury or death of a patient. It is the deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable healthcare provider would use in a particular set of circumstances. Examples may include a misdiagnosis, surgical error or any failure to uphold safety measures due to carelessness or blatant miscommunication.
Do Illinois hospitals have a medical negligence problem?
A recent report from Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog, analyzed nearly 3,000 hospitals in the U.S. based on protection from things like medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
The report graded more than 100 hospitals in Illinois, leaving one Chicago hospital with an “F” and seven others with a “D” grade.
Out of 113 general hospitals that were analyzed in Illinois, 30 hospitals received an “A,” 25 scored a “B,” and 50 others received a “C.”
The “F” was given to South Shore Hospital in Chicago located at 8012 S. Crandon Ave. The grade was given low marks in infection categories, hospital falls, error prevention strategies, and staffing and communication.
South Shore CEO Leslie Rogers told the Chicago Tribune after stepping into a leadership role this summer, the hospital was striving to have a “C” grade or better by the next ranking.
How to sue a Chicago hospital for negligence
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. The report by Leapfrog Group indicates as many as 7% of Illinois hospitals fail to meet average standards, meaning thousands of state residents have a potential exposure to medical negligence.
Suing a hospital for medical negligence can be a lengthy and drawn out process, particularly depending on the state you reside. In order to file a medical negligence lawsuit, you need to contact trusted personal injury attorney within the statute of limitations time window. In Illinois, this is generally two years from the date you were injured or the date you should have known of the injuries.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to prove that a medical error occurred and directly caused someone’s life-threatening injury. Remember, if you’re filing a lawsuit against a hospital, they have a team of lawyers who are able to explain away a mistake with complex medical jargon. This is why it’s critical to have an experienced legal team who is about to investigate your claim, hire appropriate expert witnesses to discount the defendant’s claims and work toward the best possible outcome for your case.
Contact a personal injury attorney in Cook County, Illinois
Our team of personal injury lawyers at the Dinizulu Law Group are here to help you navigate this difficult time. Our legal team is compassionate towards victims, but aggressive in the court room to get the compensation you deserve. Call our office today for a free consultation at (312) 384-1920.
