Injury from Illinois medical malpractice still an ongoing problem
Unfortunately, while public agencies do important work, sometimes Illinois physicians commit medical malpractice before their harmful practices come to the proper attention of government officials. People harmed by bad medical care often help to uncover these dangerous practices by filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois state courts.
June 27, 2013
In Illinois, as in other states, government agencies monitor state medical licenses and the practice of medicine for quality in order to keep the public safe from incompetent, negligent or reckless doctors. Illinois' main health care agencies are the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Illinois Department of Public Health.Unfortunately, while these agencies do important work, sometimes physicians commit medical malpractice before their harmful practices come to the proper attention of government officials. People harmed by bad medical care often help to uncover these dangerous practices by filing medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois state courts.
Recent malpractice examples
A review of Illinois-area news reveals current stories of medical negligence and malpractice, including:
- At a St. Louis-area hospital, a 53-year-old woman went in for brain surgery to stop ongoing strokes, but the craniotomy bypass was performed on the wrong side of her head, leaving her immobilized and unable to speak clearly. She has reportedly sued the hospital and neurosurgeon for the wrong-site surgery.
- Another St. Louis-area neurosurgeon had his Illinois medical license -- already on probation -- suspended after being reprimanded for violating the terms of his Missouri license probation by not reporting problems one of his patients had after back surgery. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the doctor had already been the defendant in approximately 50 medical malpractice lawsuits.
- The Illinois Times has covered extensively the story of a Peoria doctor who provided unprofessional, inappropriate and even deadly medical care to jail inmates across the Midwest. After "scores" of lawsuits back to at least 2004, the physician finally agreed to surrender his medical license after negotiating with the state of Illinois. The laundry list of terrible, gruesome outcomes for his patients is unbearable to read and includes allegedly unnecessary amputations and deaths; the withholding of necessary treatments; as well as dangerous medication errors.
The Illinois Healing Arts Malpractice Act
Illinois has a medical malpractice law that sets out specific requirements for filing a "healing art malpractice" lawsuit. Anyone in Illinois who suffers harm at the hands of a medical professional should discuss the situation with an experienced Illinois medical malpractice attorney to understand and potentially obtain assistance with possible legal remedies like a lawsuit under this statute.
Basically, a medical malpractice claim in Illinois must prove that the doctor failed to adhere to the standard of care required of him or her, and that the lack of proper care caused the injury complained of.
Specifically, the law requires that the plaintiff file with his or her suit an affidavit detailing that another qualified medical professional has reviewed the case and agrees it is "reasonable and meritorious"; based on medical negligence; or that the patient was unreasonably not informed of potential negative consequences of treatment. The exact content of the sworn statement varies depending on the type of legal claim being brought.
A knowledgeable Illinois personal injury who has worked with medical malpractice plaintiffs can clarify the requirements for such a lawsuit.
Article provided by Lloyd Law Group
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