Medical Malpractice is a Leading Cause of Death in the United States
Medical Malpractice is a Leading Cause of Death in the United States
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the United States. A recent Johns Hopkins study found that more than 250,000 patients die annually because of a medical error. Other research claims the actual figure is even higher, with up to 440,000 deaths since many medical mistakes are hard to track and often go unreported.
A 2017 survey by the University of Chicago and the Lucian Leape Institute revealed that around 21 percent of adults nationwide have personally experienced a medical error. Health care professionals at all levels can be responsible for medical mistakes, whether it is an overworked physician assistant or a surgeon with decades of experience. According to research published in 2018, new registered nurses with under a year of patient care experience play a role in 49 to 53 percent of medical errors. One in ten doctors reports making a “major medical error” within the past three months. And over 20 percent of patients report experiencing a medical error. [2]
At the Illinois medical malpractice law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we represent patients and their families affected by negligent medical care. Our compassionate attorneys understand what you are going through during this difficult time and cater our representation according to your unique needs. We will never try to sell you on bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit. We will go over your options with you so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.
Medical Malpractice Deaths Are Preventable
Injuries and deaths caused by medical malpractice are all the more distressing because they are preventable. At the outset of their practice, almost all American doctors take an oath to adhere to the guiding principle behind the Latin phrase primum non nocere (meaning “first, do no harm”). When doctors are negligent, they run afoul of this core principle.
People seeking care should never be injured or lose their lives because of the carelessness of medical personnel, including doctors, nurses and physician assistants. Yet, hundreds of thousands of patients each year suffer new or worsening injuries due to a healthcare provider’s negligence.
Medical malpractice lawsuits serve two important purposes. First, these claims can provide families with meaningful compensation that will allow them to overcome the economic hurdles they face on their road to recovery. Second, by pursuing a medical malpractice claim, you can help set the standard to which healthcare providers are held. Medical malpractice cases ensure the healthcare industry continuously looks for better and more effective ways to treat patients.
We Handle All Types of Medical Malpractice Claims
Sometimes it is obvious when a medical error occurs. But more often, it is not apparent what exactly caused a patient’s condition to worsen. Too often, when patients suspect a mistake has happened, they have trouble getting answers to their questions from the hospital or medical personnel. This is because these parties are self-interested and do not want their negligence exposed.
When medical malpractice causes an injury or death, the injured person or grieving family deserves compensation for the loss. At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we regularly represent patients in the following types of Chicago medical malpractice cases.
If you have experienced a personal injury due to the carelessness of others, you should not have to worry about fees and case screeners. An attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will talk to you about your case at no cost.
If you have experienced a personal injury due to the carelessness of others, you shouldn’t have to worry about fees and case screeners. An attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg will talk to you about your case at no cost.
The breadth of experience that our law firm offers means that we have represented clients in a wide variety of cases. We represent clients in medical malpractice cases including:
Birth Injuries
Bringing a child into the world should be among a parent’s most treasured life experiences. However, too many families find this moment tarnished by a healthcare provider’s negligence. According to a recent study, more than 50,000 new mothers experience serious injuries during labor and delivery. What is perhaps more shocking is that 700 new mothers die each year during or shortly after childbirth. By some estimates, more than half of these injuries could have been prevented.
Labor and delivery is a physically and emotionally traumatic time for both mother and child. Soon-to-be mothers trust that their healthcare providers are doing everything possible to ensure a safe and speedy delivery. Unfortunately, when negligence enters into the equation, serious injury is common. A birth injury is a preventable injury suffered by a mother or child during the labor and delivery process. The majority of birth injuries to a child involve physical trauma or oxygen deprivation during the delivery process. However, inadequate prenatal care is also a common cause of preventable birth injuries.
Surgical Errors
Surgeons are highly skilled doctors whom we trust to perform high-stakes procedures. However, even surgeons are capable of making mistakes. For example, some of the most common forms of surgeon negligence include operating on the wrong part of the body, leaving foreign objects in a patient’s body and failing to guard against preventable infections.
Medication Errors
Prescription drugs are potent substances that have the potential to treat a wide range of potentially life-threatening conditions. However, if improperly administered, these drugs can also result in serious injury—and even death. Doctors, nurses and pharmacists have a legal duty to ensure that patients receive the correct medication and dose. When a provider’s negligence results in a pharmacy error, they can be held accountable through a Chicago medication error lawsuit.
Misdiagnosis is one of the most common types of medical mistakes
You reasonably assume that as long as you go to the doctor for all scheduled visits and stay on top of your health, that doctors will catch any condition early enough to treat it effectively. However, misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses are among the leading causes of preventable adverse health outcomes for patients of all ages. Doctors have a duty to order the appropriate testing and correctly interpret the results of the tests they order. If a doctor misdiagnoses or fails to diagnose a serious medical condition, you can pursue a Chicago medical malpractice lawsuit against them.
About 12 million people are misdiagnosed per year, with the potential for severe harm in nearly half of those cases. According to Johns Hopkins, 40,000 to 80,000 deaths occur annually in U.S. hospitals due to complications related to misdiagnosis. Despite these statistics, misdiagnosis is still believed to be severely underreported in the United States.
Research published in the journal Diagnosis in 2019 indicated that more than 100,000 U.S. patients die or suffer permanent disabilities each year due to delayed or incorrect medical diagnoses. Infections, cancers and vascular conditions accounted for almost 75 percent of all serious harm related to misdiagnosis. Over one-third of the misdiagnosis errors resulting in death or permanent disability were linked to cancers.
Misdiagnosis can be difficult to uncover fully without a lawsuit. When we represent you in a medical malpractice lawsuit, we will not rest until we find the facts and get you the compensation you deserve.
If you suspect you developed new injuries or your condition worsened due to medical malpractice, call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for a free consultation to discuss your rights. We can advise you as to whether a medical malpractice lawsuit is in your best interest, and if we represent you in such a lawsuit, we will use the legal process to uncover the facts about what happened and get you the answers and compensation you deserve. We have decades of experience handling medical malpractice lawsuits, so we are confident that we can obtain the best outcome possible in your case.
If you suspect medical malpractice has caused you harm, then you should call us for a free consultation about your rights. We can advise you as to whether a medical malpractice lawsuit is in your best interest, and if we represent you in such a lawsuit, we can and will use the legal process to uncover the facts about what happened and get you the answers and compensation you deserve. We have decades of experience handling medical malpractice lawsuits, so we are confident that we can obtain the best outcome possible in your case.
Experiencing medical malpractice can change your life. The injuries in medical malpractice cases vary significantly, as do the damages awards. However, successful plaintiffs can generally recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages related to the provider’s negligence.
Economic damages in a Chicago medical malpractice lawsuit include the following:
• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Decrease in earning capacity
• Necessary modifications to your home to accommodate any disability
In addition, you can recover compensation for the non-economic damages you sustained as a result of the provider’s negligence. Non-economic damages in a medical malpractice case include the following:
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability
• Loss of familial relationships
• Disfigurement
• Emotional anguish
Unlike many other states, Illinois law does not cap or limit the amount of non-economic damages you can recover in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Under Illinois law, all personal injury cases, including medical malpractice claims, must be filed within a certain period of time, as outlined in the statute of limitations. Patients must bring a claim of medical malpractice within two years from the date of treatment. However, lawmakers understand that medical malpractice cases are different from other types of personal injury cases in that a patient may not know they received negligent medical care until years after the care was rendered. Thus, the statute of limitations in a medical malpractice lawsuit does not begin until a patient learns that they may have a claim against a provider.
That said, Illinois also imposes a state of repose, which prevents any medical malpractice claim from being filed more than four years after the date of treatment. However, if the patient was a minor, the statute of repose does not begin until they turn 18, giving minors until 22 to file a claim.
There may also be exceptions if you continue to receive treatment from the allegedly negligent provider. This is because, while the same doctor is treating you, you cannot expect to learn of the provider’s negligence. Similarly, if a provider engages in fraud, the statute of limitations may be extended.
We are honored to be able to provide families with the legal services they need to obtain compensation. We pledge that our attorneys will treat you with respect, compassion and empathy while working determinedly to hold the negligent party accountable. We believe in providing the level of attention you would expect from a family-owned, family-oriented law firm. We believe in being there for you and your family when you need help the most.
If you, your child or another loved one suffered at the hands of a negligent doctor, nurse, pharmacist or another medical provider, reach out to Briskman Briskman & Greenberg to schedule a free consultation. We have over three decades of experience bringing claims on behalf of injured patients and know what it takes to investigate, prepare and litigate these complex cases successfully. Over the years, we have successfully held some of the largest and most powerful medical providers accountable for their negligent actions.
At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our promise is simple. You will not pay attorney’s fees unless we make a financial recovery for you in your medical malpractice case. We do not get paid unless you get paid.
When we say we will be there for you, we mean it. You will have an experienced lawyer handling your case. We believe that you should talk to a decision-maker at the firm, not a case screener. An attorney will analyze your situation and advise you of your rights.
There is never a cost to speak with an attorney about your case. Do not delay getting your free legal consultation: if you fail to pursue your claim in time, your rights could be lost forever. Call Us Today at 1.877.595.HURT (4878). You can also connect with us through our online contact form, and one of our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys will reach out to you shortly.