Lake Zurich Medical Malpractice Attorney

Medical Malpractice Attorney Fighting for Your Rights in Lake County

Most of us go to the doctor regularly, and few of us doubt whether our doctor takes good care of us. Doctors go to school for many years to learn skills and information that most of us will never know and hopefully never need to care about. As long as we are healthy and our doctors treat us well, the vast majority of people never stop to think about what could happen if a doctor does not do her job.

Unfortunately, however, it does happen. Doctors and other healthcare workers are only human and, just like anyone else, they can make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are small; other times, they change people's lives forever. When a doctor acts so badly while taking care of a patient that she fails to meet the proper standard of medical care, this is called "medical malpractice."

If you or someone you love has been impacted by medical malpractice, you already know how serious these situations can be. Medical malpractice can result in long-term injury, expensive medical costs, and, in the worst cases, death. If you have had an experience with a doctor, dentist, or other healthcare worker and you ended up badly hurt or worse, talk to a personal injury lawyer who understands Illinois' medical malpractice laws. Even if you are not sure whether you have a case, the lawyers at Salvi Law, Inc. can meet with you for free so you can learn more about your options.

Are Only Doctors Responsible for Medical Malpractice? 

All healthcare professionals, from the world's most qualified surgeon to the world's newest pediatric nurse, owe the people they treat a duty of care. This means they must treat everyone according to the proper standard of medical care. Although it can sometimes be hard to define what the standard of care is in certain cases, doctors are expected to do what a reasonable person with the same experience and education of the doctor would do in the same situation.

Medical malpractice can include doing something wrong, like prescribing the wrong medicine. But it can also include a doctor not doing something she should have, like noticing that a patient has symptoms of cancer. And family doctors are not the only medical professionals who must treat patients according to the proper standard. Other healthcare workers who can commit medical malpractice include:

• Nurses
• Dentists and dental hygienists
• Anesthesiologists
• Radiologists
• Dermatologists
• Surgeons
• Physician's assistants
• Pharmacists

What Are Some Examples of Medical Malpractice? 

Every case is different and sometimes there are real questions about what a doctor should have done. Human bodies are complex and medical science is always changing and growing. However, sometimes cases of medical malpractice are very clear. Some examples of medical malpractice include:

• A surgeon amputating the wrong limb
• A surgical assistant leaving a sponge or tool in a patient's body
• A dentist extracting the wrong tooth
• An anesthesiologist giving too much anesthesia 
• A radiologist reading a scan incorrectly and missing signs of cancer

Healthcare workers are not the only ones who can be found responsible for committing medical malpractice. Hospitals, managers, medical equipment manufacturers, and more may all contribute to a medical malpractice case.

Why Does Medical Malpractice Happen? 

The causes of medical malpractice can be as complex as the people who commit it. However, some common causes of medical malpractice include:

• Poor education
• Working while drunk or high 
• Working while sleep-deprived
• Careless or reckless behavior
• Improper hospital policies 
• Improper record keeping

Contact a Cook County Medical Malpractice Attorney

So many people believe that doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals can do no wrong until something happens that proves otherwise. If you believe you have suffered from medical malpractice, it can be hard to know where to turn. This is where we come in.

At Salvi Law, Inc., we take the responsibility of representing and advocating for our clients very seriously. We treat each case individually and look for every option to seek justice. We serve clients in the Lake Zurich area and Cook and Lake Counties. Contact us at 847-721-2499 or online for a free consultation.