Illinois Medical Malpractice Claims: Laboratory Errors

Laboratory testing is a critical component of modern medicine, often essential for timely and accurate diagnosis. Medical professionals have a legal duty to provide their patients reasonable care and treatment, including reasonable care as it pertains to lab tests and results. One of the most common forms of medical malpractice involves laboratory testing errors.

These errors occur in a wide variety of ways. According to one study published in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM), a significant portion of laboratory errors occur in the pre-analytical or post-analytical stage. While some errors happen in the lab itself, many occur because doctors order the wrong tests or because they fail to take proper, timely action after receiving test results. Other times, a breakdown in communication between nursing staff and physicians leads to the failure to timely relay results of lab tests.

Laboratory testing mistakes in any form can cause serious harm to patients. In the very worst cases, they can be deadly. If you believe that you or your family member has suffered damages due to a medical testing error, it is imperative that you reach out to an experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyer for immediate assistance.

Most Common Laboratory Errors

For many medical conditions, timely diagnosis and early intervention are crucial. Every day, and in some cases every hour that passes without action can put a patient at serious risk. Some of the most common examples of lab testing errors include:

– Unreasonable delays in testing;

– Doctors ordering the wrong lab test;

– Switching test results between patients;

– Contamination of lab samples;

– Failure to timely report results;

– Mistakes in interpreting lab results;

– Lack of sufficient follow up testing;

– Failure to take action in light of lab results; and,

– Further errors in the laboratory testing process.

For a laboratory error to constitute medical malpractice, the patient must be able to prove negligence on the part of the doctor, healthcare provider, hospital, lab technician, or other medical professional. Proving negligence against a medical professional or institution is challenging. Therefore, lab error victims should always be represented by a skilled Illinois medical malpractice attorney.

Victims Deserve Full and Fair Financial Compensation

Medical malpractice victims deserve financial relief for the full value of their damages. In general, doctors and healthcare providers are represented by large insurance companies. Even in cases where liability is clear, these insurers are known to be aggressive and will vigorously defend claims. They use skilled attorneys and defensive litigation tactics in attempts to significantly limit medical malpractice settlement offers. Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys can help. Medical lab error victims may be able to recover compensation for:

– Hospital bills;

– Other medical expenses;

– Lost wages;

– Pain and suffering;

– Disfigurement or disability; and

– Wrongful death of a family member.

Get Help from a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

At Mossing & Navarre, LLC, we fight to hold negligent healthcare providers and institutions accountable for their misconduct. If you or a family member has suffered injuries or medical complications due to a laboratory error, our legal team can help.

To set up your free, fully confidential consultation, please contact us today at (312) 262-6700. From our office in the heart of downtown Chicago, we handle medical malpractice claims in Cook County and throughout the state of Illinois.