Illinois Medical Malpractice: Doctor Misdiagnosis

When you go to the doctor for medical treatment or a check-up, you deserve high-quality care. To get the proper medical treatment that you need, it is imperative that your doctor properly diagnoses your condition. An incorrect diagnosis can cause a patient serious harm. It may lead to delayed treatment, the wrong treatment, or even no treatment at all.

If you or a family member has been the victim of doctor misdiagnosis in Illinois, you may have a valid medical malpractice claim. You should consult with an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will be able to review the specific facts of your case in order determine precisely what steps must be taken to protect your rights.

Four Things You Need to Know About Doctor Misdiagnosis Claims

  1. Misdiagnosis is the Most Common Type of Medical Malpractice

Medical errors come in a wide range of different forms, from surgical mistakes to anesthesia errors. There is strong evidence that misdiagnosis is the single most common type of medical error.

According to a 25-year review of American medical malpractice claims, diagnostic errors led to more malpractice payouts than any other medical mistake. In addition, misdiagnosis was also the leading cause of wrongful death medical malpractice lawsuits.

  1. Establishing Medical Malpractice Requires Proving Negligence

A misdiagnosis is not necessarily medical malpractice. To hold a doctor or healthcare provider legally liable for a medical misdiagnosis, you must be able to prove that they were negligent. Negligence is the failure to take adequate care. In a misdiagnosis-related medical malpractice case, the victim must be able to prove that another ordinary medical professional would have likely been able to make a correct diagnosis under similar circumstances.

  1. Expert Witness Testimony is Critically Important in Misdiagnosis Cases

Doctor misdiagnosis cases are deeply complex. Victims should always get a skilled Chicago medical malpractice lawyer by their side as early on in the legal process as possible. In many misdiagnosis cases, attorneys will use expert witnesses to help prove that a proper diagnosis should have been made in the situation.

  1. Medical Malpractice Victims are Entitled to Full Compensation

Medical malpractice victims are entitled to financial compensation for the full value of their damages. This could include recovery for medical bills, physical rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering, mental distress, disfigurement, and the wrongful death of the family member. Previously, noneconomic damages were capped as a matter of Illinois state law. However, in the 2010 case of Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, the state’s Supreme Court ruled that the statutory damage caps on medical malpractice claims were unconstitutional.

Contact Our Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers Today

At Mossing & Navarre, LLC, our top-rated Illinois medical malpractice attorneys have considerable experience handling doctor misdiagnosis claims. If you or a family member was a victim of an incorrect medical diagnosis, we can help.

To schedule a free case evaluation, please contact our law firm today at (312) 262-6700. With an office in Chicago, we represent medical malpractice victims throughout Northern Illinois, including in Cook County, Lake County, Will County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.

 

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