Physician Error
We expect physicians to provide quality care – and, in fact, we rely upon that premise to maintain our health. However, doctors do make mistakes; unfortunately, a physician’s error can have dire consequences for patients and their families. Physician error, also referred to as doctor negligence or medical malpractice, is the failure of a physician to meet accepted standards of care, causing injury or illness to the patient. Physicians, surgeons and hospitals are the most common health care providers named in medical malpractice lawsuits, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Among the many causes of physician error is a lack of communication. Physicians who don’t listen to patients can fail to notice important symptoms or dismiss them, leaving the underlying medical condition unaddressed. Patients often have only a few minutes to explain their problem to the doctor, and these short visits result in lower quality of care. Doctors may fail to read test results correctly or may misunderstand notes from a colleague, and the communication breakdown can be fatal for the patient.
When a doctor’s mistake involves a potentially terminal illness such as cancer, the patient may lose valuable time for treatment, and the illness may progress to a less treatable stage before being diagnosed. Physicians must pay close attention to the patient’s description of symptoms and order the appropriate tests in a timely manner. Physicians also must work well with other doctors involved in the patient’s care to ensure that all those responsible for the patient are following the appropriate course of treatment.
Physician error can cause serious mistakes in medication. Doctors may fail to prescribe the appropriate medication or the right dosage for a patient, causing illness or organ damage. Doctors may also neglect to check for medication allergies or other medications that the patient is taking, causing dangerous drug side effects or interactions. Medication errors harm 1.5 million people a year; 400,000 of them in hospitals, according to a 2010 report on safe patient care. Often, doctors may have the right medicine or dose in mind, but they fail to write it correctly or legibly, and the pharmacist can only follow the directions as they are written.
In Illinois, 16,016 malpractice claims were made against physicians and surgeons from 2000 to 2004, according to Department of Justice statistics. About 12 percent of the claims resulted in insurance payouts to injured patients and their families.
If you have concerns about your medical care, a medical malpractice attorney with experience in physician error claims can help evaluate the circumstances of your injury or illness. The lawyer should work with accredited medical experts to evaluate whether healthcare standards were met and provide you with qualified opinions on any long-term health issues.
For 27 years, the medical malpractice attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. have represented malpractice victims in legal claims across Illinois, including but not limited to Chicago, Lake County, Cook County, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Springfield, North Peoria, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, DuPage County, Will County, Kane County, Winnebago County, McHenry County, Madison County, and St. Clair County.
Please keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice actions. The statute of limitations may be running on your claim, so time is of the essence. Please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for a free, no-obligation consultation at 877.420.1269.
