Chicago Medical Malpractice Law Blog

When doctors perform surgery, the goal is to fix or repair organs. Occasionally, a transplant is necessary, and surgeons take great care to ensure no unhealthy foreign substances go into the body. However, it is actually quite common for surgeons to leave behind medical tools, particularly surgical sponges, inside patients' bodies. 

One Illinois man discovered this firsthand. He received surgery in 2014, and it was not until much later that he discovered the doctor had left behind a sponge. The man began experiencing symptoms similar to having a fever, such as shortness of breath. There are many other stories similar to this one. It is rare, but it is important to be aware of the dangers so you can take prompt action should it ever happen to you. You should also pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

In a recently reported wrongful death case, one of America's largest kidney dialysis clinics, DaVita, Inc., was found liable for compensatory and punitive damages arising out of the wrongful deaths of patients who suffered fatal cardiac arrests or ischemic strokes after undergoing dialysis with GranuFlo. DaVita used that dialysis solution which has an increased concentration of acetate that converts to bicarbonate in the body. Even though GranuFlo's manufacturer advised DaVita to notify physicians to adjust patient's bicarbonate prescriptions downward when they were undergoing dialysis with GranuFlo, DaVita did not provide the notification, and many physicians did not make necessary adjustments. This case is yet another example of how poor communication inflicts needless injury and death upon patients. Our office has substantial experience with companies that provide dialysis and in issues similar to this. We seek accountability from those whose negligence or recklessness has caused injury or death of your loved one. We are here to help you navigate a difficult time, please contact us at 872-225-0195 or send us a message online for a free consultation. 

One aspect of medical negligence and malpractice involves substance abuse. With the nation trying to recover from the grips of an opioid crisis, many people in Chicago do not realize some of the victims could be the very people they trust for medical care.

Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals have high-stress job duties and easy access to medications. The official name for theft of these drugs by medical professionals is "drug diversion." Not only may patients receive inadequate treatment at the hands of drug or alcohol addicted medical staff, they may even become infected by used or compromised needles.

Vehicle recalls happen all the time. One of the most recent and prominent examples is the Takata airbag recall, which impacted around 37 million cars in the United States. This defect has resulted in at least 20 deaths from 2009 to 2017. 

While this recall made headlines, there are plenty of other recalls that go under the radar. It is possible your vehicle was part of a recall, but you have not even realized it yet. It is vital to check in with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from time to time to make sure your automobile was not part of any recalls recently. The organization's website will also contain information about what steps you can take if your vehicle does, in fact, have a defect.