Hospital Negligence | Cirignani Heller & Harman, LLP

Have you ever requested your medical records, but had trouble actually receiving them? Or perhaps you did receive the records but had to pay a hefty fee for them? Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, you have a right to view and get copies of all of your medical records, […]

The phrase, “It takes a village,” is used to describe the demands of properly raising a child. But this phrase is also true in the healthcare industry where it takes a seemingly endless number of professionals to treat just one patient. For example, if a patient requires knee surgery, they’ve likely encountered several doctors before […]

The third leading cause of death in the United States is preventable medical errors (440,000 deaths/year). These deaths are not caused by illnesses or the medical conditions that caused these victims to seek medical care in the first place. They are caused by mistakes made in the hospital that could have been prevented. These mistakes can […]

No one goes to the hospital and thinks of it like staying at a hotel. There is always a risk of a bad outcome. When treatment at a hospital results in injury or death, victims or their families may question whether it was the result of hospital negligence (a form of medical malpractice). As complicated […]

Surgeons and patients are not thinking about fires when they enter a hospital operating room.  There are so many things that take priority at that moment. For the patient, this is an opportunity to improve their quality of life.  For a surgeon, this is what they are trained to do. Too often, unfortunately, they are […]

Victims of a medical mistake are often dealing with difficult emotions and are understandably mad, sad, frustrated, confused, and in pain. They are looking for justice. Victims find themselves in a difficult position at a time when they are emotionally and financially drained.  The complexity of a medical negligence lawsuit can seem very overwhelming. Just recently the […]

Medical care is not perfect, despite all the advancements in medicine and research. However, there are established standards of care that should be observed in order to provide patients with medical treatments that are appropriate, approved and reasonable. Unfortunately, there may come a time that you find yourself looking for a medical malpractice attorney. Unfortunately, the […]

Leaving the hospital can be a sign that a person is on the road to recovery or has reached a point where his or her care can be managed at home. Many people look forward to this and often consider it the beginning of a new chapter. Unfortunately, there are some people who cannot move […]

Technology plays a critical role in the medical field. Ongoing research, innovations, and inventions in health industry technology can lead to improved care, better communication and new treatments that may be more effective. However, these advancements are not perfect. In fact, there are a number of ways that technology can prove to be a hazard […]

When people go to the hospital in Chicago, they are often cared for by a number of doctors and nurses. If something bad happens and a mistake is made, it can be easy to assume that the liability begins and ends with those directly providing care. However, in some instances, there can be a case […]

Whenever a person has to go to the doctor, it is likely that he or she has several questions to ask. What’s wrong? How can I improve my health? What medications do I need, and are there side effects? How will those affect my family? But before they even get to the doctor, there are […]

When we go to a hospital or doctor’s office we do so with the intent to be healed. We have an ailment or injury and we trust our health care provider to help us find a solution for it. Now even the best healthcare involves some degree of risk and we are made aware of […]

Most Cook County residents would never dream of sharing a toothbrush with another person, but plenty of us are sharing stethoscopes. Do physicians ever clean those things? A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings not only recommends doctors clean stethoscopes regularly but encourages disinfection after each patient use. The study author, a World Health […]

Illinois residents who are admitted to a hospital to undergo medical procedures have certain expectations with respect to the type of care they will receive. Any medical procedure is accompanied by risks and potential complications. In addition to these risks, there are a number of other safety concerns that, if breached, may cause a patient […]

Hospital settings often become the temporary home for many patients who have serious conditions and illnesses. Due to the fragile physical condition of patients, it’s imperative that hospitals take measures to ensure rooms and equipment are clean and sterile. It’s also crucial that hospitals take the time to routinely inspect building components that could potentially […]

People who are ill or who have undergone a medical procedure are often required to stay in the hospital overnight. While in the hospital, patients readily depend upon members of the nursing and hospital staff to provide for their care and comfort. There are, however, a number of medical errors that can occur as nurses […]

It’s not an understatement to say that Chicago residents trust health care professionals with their lives. It’s horrifying to think that medical malpractice could make your condition worse or kill you while under a hospital’s care, but it happens. According to a federal review, military veterans’ hospital may be among the worst offenders. Veterans Administration […]

In Illinois, preventable medical errors contribute to the injury and death of thousands of patients. In addition to the harm suffered by patients, these medical errors also end up costing hospitals millions of dollars. In an effort to improve patient safety and reduce the number of preventable medical errors, many hospitals around the state have […]

Discussions of lingering racial bias in the United States are often uncomfortable, but sometimes necessary. One would hope that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals would give good care to all of their patients, regardless of their race or ethnicity. But a new government study suggests that the quality of care children are receiving in […]

Back on Aug. 13, we discussed a teenager from another state who needed a heart transplant due to a life-threatening condition. He went to the hospital to get on the transplant list, but doctors rejected him and refused to put him on the list. Readers may be relieved to learn that this case of possible […]