Category: Hospital Negligence | Page 2

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

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 […]
Hospital Negligence

Medical testing is an important part of the improvement of our knowledge of diseases and advancement of new treatments. People who volunteer to test experimental medications or procedures contribute a great deal to society. But they may be risking their health if the testers do not fully disclose the risks the experiment carries, or fails […]
Hospital Negligence

When a person is admitted to the hospital, she or he may often think that everything will be alright, and that the best care will be provided. This may be true in most cases, but from time to time, ahospital mistake may occur. Such a mistake may involve doctors, nurses, orderlies and any other members […]
Hospital Negligence

There are several factors doctors must consider when a patient needs a heart transplant. We would expect most of those considerations to be medical. For example, is the potentially donated heart a good match for the patient? Are there any other health problems that could complicate the transplant? It may not occur to readers that […]
Hospital Negligence

Many families in Chicago have an older relative with symptoms of dementia. Often, these individuals become agitated very easily and when someone with dementia is admitted to the hospital, staff should be willing to work with the condition. That was not the case when a 76-year-old man was taken to the hospital for bowel issues […]
Hospital Negligence

People in Chicago go to the hospital to get well, not get more sick. But infections can spread from patient to patient, sickening and sometimes killing people. Some of these outbreaks are not due to human error, but often they are caused by insufficent cleaning policies or negligent failure to keep beds, rooms and equipment […]
Hospital Negligence

It is unusual for a hospital to admit its mistakes in the midst of a medical malpractice lawsuit. So it is surprising and encouraging to learn that a Chicago-area hospital did just that after one of its patients committed suicide while in the facility’s care. The hospital, Linden Oaks Psychiatric Hospital in Naperville, also recently […]
Hospital Negligence

When a person enters the hospital, she or he may forget that the individuals working there are human. This means they can make mistakes and errors that can create serious issues for patients. During an emergency situation, few patients consider this possibility: they simply want to receive the medical attention they need. This often leaves […]
Hospital Negligence

It is certainly crucial that medical professionals in Chicago provide their patients with quality care when patients need medical treatment for traumatic injuries, life-threatening health complications or other serious medical problems. With an accurate diagnosis, timely treatment and proper care, injured and ill patients may have a better chance of recovering from their ailments with […]
Hospital Negligence

On June 20, 2009, a man who had suffered from a psychiatric condition was taken to a hospital because he had become very disoriented from not taking his medication. While the man was being admitted to the hospital, a patient-care assistant restrained the man and sedated the patient. However, it took several hours for hospital […]
Hospital Negligence

In Chicago, doctors may certainly face medical malpractice lawsuits if they fail to properly diagnose patients who have suffered strokes. When strokes are not diagnosed or treated as quickly as possible, patients may suffer disabling injuries, including paralysis, impaired speech, depression, or death. Medical professionals in Illinois may also face medical malpractice lawsuits for failing […]
Hospital Negligence