Most Cook County area residents will need to visit the hospital in their lifetime. A hospital is an important community institution, treating millions of sick and injured people each year. Most of the time a hospital helps their patients feel better, but occasionally a hospital causes unexpected serious injuries to a patient.
A woman’s family recently won a lawsuit against OSF Healthcare St. Francis Hospital. The woman was a patient at the hospital where she was to undergo a surgery a surgery to remove her pacemaker. The family believed the new surgical procedure was rushed by the hospital and lead to her death. During the laser surgery, the woman’s heart and blood vessels were perforated. She suffered extensive blood loss and died in the hospital. The family was awarded $2.5 million for their tremendous loss.
Medical advances are always occurring in the United States. These advances are exciting and can lead to better patient outcome. But, when these advances are rushed and medical professionals do not receive adequate training, serious issues can occur. If a family believes their loved one was hurt because of a medical mistake they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney can review the medical records and consult with medical experts to get an idea as to what happened. If negligence is suspected, compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering, funeral expenses and other damages.
No one expects a hospital will cause more harm to a patient. Unfortunately, these situations occur frequently in Cook County and across the U.S. It is important to hold hospitals and medical professionals accountable for their mistakes so that they don’t harm anyone else.