Medical malpractice can be devastating and have longstanding consequences for patients and their families. Knowing what causes these malpractices can help patients and their families proactively stay informed about their health care and avoid tragic incidents resulting from negligence or accidents.
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
Top of the list of most common causes is misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Failure to accurately diagnose on time can lead to delayed or incorrect treatment, worsening a patient’s condition. The statute of limitations in Illinois for medical malpractice is two years from the date they knew about the misdiagnosis and up to four years from the date of the malpractice itself.
Surgical errors
Another leading cause of medical malpractice in Illinois is surgical errors. It can include mistakes such as operating on the wrong site, leaving surgical implements inside the patient or causing unintentional damage to adjacent organs. Errors of this magnitude can lead to complications and even death. For a medical malpractice suit to proceed, Illinois law requires an affidavit of merit to be filed with the complaint. A qualified professional must sign this affidavit, attesting that they have reviewed the case and found it to have merit.
Other leading causes
Other leading causes of medical malpractice in Illinois include:
- Medication errors
- Birth injuries
- Failure to treat or provide the appropriate treatment
- Anesthesia errors
- Inadequate follow-up or aftercare
Aside from birth injuries, which have a statute of limitations of eight years up to the child’s 22nd birthday, all these other causes have the same statute of limitations as surgical errors and misdiagnoses.
If you or a loved one has suffered any of these, consider exploring your legal options under Illinois law.
