Similar to any other place, even Chicago hospitals record deaths because of medical malpractice. However, it is indeed challenging to state the exact number of people who have died. One of the main reasons is that medical practitioners and hospitals wouldn’t report such deaths, which are the outcome of a mistake or negligence.
In October 2023, news on Hoodline.com reported that Cook County had approved of two medical malpractice payouts of $8.6 million. The Chicago Tribune stated that these cases are linked to the Stronger Hospital. Nearly $6.75 million was said to have been given to the plaintiff, Brianna Newman.
What Happened to Brianna Newman?
According to the lawsuit, Newman came to the emergency room of Stronger Hospital back in January 2020, when she was 35 weeks pregnant and had extreme abdominal pain because of a car accident. Her legal complaint highlights that she informed the medical personnel about the lack of fetal movement because of the accident.
The lawsuit states that the hospital staff failed to adequately check the fetal movement through end-to-end monitoring. The hospital was also negligent in a CT scan that showed placental complications. That aside, the hospital staff didn’t even carry out an ultrasound or install an electric fetal monitor to check the condition of the baby. Since there was delayed fetal monitoring, there was an emergency cesarean section, but Newman’s baby couldn’t be revived.
This is not the only medical malpractice incident in Chicago, there are more. It doesn’t just cost one’s life, but also leads to increased medical bills and emotional trauma.
In this article, we will discuss the steps that you need to implement after such an incident and how a lawyer can be of help.
Keep Your Medical Records Handy
A crucial thing to do after surviving any fatal hospital injury in Chicago is to ensure you have all the medical records in one place. It is ‌ challenging for healthcare professionals to establish that a person suffered immensely because of their negligence and carelessness.
Hence, when you keep all the relevant medical records, tests, and other healthcare data handy, you have the details needed to file a complaint. You can show this data to an insurance company to get compensated for the loss and damages you had to endure. The insurance agency will try to negate the fact that a medical professional was at fault. Therefore, when you keep the medical documents with you, it helps to stand strong against your claim.
Get the Correct Medical Aid
It is necessary to take care of your health and opt for the correct treatment. Once you are physically stable, you can pursue legal action and seek fair compensation for all your losses. Start by monitoring your health and showing up for regular check-ups as suggested by the doctors. It will help you know whether you are healing from the injury or if there’s something critical that you need to address and add to your lawsuit as well.
You should keep correct track of the treatment provided, every small detail of the medicines, and the diagnosis. It will add more strength and weight to your case when it gets shared with the court. You must also keep a note of all the post-operative care and recovery, as well as the setbacks that you have faced.
Get in Touch with a Lawyer
Once you are certain of the medical malpractice injury, you must get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago IL to opt for legal aid. Often, others might tell you that this might not be of any help, but ‌legal counsel will always work in your favor.
To ensure that your legal claim is valid, connect with a lawyer with the necessary expertise and training in managing medical malpractice cases. The lawyer can get essential medical records like x-rays and various other documents linked to the treatment. They can also find out the names and contact details of various other medical personnel who are accountable for the patient’s injury.
That aside, your lawyer will offer you valuable suggestions on how to move through this legal path. If you follow the same, you will have a higher chance of getting the compensation you deserve to cover all your economic and non-economic damages.
However, you need to keep in mind that not all settlement payouts are the same. TorHoerman Law states that a lawyer informs their clients about the probable settlement amount that is dependent on their case and the severity of the injury and suffering. It will ensure that the plaintiffs have a practical expectation of the payouts and are not disappointed.
In conclusion, considering there are negligent staff and medical personnel in the hospitals of Chicago, medical malpractice is not an uncommon phenomenon.
The task here is not to stay silent but to take the necessary action. If you feel that you have suffered and have valid medical documents to support your claim, it is best to opt for legal aid and get compensated for your losses.
