Did Your Doctor Misdiagnose Your Illness?
Inaccurate diagnosis of a medical condition negatively impacts medical treatment and how well a patient responds to medical care. A study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, and reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), showed that diagnosis errors account for more than a third of malpractice claim settlements and cause likely preventable injury or death for up to 160,000 patients each year.
When misdiagnosis results in physical pain, emotional distress or death because a health problem was overlooked or improperly addressed, the experienced lawyers at Wise Morrissey, LLC, are skilled at recovering compensation. We investigate each malpractice claim, using medical experts to help us build strong cases.
Often there are warning signs of the negligence that led to misdiagnosis such as lack of clear communication between doctors, misinterpretation of test results or failure to recognize the seriousness of health issues that patients have raised. In fact, more than half of misdiagnosis errors involve the ordering of diagnostic tests or the taking of patient history information.
Statistics show that pneumonia, congestive heart failure, kidney failure and cancer are among the medical conditions most frequently misdiagnosed, and the consequences can be frightening:
- 38% of misdiagnosis incidents cause considerable harm
- 35% result in very serious harm or permanent damage
- 14% mean immediate or inevitable death
Addressing Misdiagnosis Concerns From A Legal Perspective
During an initial consultation with us, we make every reasonable effort to address your concerns and answer your questions, such as the following:
My loved one passed away due to medical misdiagnosis. Can I still file a lawsuit?
Yes. According to Illinois laws, family members of misdiagnosed victims have a time frame of two years to file a lawsuit against the liable party.
What type of damages can I recover from a misdiagnosis lawsuit?
You might recover economic and noneconomic damages. The former includes past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and domestic health services. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In some cases, a victim may recover punitive damages. A negligent party could have these damages awarded as an exemplary punishment in order to avoid further gross negligence and reckless actions.
Our Attorneys Can Guide You Through Your Case
Illinois medical malpractice cases are complex, but we can help you through it. Tell us about your case by calling 312-985-0930 or by contacting us online. Your consultation is free.
Successes
$6.75 Million Brain Damage Settlement
A 68-year-old woman was admitted to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin after experiencing headaches for two weeks. Family members indicated that, on that day,…
$2.95 Million Settlement For Complications From Surgical Misdiagnosis And Error
We represented the widow and estate of a 54-year-old husband and father of twin daughters who died from complications from an undiagnosed bowel perforation following…
$5 Million Settlement For Brain Injury From Gastric Bypass Surgery
We were lead counsel representing the guardian of a 47-year-old woman who developed extensive bleeding and clotting and digestive tract trauma following gastric bypass surgery….
$32 Million Settlement For Quadruple Amputation Due To Delayed Diagnosis
We represented the mother of a Chicago girl who, at age 8, was taken to the hospital with a fever and pain in her right…
$10 Million Settlement For Misdiagnosed Brain Injury Resulting In Paraplegia
Our client, a 41-year-old married father of two, suffered an injury on the right side of his head while playing touch football at a youth…
$6.3 Million Settlement On Behalf Of Brain-Injured Infant
Our client was an infant who, a month after her birth, began having seizures at home. She was hospitalized and given initial medication that halted…
$7 Million Cancer Death Settlement
A 31-year-old woman had a routine Pap smear in July 1992, which was read as normal. When a subsequent testing in 1995 showed she had…
$2 Million Settlement For Failure To Diagnose Fatal Aneurysm
A woman suffering lower back pain passed out and was rushed to the emergency room of St. James Hospital, where it was noted that she…
$3.1 Million Settlement For Death From Misdiagnosis
In September, 1994, a 37-year-old woman went to her physician for a routine mammogram. The test was suspicious, and her doctor recommended a biopsy. Afterward,…
$3 Million Settlement In Cancer Misdiagnosis Death
Doctors misread a young boy’s CT scans, which were indicative of a tumor. When the boy underwent a biopsy, he developed a bleed from the…
A Delayed Diagnosis Can Be Catastrophic Or Fatal
Instances where medical conditions are not timely diagnosed occur far too often. A study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University showed that diagnosis errors account for the largest fraction of malpractice claim settlements and cause likely preventable injury or death for up to 160,000 patients each year. In an even more comprehensive review of numerous studies, failure to diagnose or delay in diagnosis accounted for anywhere from 26% to 63% of all malpractice claims.
Delayed diagnosis cases are complex and require attorneys with extensive knowledge of medical malpractice. At Wise Morrissey, LLC, we are well known for our work in Illinois medical malpractice cases. Our lawyers fully understand the standard of care that doctors and nurses must exercise in their diagnosis. We have the experience to demonstrate that a client or their loved one sustained an injury that would not have occurred without negligently delayed diagnosis by the care provider.
Even if a health care provider fails to diagnose a condition promptly, the failure must be negligent and cause significant harm before a malpractice suit can be filed. We must prove that the caregiver acted below an acceptable level of care and negligently increased the risk to a patient’s health.
You Can Seek Compensation With A Lawyer’s Help
To discuss your injuries or those of a loved one that may have resulted from a negligent delay in diagnosis, please call us in Chicago at 312-985-0930 or contact us online. Your consultation is free.
Successes
$6.75 Million Brain Damage Settlement
A 68-year-old woman was admitted to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin after experiencing headaches for two weeks. Family members indicated that, on that day,…
$17 Million Emergency Room Error Settlement
A male with a history of and a severe risk of developing bacterial endocarditis went to The University of Chicago Medical Center complaining of severe…
$1.5 Million Rare Jury Verdict For Tardive Dyskinesia-Related Medication Error
Our client, a 21-year-old man with autism, received the first reported Cook County verdict in at least 25 years involving a medication and its connection…
$32 Million Settlement For Quadruple Amputation Due To Delayed Diagnosis
We represented the mother of a Chicago girl who, at age 8, was taken to the hospital with a fever and pain in her right…
$19.4 Million Jury Award As “Routine Surgery” Leads To Negligence
Our client, a 60-year-old woman, went to the hospital for outpatient surgical removal of a benign ovarian cyst. During surgery, however, doctors punctured her bladder….
$15 Million Settlement In Birth Injury Diagnosis Delay
A boy was born brain damaged with chronic seizures and limited movement as the result of a physician’s alleged failure to act on numerous warning…
$12 Million Settlement For Delayed Diagnosis And Treatment Of Meningitis
Our client, who himself is an attorney handling personal injury and other civil litigation cases, was transported to the hospital’s emergency room complaining of a…
$5.5 Million Diagnosis Delay Settlement
A young boy suffered a permanent brain injury after a delay in diagnosing postoperative bleeding at the site of his surgery.
$5.25 Million For Cancer Misdiagnosis On Mother Of Three
A mother of three children under age seven made four doctor visits complaining of vaginal bleeding, but the physicians failed to timely diagnose cervical cancer….
$3.5 Million Medical Negligence Settlement In New Mother’s Death
Our client had a C-section delivery of her son at Advocate South Suburban Hospital. The surgery itself was uneventful with a normal blood loss, but…
A Delayed Cancer Diagnosis May Result In Wrongful Death
The earlier a cancer diagnosis can be made, the better. The majority of cancers demonstrate a response to chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery. Any delay in the diagnosis of cancer can rob a patient of treatment options and increase the potential for metastasis (spread) of cancer while shortening the lifespan of the patient.
Few firms surpass the ability of Wise Morrissey, LLC‘s lawyers to effectively challenge the “doubling time” legal doctrine often used to defend physicians in medical malpractice cases involving a delay in diagnosing cancer. We are well qualified to handle the complexities involving expert witnesses, discovery and other trial preparation. Our attorneys have the in-depth understanding of medical terminology to make a convincing malpractice case for our clients in cases such as:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
Legal Counsel For Illinois Patients And Their Families
We understand how difficult these cases are for our clients. You and your family will be treated with respect and care throughout the process. You can set up a free consultation by calling us in Chicago at 312-985-0930. Additionally, you may use our intake form to contact us.
Successes
$7 Million Cancer Death Settlement
A 31-year-old woman had a routine Pap smear in July 1992, which was read as normal. When a subsequent testing in 1995 showed she had…
$7.9 Million Jury Verdict In Cancer Misdiagnosis
An eight-year-old Glenview boy was rendered blind due to the negligence of his pediatrician. Although the pediatrician examined the retina of both eyes seven separate…
$5.25 Million For Cancer Misdiagnosis On Mother Of Three
A mother of three children under age seven made four doctor visits complaining of vaginal bleeding, but the physicians failed to timely diagnose cervical cancer….
$3.5 Million Cancer Misdiagnosis Settlement
Lab technicians failed to detect a woman’s cervical cancer after they read two annual Pap smears as normal. The cancer spread to her ovaries and…
$3.1 Million Settlement For Death From Misdiagnosis
In September 1994, a 37-year-old woman went to her physician for a routine mammogram. The test was suspicious, and her doctor recommended a biopsy. Afterward,…
$3 Million Settlement In Cancer Misdiagnosis Death
Doctors misread a young boy’s CT scans, which were indicative of a tumor. When the boy underwent a biopsy, he developed a bleed from the…
$3.4 Million For Surgical Error And Subsequent Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infection
Our client was diagnosed with gallbladder disease and went for surgery at Norwegian American Hospital for gallbladder removal. After complications from the surgery, the patient…
$1.85 Million Settlement For Cancer Misdiagnosis
A 43-year-old wife and mother of three minor children saw Dr. Samir Kumar at Nephrology Associates because she had been diagnosed with elevated protein levels…