Medical malpractice occurs when a care provider fails to meet the basic standard of care or makes a notable mistake they should not have. It happens more than most people think, and the results can be fatal.
In Cook County, victims of medical malpractice can take legal action against the care provider who hurt them by filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. The compensation they can receive helps with their recovery costs, including the right kind of medical care.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we help medical malpractice victims and their families take legal action across Chicago, from Rogers Park to Riverdale. Whether you are a victim of medical malpractice or lost a family member to it, consult with a lawyer to explore your options.
Legal Assistance for Medical Malpractice in Chicago
Medical malpractice cases are handled by personal injury lawyers with some specializing in medical malpractice.
To find a lawyer to help you with this case, look for a personal injury attorney with experience or specialization in medical malpractice or wrongful death cases involving medical causes. Experience in medical malpractice cases is essential since these cases can be long and complex.
Our Law Firm’s Resources
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers has previous experience with medical malpractice cases. We have helped our clients recover millions of dollars for the injuries they sustained due to improper care.
Wrongful death due to post-surgical complications
Brain injury and limb amputation due to surgical error
Wrongful death due to failure to diagnose heart attack
Maternal death due to failure to identify and treat hemorrhage
Failure to diagnose lung cancer over a two-year period
Wrongful death due to failure to monitor patient’s breathing
Our firm has the resources to take on medical malpractice cases. We help patients who have been hurt file medical malpractice cases against their healthcare providers and institutions. We also help families file nursing home abuse and wrongful death cases.
Here are some of the resources we have made available on our website to help with medical malpractice cases:
- What Are Typical Medical Malpractice Settlements?
- Medical Malpractice Statistics
- Illinois Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations
- How Long Does It Take to Settle a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
Medical Experts and Second Opinions
In cases where you need the insight of a medical practitioner but cannot trust your current one, you may need to seek a second opinion from a medical expert. You may even need a medical expert to testify at your trial. There is a process for obtaining a second opinion admissible in court.
Your second opinion must come from a third party not associated with your legal team. There are specific places you can go that are willing to review your case and offer an unbiased second opinion that is admissible in court.
Hospitals and Medical Centers Offering Second Opinions
To get a medical second opinion in Chicago, you can contact one of these businesses for assistance:
1. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
Services: University of Chicago Medicine provides medical services, including online medical second opinions. It specializes in diagnosing conditions from various medical specialties and can review your case to verify diagnoses or provide more information.
Address: 5841 S Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 1 (888) 824-0200
Website URL: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/patients-visitors/patient-information/second-opinions/remote-second-opinions
Hours of Operation: 7-10 business days for online results
2. NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE
Services: Northwestern Medicine offers medical assessments and provides guidance on methods of treatment aligned with your needs and preferences. You can get a second opinion by taking your case to one of the medical providers in a range of specialties.
Address: 251 E Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (844) 662-3883
Website URL: https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/second-opinion
3. RUSH MEDICINE
Services: Rush Medicine can provide case assessments for medical second opinions in various specialties and offers advanced medical testing for different specialty areas.
Address: 1620 W Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (888) 352-7874
Website URL: https://www.rush.edu/getting-second-opinion
Hours of Operation: N/A
4. CHICAGO NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE
Services: The Chicago Neuroscience Institute specializes in neurological and spinal assessments and second opinions. The institute can also redo testing with advanced tools to review diagnoses.
Address: 1795 Grandstand Place, Elgin, IL 60123
Phone: (847) 888-1811
Website URL: https://chicagoneuroscience.com/second-opinion
Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday by appointment
5. SECOND OPINIONS
Services: Second Opinions is an online service that connects patients with doctors who can provide second opinions about medical diagnoses. The service is available online and offers a quick turnaround time for case reviews.
Address: Online services only
Phone: (818) 707-1007
Website URL: https://www.secondopinionexpert.com
Hours of Operation: 24/7
Independent Medical Evaluators
Depending on your medical situation, you may need to be evaluated by an independent medical evaluator (IME). IMEs conduct secondary medical evaluations that can be used in court proceedings or other purposes. For example, insurance companies handling workers’ compensation cases may have you examined by an IME to verify your medical condition before releasing payouts. Here are a few options for finding an IME for your case.
1. UI HEALTH
Services: UI Health offers independent medical evaluations for worker’s compensation cases. It is an independent operation that can report to insurance companies, company HR departments, and oversight organizations.
Address: 1740 W Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (866) 600-2273
Website URL: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/occupational-environmental-medicine/services/independent-medical-evaluations
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINERS, LLC
Services: Independent Medical Examiners, LLC provides medical examinations for Social Security and other organizations. Medical exams are also provided as needed for insurance or worker’s compensation claims.
Address: 16 N Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 940-8839
Website URL: https://independentme.net
Hours of Operation: By appointment only
3. IPPFA – OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Services: IPPFA conducts evaluations for occupational or environmental health requirements for employment, insurance claims, and government investigations.
Address: 835 S Wolcott Avenue, Room E144, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 996-7420
Website URL: https://ippfa.org/services/medical-evaluations
Hours of Operation: By appointment
4. ILLINOIS BONE AND JOINT INSTITUTE
Services: The Illinois Bone and Joint Institute offers worker’s compensation evaluations for injury reports needed by insurance companies and company HR departments to comply with regulations.
Address: Multiple locations throughout Chicago
Phone: (877) 385-8755
Website URL: https://www.ibji.com/services/workers-comp-doctors
Hours of Operation: By appointment
5. CHICAGO DOT PHYSICALS
Services: Chicago DOT Physicals specializes in providing physicals and independent medical evaluations for the Department of Transportation.
Address: 5618 W 79th Street, Burbank, IL 60459
Phone: (708) 423-0004
Website URL: https://www.chicagodotphysicals.com/
Hours of Operation: Monday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday By appointment only
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Support Resources for Victims of Medical Malpractice
Victims of medical malpractice may feel especially traumatized and vulnerable after being injured by a doctor or healthcare practice. There are some emotional and psychological support resources available that may help.
1. NATIONAL MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION
Services: The National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association maintains support services for medical malpractice victims nationwide, including online support groups.
Address: 9119 Highway 6, Suite 230, Missouri City, TX 77459
Phone: (210) 549-7441
Website URL: https://www.nmmaa.org
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Counseling and Support Groups
Counseling and support groups can be invaluable. Counselors trained in trauma can help you start to process and move forward past what happened to you. In some cases, they can help you adjust to a new normal. Support groups allow you to learn about shared experiences and recovery strategies others have used in similar situations.
1. CITYSCAPE COUNSELING
Services: CityScape Counseling offers trauma counseling for victims of a range of trauma-inducing causes, including medical malpractice.
Address: 155 N Michigan Avenue, Suite #380, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (708) 628-7645
Website URL: https://www.cityscapecounseling.com/trauma-therapy
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. DEPTH COUNSELING
Services: Depth Counseling provides counseling for trauma victims using a trauma-focused therapy model.
Address: 122 S Michigan Avenue, Suite 1441, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 626-9248
Website URL: https://depthcounseling.org/trauma-therapy-chicago
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
3. BRIDGEPOINT PSYCHOLOGY CENTER
Services: Bridgepoint Psychology Center offers trauma-focused therapy to patients and other mental health professionals to make it easier to cope with and overcome the impact of previous trauma.
Address: 5547 N Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 201, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 349-2466
Website URL: https://www.bridgepointpsychology.com/trauma-therapy-in-chicago
4. PERSPECTIVE PSYCHOLOGY, PLLC
Services: Perspective Psychology, PLLC uses trauma therapy to help patients overcome past experiences impacting their daily lives. Their goal is to have patients learn to cope with trauma and build a new life that they can thrive in.
Address: 401 S La Salle Street, Suite 800H, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 588-9672
Website URL: https://perspectivepsychchicago.com/trauma-therapy
Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
5. BALANCED AWAKENING
Services: Balanced Awakening is a therapy office that provides therapy to address unresolved trauma. By addressing past trauma, patients can overcome it and rebuild their lives in a healthier way.
Address: 4043 N Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 301, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (312) 967-4669
Website URL: https://balancedawakening.com/trauma-therapy
Hours of Operation: Monday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Reporting Medical Malpractice in Chicago
If you are a victim of medical malpractice, you can report it to the appropriate government organization or accreditation agency, which varies depending on the situation and the types of practitioners involved.
Doing so will help build your case and possibly protect other patients from similar practices in the future. There is a process for reporting medical malpractice.
First, you should discuss your case with a medical malpractice lawyer. This gives you the best chance of handling a case in a way that helps you. Your lawyer can help you determine what to do, collect evidence, and even help you with the reporting process.
Then, it is a matter of filling out the paperwork with the right organization. There are several government organizations that you can report to with influence over medical professionals and organizations. Which one you report to depends on the specifics of your case. Your lawyer can advise you which one(s) to report to.
Reporting to Regulatory Bodies
Your lawyer will gather evidence and file a claim with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The forms for this are available online.
Depending on the circumstances, you may also file a claim with the Illinois Division of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). IDFPR oversees professional conduct and licensing for the state and can investigate possible malpractice and other problem behaviors from medical professionals.
1. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (IDPH)
Services: The IDPH oversees health-related issues and care providers in Illinois. All healthcare facilities must be licensed by the IDPH, which handles complaints and other issues reported by patients.
Address: 525 W Jefferson Street, Ground Floor, Springfield, IL 62761
Phone: (217) 524-8885
Website URL: http://www.idph.state.il.us/pdf/CCR_ComplaintForm.pdf
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. ILLINOIS DIVISION OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION (IDFPR)
Services: The IDFPR is the professional licensing organization for all professions, including medical personnel, in the state. It also handles disciplinary actions for complaints filed against any registered professional.
Address: 555 W Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: (888) 473-4858
Website URL: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/admin/complaints.html
Hours of Operation: N/A
Legal Reporting and Claims
You can legally file a claim of medical malpractice through several Illinois agencies. If you decide to file a lawsuit, you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit with the help of your lawyer. Medical malpractice falls under personal injury law, and you can file a claim against the doctor, other care providers, or the facility.
To do this, your lawyer starts by collecting evidence. Proving medical malpractice can be complex since it requires detailed records of events and the decisions your care provider made.
A skilled lawyer knows how to find the proper evidence within the medical system, including doctor reports, facility activity records, and other documentation about your care.
In some cases, you may need to get a medical second opinion to verify malpractice in court. Many facilities in the area can provide a second opinion on medical cases. The findings can be used in court to establish that your doctor deviated from the usual standard of care. This is crucial to winning your case and establishing that malpractice caused your injuries.
To prove malpractice, your lawyer needs to prove four things:
- Duty of care
- Violations of that duty of care
- Damages suffered
- Breaching duty of care caused damages
Put simply, your lawyer needs to prove your doctor or care facility failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that it caused your injuries. This is done by showing what the care provider did and why it was a deviation from the accepted standard of care.
Then, your lawyer can show evidence that your injuries are the result. Medical second opinions and reviews of your case are an excellent way to do this, although your lawyer may have other options.
Additional Information and Resources
One of the best ways to protect yourself against medical malpractice is to be more selective about your medical care provider. You can check if a care provider has been accused of medical malpractice by checking with the state to see if any claims were filed. However, this does not guarantee that everything will work out how you want it to.
The Illinois Division of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) keeps records associated with a doctor’s license. You can see if they have been accused of or sanctioned for medical malpractice. Alternatively, the Illinois Department of Health can tell you if a facility has been accused as well.
It is important to take steps to protect yourself from medical malpractice, especially in the United States, where medical errors are high.
Some reports show that medical malpractice may be the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. [1]. Unfortunately, this is difficult to verify since the same reports also believe that less than 10% of medical malpractice cases are reported.
Reporting medical malpractice can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. You were injured because of the decisions of a professional who should have been able to provide better care. You may be entitled to compensation, which can help you with the financial part of your recovery.
Report medical malpractice and have your lawyer file claims on your behalf so that you can get the compensation you deserve. Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757.
Resources: [1] NIH-NLM
