Rockford, IL Medical Misdiagnosis Attorneys
Medical Injury Lawyers Represent Misdiagnosis Victims in Winnebago County
Misdiagnosis occurs at an alarming rate at hospitals in Illinois and throughout the country. According to a National Center for Policy Analysis study, an estimated 10% to 20% of all medical cases are misdiagnosed. CBS News reports that approximately 12 million Americans who seek outpatient medical care are not properly diagnosed, and in roughly 50% of these cases, the misdiagnosis has the potential to cause serious harm. If you or a loved one has been misdiagnosed at an Illinois hospital, you may have the right to compensation.
At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, we understand the extreme frustration and outrage you feel when you or someone close to you is misdiagnosed by a medical professional you trusted to deliver competent care. We have spent over two decades protecting the rights of misdiagnosis victims and fighting hard to hold those responsible for this type of medical malpractice fully accountable. Our attorneys have in-depth knowledge of this area of the law, and we work closely with victims and their families to provide the skilled advocacy and representation they deserve.
Case Result: $3.2 Million Verdict for Misdiagnosis of 43-Year-Old Woman with Skin Lesions
Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, represented a 43-year-old woman who developed skin lesions and was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer. The woman underwent a procedure to remove the lesions, but after the procedure, her condition worsened. Several months later, it was discovered that she had been misdiagnosed and actually had a deep fungal infection rather than skin cancer. Because of the misdiagnosis, the infection spread to her spinal column, and multiple surgeries had to be performed, resulting in a permanent disability.
Common Causes of Misdiagnosis in Illinois Hospitals
There are countless factors that can cause a health professional to misdiagnose a patient. Here are some of the more common ways this can occur:
- Misreading the symptoms and signs the patient is showing.
- Failure to perform the appropriate tests or screenings to confirm or rule out a certain health condition.
- Failure to correctly interpret the results of a screening, test, or procedure.
- Medication errors during the diagnostic process, leading to incorrect conclusions.
- Downplaying the urgency of the condition, causing a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
After a misdiagnosis, many patients suffer permanent injury or illness and never regain the quality of life they once enjoyed. Patients and their families end up suffering in numerous ways, such as extended hospital stays, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. In the more extreme cases, a missed diagnosis can lead to a wrongful death.
Speak with a Winnebago County Lawyer
Though misdiagnoses occur frequently, they can be difficult to prove. Doctors and hospitals may do everything possible to cover their tracks and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, we have a successful track record going up against even the most well-funded adversaries. We know what to look for in these types of cases, and we are able to quickly identify important (and often overlooked) pieces of evidence that can be crucial to the success of the case. We also work closely with top medical experts who can be called upon as expert witnesses to back up our findings.
If you or someone close to you has been a victim of misdiagnosis at an Illinois medical facility, contact us today at 815-215-7561 for a free, no-obligation consultation. We serve clients in Rockford, Winnebago County, Freeport, Belvidere, Winnebago, Loves Park, Byron, Rochelle, Oregon, Boone County, Stephenson County, Ogle County, and throughout Illinois.