DGAA bLAWg

People in the United States have access to the best doctors and medical facilities in the world, and we expect to receive quality medical care when we need it. Unfortunately, mistakes occur all too often, and negligence on the part of doctors, nurses, or other medical staff can result in serious, life-changing injuries. Medical malpractice can take many forms, but misdiagnosis is one of the most common medical mistakes, and also one of the most serious.

The Prevalence of Misdiagnosis

Errors in diagnosis can occur when doctors fail to diagnose a certain condition, make an incorrect diagnosis, or do not correctly diagnose a condition in time to properly treat it. These are the most common type of medical errors which occur in the United States, and they are also likely to result in a patient’s death or disability. In fact, studies have shown that between 80,000 and 160,000 people become permanently disabled every year because of misdiagnosis.

Misdiagnosis can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

- Failure to evaluate a patient - An incorrect diagnosis may result from a doctor failing to complete an appropriate evaluation of the factors affecting a patient’s health, including their family medical history.

- Lab errors - Misdiagnosis may occur due to errors made during testing, such as equipment that was not functioning properly, samples that were contaminated, reports that were mixed up, or a technician that failed to follow the proper testing procedures.

- Misread lab reports - A doctor may make an improper diagnosis if they ordered the wrong tests or misinterpreted the results.

- Overwork - Doctors with heavy workloads are more likely to misdiagnose patients, especially if they do not consult with specialists or other medical professionals when they are uncertain about a diagnosis.

Avoiding Misdiagnosis

Patients should be able to expect that their doctors will complete the proper tests and take all relevant information into account while making a diagnosis, but they can also take steps to educate themselves and avoid the risk of misdiagnosis. It is always a good idea to ask a doctor questions and make sure to understand their diagnosis and the benefits and drawbacks of the suggested treatments or medications. Patients may also choose to seek out a second opinion to make sure their conditions are diagnosed correctly.

While patients can do their best to protect their own health, they should be able to receive medical care without worrying about the possibility of their doctor making mistakes. If you or a family member have suffered an injury that occurred because of misdiagnosis or some other form of medical malpractice, Drost, Gilbert, Andrew & Apicella, LLC can help you understand your options for pursuing compensation for your damages. Contact a Crystal Lake personal injury attorney at 847-934-6000 to schedule a personalized consultation.

About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Sources:
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20180313/NEWS/180319965
http://healthland.time.com/2013/04/24/diagnostic-errors-are-more-common-and-harmful-for-patients/

When an individual is injured by a product, recovery of damages may be possible through a products liability claim. Under this type of claim, manufacturers, sellers, or other suppliers of products are held liable to consumers who are harmed by those products. And in some cases, product liability claims may fall under the theory of strict liability.

Defective Products

In order to recover under a products liability claim, the plaintiff must show that the product was dangerous or defective. Generally, the law requires that products meet the ordinary expectations of consumers. When a product defect exists, those expectations are not met. A defective product is one that, at the time of its sale or distribution, contains a manufacturing defect, is defective in its design, or that has a marketing defect.

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product is not made according to its intended design. A design defect occurs when the foreseeable risks of harm posed by the product could have been reduced or eliminated by the adoption of a reasonable alternative design. A product contains a marketing defect when it has inadequate instructions or warnings and the foreseeable risk of harm could be reduced by the inclusion of reasonable instructions or warnings. Additionally, the omission of such instructions or warnings must cause the product to be unreasonably dangerous.

Strict Liability

Pursuant to Illinois law, product liability claims are any action based on strict liability brought against the seller, manufacturer, or distributor of a product that causes personal injury. Under this type of claim, a defendant pays for harm caused by a product even though the defendant did not act intentionally or negligently. In other words, the defendant’s actions or behavior is not relevant to the determination of liability. Rather, for a strict liability claim, the plaintiff must show the following:

1. 1. The injury resulted from a condition or defect of the product manufactured or sold by the defendant;
2. 2. The condition or defect of the product was unreasonably dangerous; and
3. 3. The condition or defect existed at the time that the product left the control of the manufacturer.

Product liability claims are commonly brought against the manufacturer of a product, but they may also be brought against:

• - Manufacturers of component parts that go into a product;
• - Parties that assemble or install a product;
• - Wholesalers;
• - Retail stores that sell a defective product to a consumer; or
• - Under Illinois law, anyone involved in the placement of a product into the stream of commerce.

Under the statute of limitations, product liability claims must be brought within two years of the date on which the plaintiff knew, or should have known through the use of reasonable diligence, of the personal injury.

Product liability claims can provide compensation for victims, while also holding those involved in the production and sale of defective products accountable. For more information about product liability claims, contact a dedicated Illinois personal injury attorney today. Our firm provides representation throughout the northwest suburbs, in the communities of Crystal Lake, Schaumburg, Palatine, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, Buffalo Grove, Barrington, Arlington Heights, Inverness, and Deer Park.

About the Author: Attorney Ken Apicella is a founding partner of DGAA focusing in the areas of personal injury, employment, insurance coverage disputes, and civil litigation. Ken earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1999. He has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star and a Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch. Ken has written and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/073500050K13-213.htm

With the holiday season getting into full swing, many parents will soon comb the aisles of toy stores looking for the perfect children’s toys. However, parents should keep in mind that not all toys are safe for all children, and some purchases can result in serious harm to their child. Fortunately, the government and public interest groups make many toy safety resources available, so that parents can get some peace of mind by educating themselves about the dangers of unsafe toys.

Potential Toy Dangers

Children’s toys can present a wide variety of dangers, some obvious, others less so. For instance, sharp edges or points and choking hazards, such as small parts or strings, are common concerns for parents. The government even banned the use of small parts in toys for children under three years old. But, despite this attempt towards prevention, many toys with small parts still make it onto store shelves every year. Doctors recommend that parents take care around any toy with parts that can fit through a toilet paper roll. Additionally, parents should take extra care around small magnets, which often present choking hazards, but may not be regulated as strictly if they come in unusual shapes.

Unfortunately, parents cannot detect all toy dangers so easily. Some toys may contain unacceptably high levels of toxic chemicals that can harm children. Lead is a common hazardous chemical that still finds its way into children’s toys. Though the government attempts to limit the amount of lead in any toy to 100 parts per million (ppm), a report by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found one toy containing 29 times that amount of lead. Other toys could present noise hazards, which the government does not regulate as heavily. These toys, which produce sounds in excess of 85 decibels, can harm children’s ears and lead to hearing loss in some cases.

Safety Resources

Fortunately, many groups publish toy safety guides or lists of harmful toys, like the PIRG report above, that concerned parents can use to learn more about the dangers. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), puts out many of these guides, including some focusing on specific types of hazard or specific age groups. Additionally, the Illinois Attorney General’s office also publishes a safe shopping guide.

Legal Assistance

If your child sustained an injury playing with an unsafe toy, contact an experienced Arlington Heights personal injury attorney today. Our knowledge can you receive compensation for the injury of your child. We serve many northwest suburban areas including Crystal Lake, Palatine, Chicago, Inverness, and other nearby communities.