Medical malpractice is a form of carelessness and negligence. A doctor, dentist, nurse, hospital, or clinic commits medical malpractice when there is a deviation from the appropriate standard of care for treating a patient, and the patient suffers damages or dies as a result.
Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice
As per medical malpractice law in Illinois, a patient has two years from the date of when the patient knew of their injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. In no case can a patient bring a medical malpractice lawsuit forward more than four years from the date of alleged malpractice. If the victim is a minor, he or she has eight years to bring forward the lawsuit, as long as the case is filed before they reach the age of 22.
Common Examples of Medical Malpractice
Medical negligence can occur in a wide variety of ways. According to medical malpractice lawyers in Centralia, IL, here are a few examples of some common acts or failures to act:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of a condition.
- Performing the wrong surgery on the patient.
- Leaving surgical instruments inside of the patient.
- Childbirth errors including the misuse of a vacuum extractor.
- Anesthesia errors.
Medical malpractice involves complicated litigation. If you believe that you were the victim of medical negligence, contact Olson & Reeves, Attorneys at Law to arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation. One of the medical malpractice lawyers in Centralia, IL can answer your questions and advise you on any case that you might have.
