Heart disease is a major health concern here in Illinois and across the United States. If it is suspected that a patient is suffering from heart disease or some other heart condition, a medical evaluation will be done to determine how well the heart is functioning. One of the tests that may be performed is called a cardiac catheterization. If this procedure is not performed correctly due to doctor and/or hospital negligence, the patient could suffer serious injury or even death.
A cardiac catheterization entails inserting a catheter, which is a small tube, into a vein or artery to examine how well blood is flowing to and through the heart. Great care and precision is required to perform this test without harming the patient. Any mistake during this procedure could have dire consequences.
If the mistake is caught quickly enough, surgery may be required in order to repair the damage and save the patient’s life. Otherwise, the patient could die. If you suffered injury, or lost a loved one, due to this procedure, you will likely benefit by seeking the advice and assistance of an attorney as soon as possible.
Doctor and/or hospital negligence can lead to medical and long-term care expenses, lost income and emotional distress, along with other damages associated with serious injury. If you lost a loved one, funeral and burial costs can be expensive. A successful medical malpractice claim filed against the party or parties deemed responsible could result in an Illinois court awarding you monetary damages that could help with these financial burdens.