Illinois residents may be interested in a medical malpractice claim currently underway in another state. Reports indicated that the mother of a 1-year-old child is hoping to have medical providers held accountable for the failure to diagnose an issue with her son. She apparently took the child to the doctor when he was 8 months old due to having a fever and rash. The doctors cited a viral infection and did not carry out further tests though the mother requested them.
The woman took her son to the doctors for at least five additional visits due to worsening symptoms, but she apparently did not receive a different diagnosis. She later took her son to a different medical facility, and an X-ray taken showed that the child had a penny lodged in his esophagus. The penny was removed from his throat, and it was estimated that it had been there for approximately three weeks. This issue was reportedly the cause of the child’s other medical problems.
It has been four months since the penny was removed, and the child is now well. However, the mother is seeking to have medical bills and lost wages compensated by the parties who did not properly diagnose her son. An original claim was denied by the health care provider, but the medical board is intending to open a case.
The failure to diagnose a problem with any patient can lead to negative outcomes, and when the patient is a child, parents may become overwhelmed with worry. If Illinois residents have faced such circumstances and suffered losses due to medical negligence, they may wish to consider filing legal claims of their own. Discussing their options with experienced attorneys may be a prudent step.
Source: ktla.com, “Long Beach Mother Claims Malpractice After Providers Ignored Symptoms of 8-Month-Old Boy With Penny Stuck in Esophagus“, Cindy Von Quednow and Kimberly Cheng, Nov. 17, 2016