Our Legal Blog

Some Illinois families already know that cystic fibrosis is a condition that attacks the digestive system and lungs. It is an inherited condition that can be life-threatening. If some parents knew ahead of time that they were carriers of the disease, they might choose not to have children who could end up with the…

Have mistakes by medical personnel become so pervasive that they are considered to be commonplace? Several articles have been written advising patients to take certain steps to limit the probability that they will be the victims of serious or fatal hospital errors. An Illinois resident can do — or should be required to do…

For too many Illinois couples, the joy of childbirth suddenly becomes a nightmare. Delivery mistakes can put the lives of the mother, the child or both in jeopardy. When the birth of a child goes wrong, parents are often left with questions, injuries and an uncertain future. It could take some time to determine…

Every industry has its own set of policies and procedures that are designed to maintain safety. They dictate how and when certain actions are to be taken and what safety measures need to be in place prior to any movement being made. In the medical field, these protocols are in place in order to…

Far too many patients around the country, including many here in Illinois, have been victims of mistakes made while under the care of medical professionals in the operating room. Surgical errors are a pervasive problem at hospitals throughout the country. One hospital on the West Coast is taking steps to make surgical procedures as…

EHR stands for electronic health record. The system is used in at least 93 percent of the medical facilities in the country — including many here in Illinois — under the pretext that it will reduce the number of hospital errors that occur due to lack of communication and availability of medical records. However,…

Keyless cars sure seem convenient, but are they really safe? Push-button ignition systems with so-called “smart keys” (or key fob) let you start your car with little or no effort. Great, but…  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and automakers are well aware that keyless car ignitions pose the risk of serious injuries…

Many people here in Illinois and elsewhere who file medical malpractice claims expect that the medical personnel and facilities where the mistakes occurred will change their policies and procedures to ensure that the same thing does not happen to someone else. Few people would go as far as one man has in order to…

With the amount of medical malpractice claims that are filed across the country, including many here in Illinois, researchers are attempting to identify the problem areas. A recent study revealed that surgical mistakes happen in nearly half of all procedures, but the surgical mistakes are not coming from surgeons. The anesthesiologists, resident physicians and…

Matthew D. Ports of Pfaff, Gill & Ports, Ltd. recently negotiated a $1.8 million settlement for the wrongful death of a newborn, survived by his loving mother and father. We claimed that the delivering physician and the nurses failed to identify the baby’s deteriorating condition as could be seen on the fetal monitoring strips….