Our Legal Blog

The bodies of transplant patients are under a great deal of stress. Their immune systems are often depressed, making them more susceptible to bacteria, mold, fungus and viruses. A transplant patient who contracts an infection while in a hospital here in Illinois or elsewhere in the country could be the victim of hospital negligence….

The issue of whether a fetus is a legal person if it is not able to live outside the womb is one that has been debated for a long time. This question most often surrounds the issue of abortion when it comes up in courts here in Illinois and around the country. However, that…

Matthew Ports was co-counsel for a recently settled a medical malpractice case on behalf of a 64-year-old woman who was negligently treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights back in May 2011.  On December 30, 2015, Judge James N. O’Hara approved the $5 million settlement agreement that was reached between the family,  three…

Fetal asphyxia is a condition in which a fetus has decreased oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and increased levels of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia). This can cause any number of serious birth injuries or even death. In Illinois and elsewhere, a failure to properly monitor a fetus in utero during the birth process can lead to this…

An Illinois man underwent surgery to have his gallbladder removed back in Sept. 2015. Afterward, it became clear to him that some surgical errors had occurred because he was in serious physical pain and required further medical treatment. Therefore, he filed a medical malpractice suit against the surgeon and others. The man claims that…

When Illinois residents go to the emergency room in pain, they most likely expect doctors to figure out what is causing it and recommend a course of treatment or procedure to rectify the problem. When a procedure is not done properly, a patient can suffer irreparable damage. Patients are entitled to receive a certain…

An out-of-state mother had a baby that was born two months premature. Even so, like many in Illinois, she was happy to be a mother. Unfortunately, her baby suffered a fractured skull and some bruising while in the care of the staff at the hospital where her daughter was born. She subsequently filed a…

Illinois readers may not be aware that the first organ transplant in the United States took place in 1954. Since that time, medical advancements have been made in this medical specialty, and now numerous organs can be transplanted. Thousands of lives are saved each year despite the risks involved in these complex surgical procedures….

Illinois readers may already be aware that bedsores are a serious issue for people who are bedridden, such as the elderly — especially after an injury. Mobility is important to prevent bed sores (also called pressure sores). If a patient is unable to move on his or her own, the nursing staff is often…

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…