Gastroenterologists are trusted to detect and treat serious conditions of the digestive system, including colon cancer, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. When a gastroenterologist misses a diagnosis, performs a procedure negligently, or fails to act on warning signs, the consequences for you as a patient can be severe.
If you or a loved one suffered harm because of a gastroenterologist’s error in Chicago, you need a firm like Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys. Contact our Chicago gastroenterologist malpractice lawyers today at (312) 726-1616 for a free consultation.
How Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help After Gastroenterologist Malpractice in Chicago, IL
Gastroenterologist malpractice cases require an in-depth review of medical records, procedure notes, and pathology reports, along with testimony from qualified experts in gastroenterology.
Our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers have handled these cases before and know what it takes to prove them. No matter the issue, Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys has you covered.
When you choose us to represent you in your malpractice case, our team will:
- Obtain and review all relevant medical records
- Consult with qualified gastroenterology experts to evaluate the standard of care
- Identify where the care fell short and how it caused your injury
- Prepare the affidavit of merit required under Illinois law
- Handle all negotiations
- Take the case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached
With us on your side, you can move forward with confidence knowing your case is in the hands of a team committed to securing the compensation and justice you deserve. Reach out today for a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury lawyer.
Common Types of Gastroenterologist Malpractice
Gastroenterologists treat a wide range of serious digestive conditions, and malpractice can occur across all of them. The most common errors involve failures of diagnosis, procedure, and follow-up care.
Common forms of malpractice include:
- Failing to perform a colonoscopy in a patient with risk factors for cancer
- Missing polyps or tumors during a colonoscopy
- Perforating the colon during a procedure
- Failing to diagnose or properly manage conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease
- Misdiagnosing serious gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome
- Not communicating abnormal test results or biopsy findings
- Failing to recommend follow-up procedures after abnormal findings
- Delayed diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, or pancreatic conditions
These errors are not inevitable complications. They represent failures to meet the standard of care that a competent gastroenterologist in the same circumstances would have met. When those failures cause serious harm, our firm knows how to hold the responsible parties accountable.
What Injuries Can Result From These Errors?
The harm caused by gastroenterologist malpractice ranges widely depending on what was missed and for how long.
Common consequences include:
- Colorectal cancer diagnosed at an advanced, less treatable stage
- Peritonitis or sepsis following a colonoscopy perforation
- Unnecessary surgery or removal of portions of the colon
- Permanent digestive complications and disability
The gap between an early diagnosis and a late one can be the difference between full recovery and terminal illness. When a gastroenterologist’s negligence causes that gap, the patients and families who suffered the consequences have every right to seek compensation.
What Compensation Is Available?
Illinois medical malpractice law allows victims to seek two categories of damages. Economic damages cover your financial losses. Non-economic damages cover the personal impact of the injury.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- In-home nursing care
You may also be eligible for non-economic damages, such as:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Depression
- Reduced quality of life
Illinois does not cap damages in medical malpractice cases, meaning you can seek full and fair compensation for everything you have lost.
If the malpractice resulted in the death of a family member, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible providers.
How Long Do You Have to File?
Medical malpractice claims in Illinois must generally be filed within two years of the date you knew or should have known about the injury.
Given the procedural requirements unique to Illinois malpractice claims, don’t take the risk of waiting too long. Missing key dates and deadlines will likely end your ability to recover through the court system.
Contact Our Chicago Gastroenterologist Malpractice Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A missed diagnosis or a negligent procedure can change a patient’s life permanently. Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys has the experience, medical knowledge, and litigation record to pursue these claims effectively on your behalf. Call us today for a free consultation with a Chicago gastroenterologist malpractice attorney.
