New research has found that colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer are now the leading three health conditions that are most commonly missed by physicians. This stands to be extremely detrimental for cancer patients. Often, when cancer is not quickly caught it spreads throughout the body. Early detection is still the key to saving lives but unfortunately, 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed every year. These medical errors result in various health complications and in some cases death. If you or a loved one has been misdiagnosed you could have a medical malpractice lawsuit on your hands.

Misdiagnosis Pitfalls

It can be difficult for physicians to diagnose complicated health conditions and we acknowledge that not every missed diagnosis can be considered a medical malpractice claim. However, new research found at least 21 pitfalls when it comes to making the right diagnosis. These are some of the top reasons why a diagnosis can be delayed or incorrectly made:

• Mistaking one disease for another

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Most people are nervous before a surgical procedure, and this anxiety is understandable. While many surgeries are performed successfully, medical mistakes do sometimes occur. One such mistake has been making national headlines because the error is so egregious, it is almost unbelievable.

A 55-year-old woman underwent surgery in June 2021 to have one of her kidneys removed. When pathologists examined the removed organ, they were shocked to discover that the organ was not a kidney. Surgeons had removed the woman’s spleen instead of her kidney by accident.

It is important for victims of a surgical error to know their rights. You may be able to hold the negligent medical provider accountable and recover financial compensation for your damages.

Few things in life are as tragic and heart wrenching as the death of a newborn baby. If you or a loved one suffered the death of an infant recently, you may be evaluating your options. When an infant’s death is caused or contributed to by medical negligence, the parents may be able to sue the doctor, nurse, or medical facility that caused the untimely death.

Liability for a Baby’s Death

Sometimes, the death of a newborn is unavoidable. The baby may have been born with a genetic condition or another health ailment that made him or her unable to survive outside the womb. However, some infant deaths are directly caused by negligent medical care.

Wrongful death of an infant may be caused by:

Using special medication, general anesthesia puts a patient into an unconscious state and allows them to avoid pain and physical movement. While Illinois anesthesiologists are carefully trained to administer anesthesia and monitor a patient’s heart rate and other vital signs during treatment, even relatively minor surgeries can be dangerous when they involve the use of general anesthesia. Most of the time, general anesthesia is used safely, even for high-risk populations; but when an anesthesiologist acts negligently or carelessly, patients can suffer serious injury and even wrongful death. 

Are Certain Patients at Great Risk of Anesthesia Complications? 

Not every injury and death that occurs during the use of general anesthesia can be attributed to medical malpractice. Certain health conditions, habits, and medical histories can place patients at higher risk of adverse events during anesthesia, including: 

• Obesity

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Most people find the prospect of getting major surgery frightening enough even in the best of circumstances. Between the anesthesia, the complexity of the surgery, and the process of recovery, there is good reason to be apprehensive about the risks involved. One odd but particularly dangerous risk is that of an Illinois surgeon who leaves a foreign object inside of a body during surgery. While most surgeons adhere to the standard of care and this does not often happen, when it does, it can have severe and life-threatening implications for the patient. If you have gotten surgery in Illinois and a negligent surgeon has left a surgical tool, sponge, or other items in your body, you may want to take legal action through a medical malpractice lawsuit. 

What is a Never Event? 

An item left inside a human body during surgery is often referred to as a “never event.” A never event is a mistake that is completely preventable by following proper care protocol and that, therefore, should never happen. Yet one study found that foreign objects are left inside bodies nearly 40 times a week in the U.S. When objects are left inside the body, they must first be detected - nearly always after a patient complains of severe pain and is subject to repeated testing - and the removal itself requires more surgery, along with its inherent risks. Common patient complaints include: 

• Vomiting or coughing up blood

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