Medical procedures and tests, though often necessary, are almost always uncomfortable and inconvenient, not to mention costly in terms of both money and time. Imagine, then, undergoing a procedure on the advice of a Massachusetts physician, only to find out later that said procedure not only caused significant physical harm, but wasn’t actually necessary in the first place? In another state, this alleged case of doctor error is apparently exactly what occurred.
A woman is suing a physician and several health care facilities for their alleged negligence. According to the medical malpractice complaint filed last month, the woman suffered numerous bodily and nervous system injuries as a result of a procedure known as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP involves the insertion of an endoscope to examine a patient’s bile ducts.
In regards to her ERCP, the plaintiff accuses the defendants of negligence, as she claims they failed to properly interpret her lab results. Had they done so correctly, the complaint alleges, they would have realized that the invasive procedure was unnecessary, and she would have been spared the extensive undisclosed injuries that resulted. In addition to the doctor, the other defendants in the case are listed as Lakeshore Gastroenterology and Liver Disease Institute S.C. and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
The plaintiff requests judgment in excess of $50,000 plus all legal fees. The monetary damages awarded in successfully litigated medical malpractice lawsuits are sometimes the best — if not the only — means of funding the often-costly medical treatments typically necessary to address any resulting injuries. In cases of negligence or doctor error in Massachusetts, the counsel and support of an experienced malpractice attorney can prove crucial to a successful outcome.
Source: cookcountyrecord.com, “Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, others accused of medical negligence“, Louie Torres, Sept. 22, 2017