When doctors get it wrong, patients pay the price. Medical misdiagnosis affects millions of Americans each year, leading to preventable deaths, permanent disabilities, and devastating harm to families across Chicago and Illinois.
If you or a loved one suffered harm because of a missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnosis, you may have a medical malpractice claim. The skilled Chicago misdiagnosis attorneys at Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers work tirelessly to ensure negligent healthcare providers face consequences and secure the financial recovery you need.
Call us today at (312) 957-4166 for a free consultation with the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Willens & Baez. We will not charge you lawyer fees until we win your case.
The Serious Problem of Medical Misdiagnosis in America
Medical misdiagnosis is one of healthcare’s most dangerous problems. Research from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that approximately 795,000 Americans suffer death or permanent disability annually from diagnostic errors. This makes misdiagnosis the third leading cause of death in the United States.
The numbers are staggering:
- Johns Hopkins Medicine research shows 371,000 deaths annually result from misdiagnosis.
- The researchers also found that 424,000 people suffer permanent disabilities from diagnostic errors each year.
- In emergency departments alone, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates 7.4 million patients are misdiagnosed annually.
- Women and minorities face a 20% to 30% higher risk of misdiagnosis compared to white men, according to research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Types of Misdiagnosis Cases We Handle
At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, we have successfully represented clients in virtually every type of misdiagnosis case. Research shows that three categories of diseases account for 75% of all serious misdiagnosis-related harm, and these are what experts call “the Big Three”: cancers, vascular events, and infections. In addition to those, pregnancy complications and birth injuries are also commonly misdiagnosed, leading to harm to infants and mothers.
Cancer Misdiagnosis
Cancer misdiagnosis often proves fatal when early detection could have saved lives. Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers have secured significant recoveries for families affected by delayed or missed cancer diagnoses, including:
- $4,000,000 settlement for failure to diagnose lung cancer
- $3,100,000 verdict for failure to diagnose breast cancer.
Common cancer misdiagnosis cases include:
- Breast cancer missed on mammograms or physical exams
- Lung cancer overlooked on chest X-rays or CT scans
- Colorectal cancer attributed to other conditions
- Skin cancer dismissed as benign lesions
- Prostate cancer not properly screened.
Vascular Events
Strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots require immediate treatment. Misdiagnosis of vascular events leads to devastating consequences. Data from Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that 17.5% of stroke cases go undiagnosed, establishing stroke as the leading cause of severe misdiagnosis-related harm.
Willens & Baez handles cases involving:
- Stroke misdiagnosed as vertigo or migraine
- Heart attacks attributed to heartburn or anxiety
- Pulmonary embolism missed in emergency rooms
- Aortic dissection overlooked or delayed.
Infections
Serious infections like sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis can turn deadly without prompt treatment. A study published on the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 23% of patients who died in hospitals or were transferred to intensive care had missed or delayed diagnoses.
Common infection misdiagnosis cases include:
- Sepsis dismissed as flu symptoms
- Pneumonia undiagnosed in elderly patients
- Meningitis missed in children and young adults
- Appendicitis attributed to stomach upset.
Birth Injuries and Pregnancy Complications
Misdiagnosis during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can cause lifelong harm to mothers and babies. Willens & Baez have recovered millions for families affected by:
- Preeclampsia not properly monitored
- Fetal distress unrecognized during delivery
- Infections during pregnancy missed
- Genetic conditions not detected.
What Makes a Misdiagnosis Medical Malpractice?
Not every wrong diagnosis constitutes malpractice. To succeed in a Chicago misdiagnosis lawsuit, we must prove:
- Standard of care violation: The healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care that other reasonable doctors would provide under similar circumstances.
- Causation: The misdiagnosis directly caused harm that wouldn’t have occurred with proper diagnosis and treatment.
- Damages: You suffered actual harm, including physical injury, emotional distress, additional medical expenses, or death.
Common Causes of Misdiagnosis
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality identifies several factors that increase misdiagnosis risk:
- Nonspecific, mild, transient, or “atypical” symptoms
- Failure to order appropriate diagnostic tests
- Misinterpretation of test results
- Inadequate patient history taking
- Communication breakdowns between providers
- Time pressures in busy medical settings.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Misdiagnosis?
Multiple parties may bear responsibility for diagnostic errors, such as:
Individual healthcare providers:
- Primary care physicians
- Emergency room doctors
- Specialists and consultants
- Radiologists who misread scans
- Pathologists who misinterpret lab results.
Healthcare institutions:
- Hospitals and medical centers
- Urgent care clinics
- Laboratory companies
- Imaging centers.
Damages Available in Chicago Misdiagnosis Cases
Illinois law allows recovery of both economic and non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases. In contrast to numerous other states, Illinois does not impose limits on non-economic damages, frequently leading to greater compensation awards for victims.
Economic damages
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Ongoing care needs
Non-economic damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability and disfigurement.
Why Choose Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Misdiagnosis Case
Proven track record:
Our misdiagnosis case results speak for themselves. Willens & Baez’s successful recoveries include a $3.1 million verdict in a breast cancer misdiagnosis case and a $4 million settlement for lung cancer diagnostic failure, showcasing our capacity to deliver exceptional outcomes in challenging medical malpractice matters.
Medical expertise:
Led by head attorney Matthew Willen, our team has extensive experience handling sophisticated medical malpractice cases. We work with leading medical experts who help us understand complex diagnoses and prove how healthcare providers fell below acceptable standards.
Resources to win:
Medical malpractice cases require significant investment in expert witnesses, medical records review, and investigation. We have the financial resources and experience to take on major hospitals, insurance companies, and medical groups.
Zero initial fees:
Our misdiagnosis cases operate on a contingency fee structure. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Personalized attention:
While we’ve recovered millions for clients, we never forget that behind every case is a person or family whose life has been forever changed by medical negligence.
Time Limits for Chicago Misdiagnosis Lawsuits
Illinois law imposes strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Typically, you have two years from the date you became aware (or reasonably should have become aware) of the misdiagnosis to initiate legal action. However, this deadline can vary based on specific circumstances.
Don’t wait to seek legal help. Medical records can disappear, memories fade, and witnesses become unavailable. Early action also allows us to conduct thorough investigations while evidence is fresh.
Contact The Top-Rated Chicago Misdiagnosis Lawyers at Willens & Baez Today
Medical misdiagnosis can devastate families and forever change lives. If you believe you or a loved one was harmed by a missed, delayed, or incorrect diagnosis, our experienced Chicago misdiagnosis attorneys are here to help.
At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve built our reputation on achieving exceptional results for medical malpractice victims. Our $3.1 million breast cancer misdiagnosis verdict and $4 million lung cancer misdiagnosis settlement demonstrate our commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.
Contact us at (312) 957-4166 today to schedule your complimentary consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand whether you have grounds for a misdiagnosis lawsuit. Don’t let medical negligence go unpunished. Contact our top-rated Chicago misdiagnosis lawyers now.
