Black maternal mortality rates in the United States have long been a concern, and the state of Illinois is no exception. Black women face a significantly higher risk of maternal death compared to their white peers due to a variety of factors, including disparities in healthcare and systemic racial bias. Today, we will explore the prevalence of lackluster maternal care for black women in Illinois and explore the option of filing a wrongful death to seek justice in the wake of a childbirth-related death. A compassionate personal injury lawyer is ready to assist you as you navigate this difficult time for you and your family. 

The Prevalence of Lackluster Maternal Care for Black Women in Illinois

Black maternal maternity rates in Illinois are distressingly high. According to a recent study by the Illinois Department of Health, the maternal mortality rate for black women in the state is approximately three times higher than that of white women. This alarming disparity points to systemic issues within the healthcare system, including barriers to access, racial bias, and inadequate prenatal and postpartum care.

Factors contributing to this disparity include:

 Medical malpractice occurs when medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, dentists, or surgeons, knowingly or through negligence, fail to meet the medical standard of care and this failure leads to a patient's injury. Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis occur when a medical practitioner fails to accurately diagnose a patient’s condition. In certain situations, failure to diagnose a patient's condition may lead to a medical malpractice claim. If you suffered from the results of a misdiagnosis, contact a medical malpractice attorney to see whether you are eligible for compensation. 

What You Need to Know About Missed Diagnosis in Relation to Medical Malpractice

Missed diagnosis is one of the substantial cases a medical malpractice claim may hang upon. It occurs when a physician misdiagnoses or overlooks a disease or condition that they should have diagnosed, and as a result, the patient suffers adverse effects. A missed diagnosis can be detrimental to the health and well-being of the patient and can result in severe consequences for doctors and medical professionals, including legal liabilities. 

Reasons for Missed Diagnosis 

There are various reasons why missed diagnoses occur, including:

When people visit a doctor or go to the hospital, it is usually because they are experiencing pain and discomfort, weight loss, or other symptoms. They expect to receive competent and quality care, which includes finding answers regarding their problems. Learning how to properly treat a person’s ailments is crucial to their long-term health. A correct diagnosis must be given in order to know what treatments or medication are necessary to cure or fix certain conditions. Unfortunately, doctors do not always make correct diagnoses, and in some situations, a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. Depending on the circumstances, a patient may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim to receive compensation for the damages suffered due to a misdiagnosis. 

Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is one of the most common forms of medical negligence. It occurs when a medical professional diagnoses a patient with the wrong illness, injury, or medical condition. A patient’s health can deteriorate due to a lack of treatment or improper treatment. In some situations, patients can develop entirely new health disorders if they are prescribed incorrect medications. Treating the wrong condition can also lead infections to spread throughout the body, which may result in organ failure or septic shock. 

Missed Diagnosis

When a missed or delayed diagnosis occurs, it typically means that a physician fails to properly diagnose a medical condition in a patient. In many illnesses, the timing of treatment is critical. A person’s health can then worsen over time if they do not receive treatment because their condition has gone undiagnosed. For instance, a delayed cancer diagnosis may cause cancer in one part of the body to spread to other body parts or organs, making it much more difficult to treat.

Many people take prescribed medication on a daily basis for a variety of health conditions. Individuals may also take medicine for a designated period of time after an illness or surgical procedure to combat the side effects or to avoid infections and other complications. Dosages are calculated using many factors, such as a patient’s height, weight, age, and underlying medical conditions. However, if the incorrect amount or the wrong type of medicine is given, a person can suffer serious injuries. In these cases, a physician, nurse, or pharmacist may be found liable for any damages a person experienced because of a medication error or other forms of medical malpractice. 

How Do Medication Mistakes Occur?

There are several reasons why medication errors take place. They may be the result of a lapse in judgment by the caregiver, or they can be due to an understaffed medical facility. Poor healthcare provider/patient communication, incomplete or missing medical records, and the absence of standardized precautions can also contribute to the likelihood of errors. It is important to note that a majority of medication administration errors occur in hospitalized children. This may be due to the fact that young people have never taken certain medicines before, so it can be difficult to determine an accurate dosage or prescription to give them. 

A few of the most common types of medication errors involve the following: