Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

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The Illinois Civil Liabilities Wrongful Death Act (740 ILCS 180/) defines wrongful death as a person’s untimely demise due to other people’s negligence or wrongful actions. The state also considers it wrongful death if the deceased (or decedent) could have filed for personal injury claims if they survived. But since they can no longer defend their right to claim compensatory damages, other people can have the right to file a lawsuit on their behalf. 

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Chicago?

Illinois law allows the immediate family and, potentially, other relatives of the decedent to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Although all states have their own set of laws on wrongful death claims, they all allow immediate family members to initiate a lawsuit. 

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The loss of a loved one is a devastating experience in and of itself. The pain becomes more significant, however, when the death was wrongful, untimely, and preventable had others been mindful of their actions or performed their duties diligently. 

But emotional distress is just one of the many problems surviving families of wrongful death victims experience. There are also funeral and burial expenses to contend with, plus the long-term impact on the family’s quality of life if the decedent provided important financial contributions to the family. Therefore, as the distressed party, the family is well within their rights to hire a wrongful death lawyer and file a lawsuit. 

If a beloved family member or relative dies as a result of another person’s negligence, hiring an experienced Chicago wrongful death lawyer should be a priority. Winning a wrongful death lawsuit will bring justice to your loved one’s death, secure financial compensation for your loss, and prevent the people responsible from committing the same mistakes and putting others in peril in the future. 

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Patients are increasingly turning to Ambulatory Surgical Centers (or ASCs) for surgical procedures performed outside of the traditional hospital setting. There are several benefits to ASCs. They are generally less expensive than hospital surgery’s, permit patients to go home the same day of surgery, and are often more luxurious than hospital. Today, 65% of all surgeries are now outpatient making ASCs a popular alternative to hospital surgeries. However, ASCs do have some drawbacks. One significant shortcoming to ASC is their ability to manage serious anesthesia errors and complications which are generally more dangerous outside of a hospital.

With virtually all same-day surgery procedures, the most significant risk is from the anesthesia. Although there are many forms of anesthesia, general anesthesia poses the greatest risk of serious injury or wrongful death. Indeed, most medical malpractice lawsuits stemming from anesthesia error involve general anesthesia. Common general anesthesia complications are from aspiration, changes in vital signs, and adverse reactions to anesthetic.

Regarding adverse anesthetic reactions, the most significant and potentially fatal condition that can develop is called malignant hyperthermia (or MH). This occurs when a patient’s body temperature rapidly increases and causes muscle rigidity. With proper management, many patients will experience a full recovery. Without proper management, patients can and do die from MH.

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