Kane County Medical Malpractice Attorney
Lawyer for Residents Injured by Doctor Errors and Hospital Mistakes in Aurora, Geneva and Sugar Grove
Some of the most trusted and best-known hospitals in the entire country are right here in Northern Illinois. Patients from across the globe come to greater Chicago to obtain world-class care at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and other medical facilities, as well as the physician specialists who work under area healthcare systems. In most cases, patients are successful in getting the care or treatment they need without unforeseen problems. Unfortunately, however, medical mistakes happen much more frequently than you might expect. Errors by doctors and other medical professionals, in fact, are now considered the third-leading cause of death in the United States, behind only cancer and heart disease.
At Ekker Law, P.C. / Steven B. Ekker, Esq., we respect and admire the dedication that medical professionals show their patients every day, and we appreciate how hard doctors and nurses work. However, we also recognize that when a negligent doctor or medical facility causes injury to a patient, the negligent party must be held accountable. In many cases, the only way to do so is by pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit.
What Is Medical Malpractice?
The practice of modern medicine is unbelievably complex, with countless variables that could affect each patient's case. With that in mind, our team understands that not every mistake made by a doctor, nurse, or hospital is considered to be malpractice. Medical malpractice, also known as medical professional negligence, occurs when a medical professional or facility fails to meet the prevailing standard of care. In Illinois, the prevailing standard of care is defined as "the same degree of knowledge, skill, and ability as an ordinary professional would exercise under similar circumstances."
In practice, this definition means that a specialist must provide a level of care that a patient would expect from an "ordinary" practitioner within the same specialty. For example, if an oncologist, or cancer specialist, missed a cancer diagnosis that an average oncologist would not have missed, medical malpractice may have occurred. By comparison, if most other oncologists would have missed the diagnosis as well and the diagnosis was eventually made by a world-renowned specialist after much more diagnostic testing, the missed diagnosis is not likely to be considered malpractice.
Elburn Lawyers Helping Injured Patients
Attorney Steve Ekker is a skilled medical malpractice lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in the practice of the law. He and his team are equipped to assist patients who have suffered injuries caused by:
- Doctor errors;
- Hospital errors;
- Missed diagnosis or delayed diagnosis;
- Primary care mistakes;
- Emergency department malpractice;
- Birth injuries;
- Surgery errors; and
- Medication and pharmacy errors.
At Ekker Law, P.C. / Steven B. Ekker, Esq., we realize that most doctors and medical facilities have been directed by their insurance carriers and lawyers to never acknowledge that a mistake happened or admit fault for an obvious error. Therefore, proving medical negligence is often very difficult. Our team understands that we will need to prove that you received care that failed to meet the prevailing standard, and we know what it takes to do that. We work with a large network of board-certified medical experts whose experience and knowledge will help us build your case. Mr. Ekker is a seasoned courtroom litigator who is not afraid to stand up to large healthcare systems, their insurance companies, and their attorneys. He and the rest of the team at our firm will work hard to ensure that your rights and best interests are fully protected, every step of the way.
