Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Illinois
Insufficient intial treatment = additional treatment now
On Jan 30, 2006 I fell while snowboarding and broke my left radius in my arm. The brake known as a Collie's Fracture. I went to the ER near the resort I was at. There an ER Dr. put me out for a few minutes and set the bone back into place. He then put it in a splint and advised me to see a specialist when I returned home the next day. I did this and received a full arm cast on 1/31/06. I wore this cast for 6 weeks. After being removed my arm looked strange near the break and had very limited movement. I have been working with it since then and feel that something is not right. I have lost most range of motion in my wrist and have had no improvement for some time. My regular physician informed me that I may have to have it rebroken and have a pin placed in my wrist.
My question is whether either Dr. that has treated my arm is liable for my condition. I feel that if everything was done correctly, then I would have a working arm again. However, I am now faced with possibly an expensive procedure to rebreak my arm, insert a pin, have it recasted, etc.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Insufficient intial treatment = additional treatment now
Its possible that the treating doctor who set your arm may have been negligent in the treatment he provided to you at the emergency room. The question becomes on whether we acted in a way that was beyond the reasonable standard of care when he allegedly mistreated you. You may have an actions for medical malpractice. I would advise contacting an attorney. Feel free to contact me via email if you have any further questions or concerns.
Re: Insufficient intial treatment = additional treatment now
You may indeed have a cause of action against both doctors--the first one who may have set your arm wrong and the second one who failed to notice it in time.
However, the only way to find that out is to take a look at your entire medical record and have it evaluated by a specialist in order to find out whether anyone failed to follow the standard of care in the community in which they practice.
The first thing you should do is to gather around your entire medical chart (go to the hospitals and ask for a copy of your file) and bring it to my office or any attorney of your choosing.
I hope this helps,
Taradji law Offices