An Illinois doctor is being disciplined by The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation nearly a decade after removing the wrong organ during surgery. CentralIllinoisProud.com reports that the independent surgeon of the Associated Surgical Group will pay a $2,500 fine for his mistake.
In December 2005, a woman underwent surgery to have a portion of her spleen extracted, but instead, the doctor removed the woman’s left kidney. In his postoperative report, the doctor called the organ a “kidney-shaped spleen,” but a pathologist discovered it was actually the woman’s kidney that was removed. In February 2013, the woman and the doctor reached a settlement of $2 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in Illinois keeps a record of malpractice lawsuits in a database, but simply filing a lawsuit in court does not register the complaint with the department. The Civil courts do not notify the Department to register a doctor as a defendant in a malpractice suit, which is potentially why the department did not discipline the doctor until recently.
It is important to do background checks and have clear communication with your physician before consenting to any medical procedure. The medical malpractice lawyers at Lopez McHugh are evaluating potential medical malpractice cases in Philadelphia as well as throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. If you suffered a significant injury or have suffered the death of a loved one because of a failed surgery, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or a prescription medication error, then you should contact a medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your legal options. There is no cost or obligation for the initial consultation and your information will be kept confidential. Contact Lopez McHugh, LLP today for a free case evaluation.
