Page 62 - May 2018 FOP Magazine

An article submitted by a Lodge 7 Magazine Sponsor
Sometimes you need a doctor — and then a lawyer
Police officers and emergency room doctors, nurses and staff interact in their work on a daily basis. Officers have great respect for the work
of these medical professionals, who in turn recognize that officers work at great risk on
Second, never leave a loved one alone in a hospital, and don’t let yourself be left alone there. As best you can, keep notes on the names of all doctors who attend to the patient, all medications and dosages given, any procedures and tests performed. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when something doesn’t seem right, and opt for a second opinion before committing to a course of treatment. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and patients need an advocate to be present and watch everything that
goes on.
Finally, if a medical professional’s negligence or careless-
ness has caused you injury or led to the death of a loved one, you have two years from the date of the incident to seek legal assis- tance to investigate your case. Evaluations are always free, and you don’t pay anything unless your claim is successful.
In a perfect world, we would all receive excellent medical care, but unfortunately that is not the case. The next best thing is to arm yourself with information and, if necessary, seek the coun- sel of a skilled attorney who understands the unique needs and concerns of police officers. d
Ted McNabola represents victims of personal injury, medical mal- practice and wrongful death and has been named one of the Top 100 consumer attorneys in Illinois by Law and Politics Magazine.
a daily basis to keep people safe. As a re- sult, when an officer shows up in the emer- gency room as a patient, he or she almost always gets excellent care.
LEGAL
Commentary
TED McNABOLA
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said
for other types of medical care. In my career as an attorney, I’ve been hired by many officers or families
of officers at the most difficult time of their lives: when a doctor’s shocking departure from the standard of care caused injury or death.
There was the case of an officer who went to his physician complaining of fatigue, malaise, fevers and weight loss over many months. This physician failed to investigate the potential causes of these symptoms. Soon, the officer presented at the ER dying of endocarditis, an infection in the lining of the heart. By then it was too late to help him, and he died, leaving behind a young son. Three years of litigation resolved this case favorably for the officer’s family, but nothing can replace a father’s pres- ence in his child’s life.
Sometimes, as above, malpractice happens when a doctor fails to act. But it also can occur in cases where doctors opt for invasive procedures and expose patients to unnecessary risks. That’s what happened to the mother of one officer.
A radiology study revealed a cyst on this woman’s kidney. The next appropriate action would have been additional studies to determine whether the cyst was cancerous before committing to a course of treatment. Instead, this woman’s physician went straight to invasive surgery. During the procedure, the physician perforated an adjacent organ. This led to a second surgery and ultimately the death of the officer’s mother. We were proud to represent the woman’s family in this case and resolve it favor- ably, but of course they would rather have had their mother back.
Unfortunately, even minor procedures can go wrong and cause lasting consequences. In a recent case, an ophthalmolo- gist made an error during an officer’s LASIK surgery to correct his vision. This caused minor vision loss in one of his eyes. Many people’s lives would have been relatively unchanged by this, but officers depend on their vision every day on the job and must be able to pass the firearms qualification in order to be cleared for duty. This officer could not return to his previous assignment. I am glad to say we were able to deliver a successful verdict, in- cluding compensation for lost wages. But his life has been forev- er changed by the doctor’s negligence.
Medical malpractice happens all the time. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of protecting yourself and your loved ones from harm.
First, make certain that you choose the right doctor. This can feel like a hard thing to determine, but do your homework to find a doctor with a great track record who is affiliated with a teach- ing institution, such as Rush University Medical Center, Univer- sity of Chicago Hospitals or Northwestern Memorial Hospital. These institutions select some of the best doctors in the world, and the quality of care will be higher.
62 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2018