Patient monitoring can be an essential component of quality care. While patient monitoring isn’t always necessary, when it is necessary, failure to monitor can constitute a clear form of medical negligence.
If a healthcare provider’s failure to monitor leads to an adverse health outcome that could (and should) have been prevented, this is a scenario in which a medical negligence claim may be warranted. When patients and families have medical negligence claims in Illinois, they can seek just compensation for all of the financial and non-financial consequences of the failure at issue.
At Coplan + Crane, we approach medical negligence cases with careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of what patients and families are going through when something goes wrong. We know that failures in patient monitoring can leave people confused, angry, and searching for answers. Our role is to investigate what happened, explain your options clearly, and pursue accountability when a healthcare provider’s mistake causes preventable harm.
Failure to monitor can constitute medical negligence under various circumstances. While every case is unique, some examples of circumstances in which failure to monitor can give rise to a medical negligence claim include:
While administering anesthesia is now routine practice in a wide range of healthcare settings, it can still present serious risks. As a result, when patients are under anesthesia, their healthcare providers must monitor for any signs that medical intervention may be necessary.
Regardless of whether a patient has been anesthetized, monitoring is critical during surgery as well. While sudden spikes in heart rate and drops in blood pressure can be clear signs of distress, healthcare providers must monitor for all signs of potential complications during surgical procedures.
Monitoring during labor and delivery is essential to protect the health of both the mother and the fetus. When umbilical cord issues, compromised oxygen flow, and other complications arise during childbirth, prompt intervention can be critical for avoiding life-altering (and, in some cases, life-threatening) complications.
Patients who are recovering from surgery, childbirth, and other serious medical events may need to be monitored for various health risks. What is necessary in terms of monitoring during recovery will vary from patient to patient, and determining what is necessary is a key component of quality care as well.
In general, if a hospital admits a patient for inpatient care, the hospital has a duty to monitor the patient until the patient is discharged. If a patient is left alone, unmonitored and unsupervised, this can present risks for both deterioration of the patient’s condition and sudden medical emergencies.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers may have an obligation to monitor patients in various other circumstances as well. This includes, but is not limited to, potentially high-risk circumstances such as:
Filing a medical negligence claim based on failure to monitor is similar to filing a claim based on any other form of medical malpractice. Patients and their families need evidence to support their claims, and they must take the necessary steps to assert their rights under Illinois law.
Patients and families must also have a clear understanding of the financial and non-financial damages they are entitled to recover. While every case is unique, these damages have the potential to be substantial. From medical bills to pain, suffering, and emotional trauma, adverse health outcomes caused by inadequate or ineffective monitoring can lead to a variety of significant and long-term consequences—and these are all consequences for which financial compensation may be available.
Our Chicago medical negligence attorneys represent patients and families in failure-to-monitor cases throughout Illinois. We understand the complexities of these difficult cases, and we have the experience, skill, and resources necessary to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one was harmed at the hands of a medical professional, we encourage you to reach out today.
Contact Coplan + Crane online or at (312) 982-0588 today for a FREE case evaluation. Our medical negligence lawyers serve clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
