The nation breathed a sigh of relief as the Senate passed its version of the health care reform bill before the holiday break, bringing sweeping changes one step closer to reality. Fortunately, for the sake of past and future victims of medical malpractice, the proposed national health care reform will not contain draconian “tort reform”… Read More
Reflecting Ten Years After Landmark Report on Medical Errors, ‘To Err is Human’
Ten years ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a ground-breaking report on medical errors, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, which triggered a dialogue among medical professionals and public interest groups now referred to as the “patient safety movement.” The report, published in 2000, found that nearly 100,000 people die each… Read More
Doctor Unqualified to Testify Against Nurse in Medical Malpractice Case
A recent Illinois appellate court case discusses the expert witness requirements in medical malpractice actions. The holding comes as no surprise to experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyers: a doctor is not considered qualified to testify concerning the “standard of care” of a nurse in a medical negligence action. In the case, Smith v. Pavlovich, M.D.,… Read More
