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The Role of Medical Malpractice In Health Care Reform
August 24, 2009
Topic: National Medical Malpractice News

Last week, we read this article out of the Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, IN), and it prompted us to think about the role of medical malpractice in health care reform.

Each year, for decades, people speaking for the insurance and medical industry interests have sought to force changes to our civil justice system, blaming medical malpractice cases for the rising costs of health care. These changes are called tort "reforms", but the changes do nothing to reduce the incidence of poor medical care, and instead, punish those people who have been injured by medical negligence by making it more and more difficult for those victims who have meritorious cases to obtain fair compensation for their injuries.

The truth is that the costs associated with the defense, and even the payment of malpractice case settlements and verdicts has had almost no impact on the cost or availability of health care. Of even greater significance is the fact that the cases which are brought represent just  the "tip of the iceberg" as far as the frequency and severity of the malpractice problem. In  a very recent study, in fact, only a fraction of those people who are injured through avoidable medical errors have been able to obtain compensation for their injuries.

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Significant settlement recently reached with physicians group and hospital in birth trauma case
July 31, 2008
Topic: Client Recovery

Lane & Lane recently reached a significant settlement for the parents of a 3-day old child that died due to complications during labor and delivery. Lane & Lane alleged that the nurse mid-wife and OB/GYN failed to appropriately recognize the signs of fetal distress and deliver the baby in a timely manner. There were also allegations against the hospital nurses for failure to appropriately prepare for resuscitation of the baby.

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Significant recovery for brain injured 81 y.o. woman involved in auto accident
July 31, 2008
Topic: Client Recovery

Lane & Lane recently reached a significant settlement on behalf of an 81 y.o. woman injured while riding as a passenger in a public transit van taking her to church. The woman's wheelchair was strapped in the van when the driver ran a red light and crashed into another car. She eventually developed a subdural hematoma that required surgery and a lengthy recovery.

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Settlement for rider in CTA Blue Line derailment case
June 17, 2008
Topic: Client Recovery

On June 11, 2008, Lane & Lane, LLC reached a settlement on behalf of a CTA Blue Line passenger that suffered smoke inhalation, lung damage and emotional trauma as a result of a train derailment on July 11, 2006. The parties reached the agreement last week during a pretrial conference with Cook County Judge Daniel Locallo.

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Settlement for man thrown from car in crash on Lake Shore Drive
June 09, 2008
Topic: Client Recovery

Lane & Lane, LLC recently obtained a settlement for a 21 year old man that was thrown from a car during an automobile accident on Lake Shore Drive. The young man suffered multiple personal injuries including a brain injury (hemorrhage). Lane & Lane was able to reach a settlement with the insurance company for the at-fault driver and the injured man's insurance company.

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