Substance abuse is a growing epidemic in the United States. Despite a growing recognition of the problem as a disease, few people get the treatment that they really need to recover. In fact, of the 23.5 million people suffering from alcohol or drug abuse problems, only about 10 percent actually receive treatment. Of this small percentage, even fewer get proper treatment that actually resolves the core problems of addiction.
When a substance abuse patient relapses after getting substance abuse treatment, we are prone to blame the victim or the situation. However, in some cases, a relapse may be due to negligent treatment for substance abuse. According to a study published by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, many addiction treatment programs use outdated or even completely unscientific methods to treat patients. These methods employed by centers could be negligent treatment, or in some of the worst cases, actually dangerous to the patients.
The study revealed that most addiction treatment providers are not actually certified medical professionals or are not even equipped with the knowledge, skills or credentials needed to provide the full range of evidence-based treatments ranging from providing medication to conducting psychosocial therapy. The authors of the study suggested insufficient care at these facilities is a form of medical malpractice.
In cases where the negligent treatment of patients by using outdated and ineffective treatments that do not live up to industry standards leads to patient harm, patients may be able to recover damages through a Chicago medical malpractice lawsuit. While of course any dangerous practices that cause physical injury qualify as negligent, some relapse cases may be attributed to negligence as well. Although whether or not an addiction relapse can be considered as a result of malpractice depends heavily on the details of a particular case, recent research suggests that negligent treatment at substance abuse treatment centers is much more common than most people realize.
If you or someone that you love has been a part of an ineffective treatment program that provided negligent care, you may have a legal claim to recover compensation for your damages. In order to determine whether or not your particular case has standing, it can be helpful to discuss your specific circumstances with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. today at (312) 236-2900 for a free consultation on your Chicago medical malpractice case.
When you’re fighting for maximum compensation, we know what it takes to get it.
