Wrongful Death Due to Medical Malpractice: What the Claim Entails

Death is a natural phenomenon that everyone gets to experience eventually. People like to live a long and fulfilling life, sharing their highs and lows with everyone they love. But what happens if death finds someone because someone was careless?

Sounds infuriating, right?

This is why there are laws in place to punish the negligent. Personal injury law protects the rights of all those who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence. Medical malpractice is a part of personal injury law that aims to protect the rights of those who’ve suffered injustice at the hands of medical professionals.

But victims cannot handle medical malpractice cases on their own. They will need the assistance of experienced legal professionals, like the medical malpractice lawyers from Crandall & Pera Law to understand the complications and get you fair compensation.

When you talk about medical malpractice, the following cases are usually discussed:

• Misdiagnosis
• Delayed diagnosis
• Leaving a foreign object after a medical procedure
• Wrongly administering medication
• Injuries during childbirth
• Surgical errors
• Failure to warn the patient of potential risks
• Anesthesia errors

All these errors have the tendency to cause health conditions that can cause serious harm to the victim. In some cases, the victim may succumb to the health condition that was a result of the negligent action. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to medical negligence or another form of error, it’s important to meet with a lawyer who specializes in personal injury law. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether you have a valid claim, and help you seek justice and compensation for your losses.

So what do you do in such situations?

Medical Malpractice and Wrongful Death

A wrongful death case arises when an individual loses their life due to the negligence of another person. These are commonly seen in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents. For auto accidents, the survivors (near and dear ones of the deceased) will have to approach the court and prove the following:

1. The at-fault party owed a duty of care
2. The at-fault party breached the duty of care
3. The breach caused the accident
4. The accident cost the victim’s life

This is the norm for wrongful death in personal injury cases.

There are slight variations for this in a medical malpractice claim. As the burden of proof is on the survivors or the victim’s estate, they will be expected to prove that

1. The medical practitioner exhibited a standard of care that was lower than what was expected of them
2. The reduced standard of care worsened the victim’s health, leading to their death

Liable Parties

There may be more than one liable party in a wrongful death lawsuit. The following are the most common ones:

• The hospital
• A doctor
• A nurse
• A surgeon
• A medical staff member who offered assistance for treatment or surgery
• A pharmacist who misread the prescription

A nurse who administered the wrong or incorrect amount of medication

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.