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What is the difference between wrongful death and medical malpractice?

There is perhaps nothing more jarring than a loved one being wrongfully injured or killed. In the wake of this difficult time, you may be faced with an overwhelming array of legal options. In some cases, both medical malpractice as well as wrongful death lawsuits can be applicable to your situation. The circumstances of the injury or death unique to each case will determine the course of action. With the help of your personal injury attorney, you can make the decisions that are best for you and your family.

That’s why it can be crucial to understand the difference between medical malpractice and wrongful death. Read on to learn these important distinctions:

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is any behavior by a doctor, nurse, or medical professional that falls below acceptable standards of professional medical care. This can include misdiagnosis, mistakes in administering medication, surgical errors, or medical errors during pregnancy and childbirth that result in the harm of a child. In egregious cases, medical malpractice can result in injury or death to a patient.

What is wrongful death?

If someone has been killed due to the negligence or intentional acts of another person, this is considered a wrongful death case. The deceased’s family can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the party who was allegedly responsible for the death. Some of the events that can prompt a wrongful death suit include car accidents, homicide, police killings, industrial accidents, and medical malpractice.

A wrongful death suit is a type of civil lawsuit that sometimes follows criminal charges by the state. Sometimes, if a prosecutor declines to indict a suspect, the family’s best recourse may be a wrongful death suit.

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to medical malpractice or wrongful death, you do have legal options. You can contact Engel Law Group, P.C. to discuss medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuits.

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