If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by medical malpractice, you may feel like you’re in no condition to make important decisions, but requesting an autopsy is an excellent plan. Wrongful death claims based on medical malpractice hinge on evidence, and some of the most important evidence in your case will likely come from the autopsy you request. Failing to have an autopsy performed means that any evidence you could have collected could be lost forever. If you have reason to believe that medical malpractice may have caused or hastened your loved one’s death, it’s time to discuss your concerns with an experienced Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, medical malpractice attorney.
The Goal of Your Claim
There is nothing you can do to right the immense wrong you’ve suffered or to bring your relative back. A successful medical malpractice claim, however, can provide you with the compensation you need on your journey forward toward healing. Medical malpractice claims are legally challenging and tend to focus on highly complex medical matters, which can make the information gathered in an autopsy invaluable.
Proving Medical Malpractice
Proving medical malpractice can be exceptionally difficult, and you’re going to need all the evidence available to you in order to make your case. Having the foresight to request an autopsy from the outset can make a serious difference in the outcome of your claim. To prove that negligence or inferior care on the part of a medical professional or medical facility caused your loved one to lose their life, you’ll need to demonstrate that each of the following elements applies:
- The medical professional owed your relative a duty of care, which is always true when a doctor/patient relationship is established. This duty of care is a responsibility to the patient’s health and well-being that is based on medical standards and the reasonable care that other medical professionals would have provided under similar circumstances.
- The medical professional failed to live up to the duty of care your loved one was owed, which means the medical professional did something that others in their field wouldn’t have under similar circumstances or didn’t do something that others in their field would have.
- Your loved one died as a direct result of the medical professional’s breached duty of care.
Time is of the Essence
When it comes to medical malpractice claims, you have only two years to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, which is referred to as the statute of limitations. When it comes to an event of this magnitude, this is not a lot of time, and evidence gathering should begin immediately. While you focus on recovering from your loss to the degree possible, look to your practiced medical malpractice attorney to build your strongest case.
An Experienced Harrisburg Medical Malpractice Attorney Is Standing By to Help
The dedicated medical malpractice attorneys at Marzella and Associates in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, have earned a solid reputation for fiercely defending the rights of clients in your difficult situation, and we are here for you, too. Your case is important to your family’s recovery, so please don’t delay contacting us online or calling us at 866-488-5461 and scheduling your free consultation today.