If a loved one dies in North Carolina due to suspected medical malpractice, an autopsy can confirm the cause of death and the circumstances that may have contributed to it. To back up your suspicions, you should obtain an autopsy from an independent pathologist. Here is why.
Why is an independent autopsy important?
If you’re contemplating a medical malpractice lawsuit after your loved one has passed, getting an independent evaluation from a private pathologist, coroner, or medical examiner may show different results than one performed at the medical facility where the patient died. An autopsy performed by a doctor at the hospital where the patient died has the potential for the coverup. County medical examiners only deter one the cause of death and whether it was natural or accidental and didn’t have any interest in digging deeper into why the death occurred.
Getting an independent autopsy can help you prove that the hospital or other medical facility committed malpractice and determine that the mistake was the cause of death. Without a private autopsy, proving medical malpractice can be difficult to prove if all you have to rely on is the medical examiner’s or hospital’s findings.
Wrongful death claims can receive compensation
Some people may hesitate about pursuing medical malpractice after their loved one has died because of religious or moral concerns regarding autopsies. However, if you can prove a wrongful death claim, you may be entitled to compensation that can help pay for medical bills incurred by your loved one along with other expenses related to the death.
If your loved one’s untimely death has raised questions, you may want to consider an independent autopsy. Proving that medical malpractice led to your loved one’s death can lead to peace of mind instead of lifetime lingering doubts.
