If you have experienced the devastating loss of a loved one due to a medical malpractice in a Muskegon, MI, healthcare facility, you need a compassionate and assertive legal team on your side. At Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, a Muskegon medical malpractice attorney can help you pursue justice in your loved one’s name for the tragedy you’ve all endured.
We know that this is an extremely difficult time for you and your family. That’s why our client-focused services aim to eliminate some of the stress that you are going through. Our firm can handle every aspect of the legal process involved in a fatal medical malpractice incident, from end to end. We are committed to offering quality legal guidance throughout every phase of legal proceedings.
Medical malpractice and wrongful death are two distinct legal terms. When both apply to the same case, it is a matter of unspeakable tragedy. This is why we do what we do. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, is committed to helping the grieving families of Muskegon navigate the overwhelming aftermath of such fatalities so that they have the resources they need to heal, rebuild, and focus on celebrating the life of their lost loved one.
To better understand these cases, it is critical to establish simple legal definitions of the two terms in the phrase “medical malpractice wrongful death.”
A medical malpractice incident occurs when a healthcare worker, such as a doctor or nurse, fails to provide the accepted standard of care required, and this directly results in harm to their patient. Such incidents can stem from negligence, oversight, or deliberately malicious acts. The focus when determining an incident as medical malpractice is the resulting injuries. In some cases, medical malpractice may, unfortunately, result in a patient’s death.
A wrongful death occurs whenever an individual loses their life as the direct result of the negligent, reckless, or deliberately malicious actions of some other party. Wrongful death incidents can take a broad array of different forms, from drunk driving crashes to liability cases involving unsafe property maintenance to tragic medical malpractice claims.
A medical malpractice wrongful death occurs when a medical facility or doctor fails in their duties in a way that costs a patient their life. These cases can take on a variety of different forms, such misdiagnosis, surgical errors and/or mismanagement, medication administration, etc.
Medical malpractice is not typically considered a crime in and of itself. Medical malpractice cases typically involve filing claims in civil court or the Court of Claims. A successful medical malpractice claim will result in the defendant paying for the plaintiff’s damages.
A medical malpractice wrongful death in Michigan occurs any time the negligence, substandard care, or erroneous action of a doctor (or other medical care professional) leads directly to the death of a patient in their care. These incidents can take a variety of forms, from medication overdoses to fatal mistakes in the operating room.
The personal representative of the victim’s estate can sue for wrongful death in Michigan. The personal representative is tasked with handling the business of opening and closing the decedent’s estate, such as paying off any outstanding debts. In the case of a wrongful death, they also have the right to bring a claim to court on behalf of the bereaved heirs.
At Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, we have a long-standing reputation throughout Muskegon, MI, and beyond for handling complex, sensitive, and high-stakes medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. If you need help with filing a claim in the aftermath of a fatal medical malpractice tragedy, please know that our team can help you get the process started with a confidential, compassionate, and pressure-free consultation. Please reach out today for help with your case.
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Ann Arbor, MI 48103
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