An autopsy is the internal and external examination of the body used to determine the cause of fatality. An autopsy is comprehensive, involving surgical procedures, laboratory analysis, and the assessment of medical records. A completed autopsy includes the medical examiner’s findings, photos of the deceased, and a fatality certificate. To prove medical malpractice in the passing of a loved one, an autopsy may be necessary.
Determining an exact cause of fatality is the first step in a medical malpractice case. After, it is crucial to provide conclusive evidence that a medical professional’s negligence resulted in your loved one’s passing. If the hospital refuses to perform an autopsy on your deceased family member, they may be hiding potentially damaging information.
Once a standard procedure for every patient that suffered fatality in a hospital, autopsies are currently only performed on 5 percent of deceased patients because hospitals are wary of details about the cause of fatality, suggesting carelessness or medical malpractice.
What to do when a loved one passes away in a hospital
Even if you feel your loved one received good medical care up until their passing, it is wise to request an autopsy. Autopsies should be performed within 24 hours of the fatality. Autopsies should be conducted prior to the embalming process, which can interfere with blood tests and toxicology results. If the hospital refuses to comply, they may be hiding information. At that time, is important to contact an experienced Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer for guidance.
Since decomposition presents challenges to gathering important information about a patient’s condition and passing, it is crucial that an autopsy be ordered immediately after a patient passes. If an autopsy is not ordered for a deceased patient, it may be assumed that the family had no concerns about the possibility of doctor error or medical malpractice, which may impact a future lawsuit.
How autopsy evidence is used in court
In many states, autopsy results are considered as hearsay in court as both the plaintiff and the defendant can dispute autopsy findings. However, when autopsy results are supported by expert and witness testimony, photographs, and other physical evidence, medical malpractice cases are more likely to succeed. Even in cases where jurors suspected negligence, medical malpractice cases fail without sufficient evidence. Autopsies are considered the definitive standard for determining how a person passed.
Cherry Hill Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Folkman Law Offices, P.C. Advocate for Victims of Medical Negligence
If a loved one has passed away in a hospital unexpectedly or under suspicious circumstances, it is important that you seek the counsel of a Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible. An autopsy may provide crucial details about your family member’s passing if poor medical care was to blame.
The Cherry Hill medical malpractice lawyers at Folkman Law Offices, P.C. are experienced in handling complex cases of medical malpractice in New Jersey. Call our Cherry Hill, New Jersey office at 856-354-9444 or contact us online to schedule a free evaluation of your case. Folkman Law also has locations in King of Prussia, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
