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The days and weeks after a loved one’s death can be extremely taxing. You may be unsure of how to proceed and which tasks take precedence. You need to ensure that specific steps, like planning the funeral, happen in a timely manner while navigating overwhelming grief.
If your loved one died in the hospital, you will follow a specific process for hospital deaths. This process may involve exploring the idea of a wrongful death claim if you suspect medical malpractice.
If you gave the hospital the name of a funeral home, the hospital may contact the funeral home on your behalf. But it doesn’t hurt to call your preferred funeral home as soon as possible to gain reassurance that it will take care of your next steps.
A funeral director will speak with the hospital about releasing your loved one’s body to the funeral home. From there, the funeral director will help you decide on burial services and funeral arrangements. The funeral home can also help with preparing the death certificate.
The notification process is often one of the hardest steps after a loved one’s death. You will probably want to directly notify family members, next of kin, and close friends. Don’t be afraid to split up the responsibility with other close family members.
Sharing news of your loved one’s death can be emotionally taxing. Give yourself time and space to complete this step however you are able to.
Hospital deaths are often expected, especially after a person has suffered from a known illness for a long time. But if your loved one’s death was unanticipated, you may have questions. If you have any suspicions about your loved one’s death you should inquire about the hospital’s policy for obtaining an autopsy. Often, an unexpected death in a hospital will qualify for the hospital to obtain an autopsy. If the hospital refuses to obtain an autopsy, consider obtaining a private autopsy before your loved one’s cremation or burial. Understand that a private autopsy may be expensive.
If possible, an autopsy should happen within 24 hours of the death. Depending on the circumstances surrounding their passing, it may be appropriate to consider the idea of filing a medical malpractice claim.
An autopsy is not a prerequisite for filing a wrongful death claim, but the results may help to support your claim and significantly help your case.
As soon as you can, request a copy of all of your loved one’s medical records relating to their cause of death. These can help you piece together how their death occurred and make an informed decision about pursuing a wrongful death claim.
Store the medical records in a safe place so you can access them when needed. You can also request a copy of all medical bills and other legal documentation to help calculate your damages.
Realizing that your loved one’s hospital death may have been preventable can be an incredibly difficult experience. Realizing that negligence or malpractice were involved could mean your loved one would otherwise still be alive.
As a result, taking the step to contact a wrongful death attorney can feel challenging. Understand that reaching out to an attorney doesn’t mean you have to move forward with a case. You can simply share your story with a compassionate legal professional, and they can help you understand how to proceed.
At Scartelli Olszewski P.C., our attorneys are well versed in the steps to take after hospital deaths to pursue compensation. If you believe your loved one’s death involved malpractice, contact us today at 570-346-2600 for a free consultation — we would be honored to hear your story.