Can You File a Malpractice Suit Without an Autopsy?
If you had a loved one who was one of the approximately 250,000 Americans that die each year from a medical error, a malpractice lawsuit can provide some helpful compensation. Before you file, however, you might be wondering things like whether an autopsy is required and how you can arrange to have one done. Explore this guide to answer all your questions about how autopsies affect wrongful death lawsuits based upon medical malpractice.Are Autopsies Legally Required?
The most important thing to know is that autopsies are not a legal requirement for a wrongful death malpractice suit. In Pennsylvania, autopsies are only legally required in the event of rare issues like an unidentified body, so the state will likely not automatically step in and conduct an autopsy just because you file a malpractice suit. Not only do malpractice suits not trigger an autopsy, but there is also no legal requirement that you can only sue after an autopsy. Even if you don't have autopsy results, you are still legally allowed to sue someone else for medical malpractice.Why You Should Consider an Autopsy Anyway
An autopsy might not be a legal requirement, but it is still useful because it is a form of evidence. In most medical malpractice cases, an autopsy is the main way you prove your argument in court. Autopsies are important because they help to show exactly why the deceased passed away. This is very relevant because any Pennsylvania medical malpractice suit requires you to prove that the defendant's actions caused or contributed to the person's death.
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