Fatal Medical Negligence

When someone dies from natural causes the attending doctor will normally certify the death so that it can be officially registered.

Sometimes, however, there may be unusual or suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. In these cases, where the death is not natural, it will be reported to the Coroner, who will arrange for a post mortem.

If there are allegations of medical negligence then the Coroner will arrange for an independent Pathologist to carry out the post mortem. If this investigation shows that the death was due to natural causes then the Coroner will issue a Death Certificate and no further action will be taken. However, if the results are less clear then the Coroner will arrange for an inquest to be held publicly where the family of the deceased or their legal representative is given the opportunity to ask questions of the witnesses and make submissions to the Coroner.

Our medical negligence solicitors pursue claims for the families of patients who die following negligent medical treatment or because of the absence of appropriate treatment. We represent families at inquests into deaths following medical negligence or personal injury. We fight hard on behalf of the families for justice and to obtain answers.

Claiming compensation for a fatal injury to a loved one may not be a top priority for you as you grieve. However, receipt of a prompt payment from a fatal injury compensation claim may be vital for providing financial assistance during a difficult time, for example for taking care of a child who has lost a parent.

Our specialists can advise and assist with cases concerning:

• Death arising from surgical mistakes;
• Death arising from GP negligence;
• Death arising from medical mistakes;
• Death arising from Accident & Emergency negligence; and
• Death arising from negligent psychiatric and mental health care.

For further information please see Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Negligence Claims. We do not charge for dealing with initial enquiries even if we do not take the claim on. This way you can be safe in the knowledge that you can receive expert legal advice about your complaint without committing to any obligations regarding fees. If we consider that you have a claim which is likely to be successful then we can offer you a “no win no fee” agreement.

If you would like to discuss a potential claim for negligence resulting in a death please contact us on 01273 249200 for a free, no obligation discussion.