What is the difference between a medical malpractice claim and a wrongful death claim?
Medical malpractice and wrongful death claims are two distinct types of lawsuits. A medical malpractice claim is a claim against a medical professional for an alleged act of negligence or substandard care. This type of claim is meant to provide compensation to the victim who was injured or suffered a physical or mental hurt as a result of the alleged negligence. A wrongful death claim is a separate civil action that is filed by the family of a deceased person who was killed as a direct result of the negligence of another party. This type of claim is brought to provide compensation to the family of the deceased in light of their loss. Wrongful death claims can arise from a variety of causes, such as medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, and work-related incidents. The primary difference between these two types of claims is the focus of the action. While medical malpractice claims are focused on the injury caused to the plaintiff, wrongful death claims seek to provide compensation to the family of the deceased for the loss of their loved one. It is also important to note that a wrongful death claim may be brought even if the medical professional was not found to have been negligent, since the focus is on the death of the victim, rather than the quality of care.
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