When a loved one passes away, the family trusts that medical professionals will accurately document the circumstances surrounding their death. However, death certificate errors and medical mistakes on a death certificate occur more frequently than many realize. In some cases, they may potentially conceal medical negligence that contributed to the loss. These inaccuracies can prevent families from understanding what truly happened and may obstruct their ability to seek justice through wrongful death claims.
Death certificate wrong information often stems from hasty completion of autopsies from physicians who may lack proper training in death certificate preparation or have limited knowledge of the deceased patient’s medical history. Many doctors receive minimal education on how to properly complete a death certificate in Chicago, leading to vague descriptions, incorrect timelines, or omitted critical details about the true manner of death on a death certificate.
How Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we understand that wrongful death cases require meticulous investigation and experienced legal representation. Our firm has recovered more than $2.5 billion for clients, including a $75.8 million medical malpractice jury verdict, a $50.3 million medical malpractice jury verdict, and a $32.7 million medical malpractice jury verdict. We understand the complexities involved in these types of cases and know what mistakes to look for.
If we take your case, our diverse team of 20+ top litigators and 35+ supporting staff will work diligently to uncover the truth behind your loved one’s death, even when medical documentation appears incomplete or inaccurate. We possess the resources and skills to challenge flawed death certificates and investigate underlying medical negligence.
One client had this to say about our legal services:
“Michael Schostok and his team have been so helpful in my case. They made me feel like a priority and were very communicative about every step of the case… The trust in this firm is very strong, and it gave me some relief to know I was in good hands with how professional and transparent they are.” – T’Lia M. (Read All Our Client Testimonials)
Understanding the Importance and Effect of Death Certificate Inaccuracies
Death certificates serve as official records that affect estate proceedings, insurance claims, and families’ understanding of the official cause of death. When these documents contain errors, they can misrepresent the actual cause of death and potentially shield healthcare providers from accountability. Death certificate errors may include:
- Incorrect cause of death listings that obscure medical complications
- Omitted contributing factors that indicate substandard care
- Inaccurate timelines that conceal treatment delays or misdiagnosis
- Missing documentation of preventable medical errors
These inaccuracies can significantly complicate wrongful death cases, since death certificates rarely indicate “medical malpractice” as a contributing factor.
Investigating Suspected Medical Malpractice
Understanding how to correct a death certificate is just one step toward pursuing justice. Our attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death to build a comprehensive case that reveals the truth behind it.
We can work with medical experts to identify discrepancies between the death certificate and actual medical evidence, challenge inaccurate documentation, and pursue amendments when necessary. Our investigation can examine whether medical errors, delayed diagnosis, surgical mistakes, or other forms of negligence contributed to the death.
If you suspect that medical negligence contributed to your loved one’s death or that their death certificate contains inaccuracies that conceal the truth, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for a free consultation.
