Can a wrongful death claim be brought for medical malpractice in Georgia?

Yes, plaintiffs are able to bring wrongful death claims that were the result of medical malpractice in Georgia. There are a number of different actions in a medical setting that could give rise to a wrongful death claim. A doctor may have failed to diagnose a person’s illness. In other situations, a physician may have killed a patient by giving them the incorrect dosage of anesthesia or some other medication.

Not every adverse outcome in a medical setting will give rise to a wrongful death claim. Medical malpractice occurs when there is a deviation in the acceptable standard of care. For example, doctors have a legal obligation to wash their hands prior to a surgery. When a doctor fails to wash their hands, they put patients at risk of contracting serious infections. No reasonable doctor about to perform a surgery would fail to wash their hands and disinfect beforehand.