People in Washington State who believe they or their family member have been injured due to a medical error have reason to want to seek compensation. When a medical mistake or act of medical negligence leads to a person’s death, that urge to be compensated can naturally be even greater. In seeking some form of compensation, some people might have choices as to where they pursue the legal action.
As reported recently by The Seattle Times, the family members of a famous pop singer who died from a drug overdose more than two years ago are facing these decisions today. At the heart of the matter is the performer’s doctor. On one hand, the man has been accused of writing prescriptions for opioids to the singer’s bodyguard despite knowing that the drugs were actually for the singer. Some reports indicate that the physician admitted to this while other reports indicate that he has disputed this.
Also alleged by the family members is that the doctor failed to accurately diagnose the singer’s drug addiction which become central to his ultimate death. As such, they are suing the doctor for wrongful death and for medical malpractice.
A lawsuit on behalf of the family was first filed in Illinois earlier this spring. However, that suit has now been dismissed and a new lawsuit has been filed in Minnesota in the county where the man died. It is not known what precipitated the decision to move the lawsuit and whether or not that was the choice of the defense team.