Wrongful death is a civil suit alleging that the negligence or misconduct of one party resulted in the death of another. Medical Malpractice is the primary, but by no means sole, cause of wrongful death lawsuits. That is, wrongful death can occur without medical malpractice and vice versa. Medical malpractice can result in wrongful death in many ways, including but not limited to:

• Negligence or misconduct during surgery
• Medication errors
• Errors in diagnosis
• Birth injury
• General negligence
• Professional misconduct

Specifics governing wrongful death and medical malpractice are determined by state laws, which can vary considerably.