Q: Can I sue an insurance company for mistakingly denying my father a heart treatment then him dying 2 weeks later?
My father was supposed to have a heart procedure that was going to help his heart. We found out the day before the procedure that the hospital had a ‘scheduling issue’ that was due to the insurance company denying the request. At the ‘urgent appeal’ of his doctor, they admitted the mistake and said he was good to have the procedure anytime in the next 6 months.
My father was then scheduled to have the procedure 8 weeks out. During this time, his heart went into Afib and then stopped. He passed away 2 weeks after he was scheduled to have the procedure that was denied.
My question is, do I have any legal grounds to sue the insurance company because they made a mistake that ultimately cost my father his life. They sent him a letter explaining the situation that we still have.
A: I'm very sorry for the loss of your father. A North Carolina attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. To provide a meaningful answer to your question, in terms of the denial, scheduling issues, and other factors, most attorneys would want the input of medical experts, possibly including your father's own surgeon. You could reach out to law firms in North Carolina to try to set up a free initial consult. If attorneys felt there could be a good basis for a case that would be viable to pursue, they could conduct an investigation, which would include retrieving the medical file and reviewing with experts. Good luck
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