An independent investigation is to probe how a pensioner's body sustained more than 30 broken bones after her death in hospital.
The government bid to establish what happened to the remains of 78-year-old Strabane woman Maureen McGinley comes on the back of a long running campaign by her family for answers.
It will be conducted jointly by UK Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham and Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom Frawley.
While stopping short of the family's demand for a public inquiry, Mrs McGinley's son James welcomed the announcement as a positive step.
"We are satisfied with this development," he said.
"It's not a public inquiry but it's the closest thing to it and hopefully it will get us the answers we have been looking for for so long."
Mrs McGinley died from pneumonia in the Altnagelvin hospital, Derry in January 2007.
The fractures occurred at some point between her death and a post mortem exam in Belfast two days later.
However, internal inquiries at the hospital and the Coroner's Office failed to establish who was responsible.
Northern Ireland Office Minister Paul Goggins and the region's Health Minister Michael McGimpsey outlined their decision after meeting with relatives at Stormont on Tuesday afternoon.
With responsibilities for state pathology and the coroners' service resting in Whitehall and the health service falling within the devolved administration's powers, Mr Frawley and Ms Abraham will work together in an attempt to find out what caused the fractures.
Mr Goggins, who said he sympathised with and supported the McGinley family's bid to find answers, said a public inquiry would not have been appropriate.
"But questions need to be answered and, given the circumstances of this case we believe that the most appropriate way for that fully independent investigation to take place is by referring the matter to the Parliamentary and Northern Ireland Ombudsmen," he said.
Michael McGimpsey added: "I would hope the McGinley family will consider the points we have made to them today about the potential for investigation by the Ombudsmen to provide the answers they are seeking.
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