Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Malpractice lawsuits are a real and significant threat to doctors. They can increase the cost of insurance for doctors as well as alter the way they practice medicine.

In general doctors owe their patients the duty to uphold the medical standards that are accepted without deviation or the slightest omission. This is referred to as the standard of care.

To sue a doctor over malpractice, a patient has to be able to prove the following elements by a majority: breach of duty, duty of duty, causation and damages.

Duty of Care

The first element in a medical malpractice case is that the person who was injured was owed a doctor's duty which was not fulfilled. Unlike some types of negligence cases medical malpractice claims typically require a relationship between doctor and patient. This can be established through things like doctor's records or telephone consultations. In general, physicians who treat patients must adhere to the accepted guidelines in their field and practice.

Doctors may also be held liable for the negligence or incompetence of their staff members, such as interns or assistants. They can also be held responsible for the actions of emergency personnel under their supervision.

The next thing that a plaintiff must prove is that the defendant did not adhere to the standard of care under the circumstances. This can be established with expert testimony about acceptable medical procedures and the defendant's failure to adhere to these standards. The second element of malpractice is that this breach directly caused injury to the patient. To prove this your lawyer must establish a direct cause and effect between the defendant's dereliction of duty and your injuries or loved one's death. This is referred to as causal proximate. For example, if the negligent treatment that was alleged to have occurred wouldn't have had a negative effect on your health irrespective of whether it was done or not, then you wouldn't be able to recover damages for any injuries or deaths that were allegedly caused by the doctor's actions.

Breach of Duty

A doctor who fails to meet his or her obligation of professional care to a patient could be held accountable for negligence. To prevail in a medical malpractice case the victim must prove four things: that there was a duty of care and the doctor breached the obligation and that the breach caused injury, and finally caused damage. The standard of care is the most important component in a medical negligence case, and it is established by expert testimony. The standard of care is defined as the things that would a "reasonably prudent" doctor would do in similar or similar circumstances.

A physician violates this duty in the event that he or she departs from the norm of care while treating the patient. For instance, when a doctor breaks the arm of a patient when he isn't able to properly set it or fails to cast the broken arm. The physician's failure to perform this obligation causes the broken arm to heal improperly, which results in a complete or partial loss of use and subsequent monetary damages.

In the majority of instances, medical malpractice lawsuits are filed with state trial courts. However in certain circumstances, federal courts can also hear these claims. The 94 federal districts courts across the United States each have a judge and jury panel that is responsible for hearing these cases. Many states have a distinct system of state courts that deal with these matters. However, they have different rules for court procedures than federal district courts.

Causation

Physicians take an oath to protect their patients and when they fail to fulfill this duty and cause harm the patient could be entitled to compensation for the damages. Medical malpractice claims can be brought up when a doctor decides to administer a procedure which has known risks and the patient could have refused the procedure if they had been fully informed of all possible consequences.

In a case of medical malpractice the plaintiff must show that the doctor's actions were not in accordance with accepted standards of practice. This breach must have been the direct cause of any illness or injury that the patient suffered, and the injury would not have occurred if not because of the negligence of the physician. The burden of proof, known as "preponderance" of the evidence is less arduous than "beyond reasonable doubt" required to convict criminal defendants.

Medical malpractice lawsuits typically involve expert witnesses and lengthy pretrial discovery proceedings. Both sides invest a significant amount of time and resources in prepping for a trial, whether it's settled or if it is a court case. This is one of the main reasons why malpractice claims are so costly to both the plaintiff and the physician involved, and it is one of the main reasons that physicians and health care organizations support efforts to change tort law in the United States.

Damages

Victims can be awarded compensation or punitive damages based on the nature of medical negligence. Compensation damages compensate the patient for the financial losses or costs resulting from the negligence of the doctor. This includes loss of income and future medical costs. Non-economic damages are the payment of physical pain and mental anguish.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are filed in state trial courts. However, there are some instances in which a lawsuit may be filed in federal court. This is usually the case where a doctor works at a federally funded clinic such as the Veteran's Administration, or when the doctor is from another country but is practicing in the United States under a treaty of extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are largely adversarial in nature and involve significant legal discovery. This includes written interrogatories, depositions, and requests for production of documents. The victims of medical negligence could also have to go through a jury trial, and face the possibility that their claim will be rejected by a judge, or dismissed by a juror.

To be successful in a medical malfeasance claim, you must show that the medical malpractice attorneys error or negligence caused your injury. The damage must be severe enough to warrant a monetary award that would cover your financial losses as well as emotional stress. In addition, New York medical malpractice laws have certain damage caps, as well as other limitations on the amount that can be awarded to a patient who is successful in filing a claim.