Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Physicians fear malpractice lawsuits as a real threat. They could increase the cost of insurance for doctors and also alter medical practice.

In general doctors owe patients the obligation to follow the accepted medical practice without any deviation or exclusion. This is known as the standard of care.

To successfully to sue a doctor for malpractice, an aggrieved patient must show each of these legal elements using the preponderance evidence: breach of duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

Duty of Care

The most important element of a medical malpractice claim is that the person who was injured was bound by a duty of the doctor that was not met. In contrast to other types of negligence cases, medical malpractice claims often involve the existence of a relationship between doctor and patient. This can be established through things such as doctor's medical records and phone consultations. In general, doctors who treat patients must follow the accepted standards of their profession and practice.

Doctors can also be held liable for the negligence or incompetence of their staff members, for example, assistants or interns. In addition, they could be held liable for the actions of emergency medical personnel who are working under their supervision.

The plaintiff then has to show that the defendant's actions did not conform to the standard of care in the circumstances. This can only be proven with expert testimony on acceptable medical practices and the defendant's refusal to follow these guidelines. The other element is that the breach directly injured the patient. To prove that you have committed a crime, your lawyer will need to prove that the breach of duty by the defendant directly caused your injury or the wrongful death of your loved one. This is referred to as the proximate cause. For instance, if an negligent treatment that was alleged to have occurred wouldn't have had a negative effect on your health, regardless of whether it was done or not, then you wouldn't be able claim damages for any injuries or deaths that were allegedly caused by the doctor's actions.

Breach of Duty

A physician who fails in their duty of care towards clients can be held responsible for negligence. To prevail in a medical malpractice case, the victim must prove four legal aspects that a duty of professional care existed; the physician breached this obligation; the breach led to injuries; and the damage caused damages. The first part of a medical malpractice claim revolves around the standard of care, which is determined by expert testimony. The standard of care is the amount a "reasonably prudent" doctor would do in similar or identical circumstances.

The physician's violation of this obligation occurs when he is not following the standard of care while providing treatment to the patient. If a physician breaks the arm of a patient they might fail to cast the patient correctly. A breach by a doctor can make the broken arm heal incorrectly. This can result in an incomplete or total loss of use, as well as financial damages.

Medical malpractice cases are filed in state trial courts, however under limited circumstances, federal courts may also take on these cases. Each of the 94 federal district courts in the United States has a judge-jury panel that is able to hear medical malpractice cases. The majority of states have a special system of state courts that handle the issues. However, they have different rules for court procedures than federal district courts.

Causation

A patient could be entitled compensation for any damages suffered by doctors fail to fulfill their obligation to avoid harm. A medical malpractice claim may occur when a physician opts to carry out a procedure that carries known risks, and the patient could have refused the procedure had they been fully informed of the possible consequences.

The plaintiff in a medical malpractice case must prove that the doctor did not comply with accepted standards of practice, that the failure was the direct cause of the illness or injury the patient was suffering from and that the injury would not have occurred but because of the negligence of the doctor. This burden of proof, also known as "preponderance" of the evidence is less burdensome than "beyond reasonable doubt" which is needed to convict criminal defendants.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice often involve expert witnesses and lengthy pretrial discovery proceedings. Both sides spend a lot of time and money preparing for a case, whether it settles or if it is a court case. This is why malpractice claims can be so expensive for both the plaintiff and physician involved. It is one of the primary reasons why doctors and health groups are supportive of efforts to reform the tort laws in the United States.

Damages

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

Medical malpractice claims are generally filed in a state court of trial. There are a few instances where a lawsuit can be filed in federal courts. This is typically the situation when a doctor is employed at a federally-funded clinic like the Veteran's Administration, or if the doctor is from another country, but is working in the United States under a treaty of extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice are mostly adversarial and involve an extensive legal discovery. This can include written interrogatories and depositions as well as requests for documents. Victims of alleged medical malpractice could also be subject to the pressure of a jury trial and potentially be at risk of being rejected by a judge, or dismissed by jurors.

To win a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that the medical error or negligence caused your injury. The damage must be severe enough to warrant a financial award that would cover your financial losses as well as emotional pain. In addition, New York medical malpractice attorneys malpractice laws have specific damage caps, as well as other limitations on the amount which can be awarded to a person who is successful in bringing a claim.