Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Malpractice lawsuits are a serious and real threat to physicians. They can increase insurance costs and can affect the way doctors practice.

In general, doctors are under an obligation to their patients to follow accepted medical practices. This is called the standard of care.

To successfully to sue a doctor for malpractice, an aggrieved patient must demonstrate each of the following legal elements by a preponderance of the evidence: breach of duty; breach of duty; causation; damages.

Duty of Care

The first aspect of a medical malpractice claim is that the victim was bound by a duty of the doctor that was not met. Contrary to other types of negligence cases Medical malpractice claims typically require the existence of a physician-patient relationship, which is established through things like a doctor's records and telephone consultations. In general, physicians who treat their patients must adhere to the accepted guidelines in their field and practice.

Doctors could be held accountable for the incompetence or negligence of their staff members, for example, assistants or interns. They may also be held responsible for the actions of emergency personnel working under their supervision.

The plaintiff has to prove that the defendant did not comply with the standard of care under the circumstances. This is only proven through expert testimony about acceptable medical practices, and the defendant's inability to adhere to these standards. The second element of malpractice is that the breach directly harmed the patient. To prove this your lawyer must prove a direct cause and effect between the defendant's breach of duty and your injury or your loved one's untimely death. This is referred to as proximate causation. For example, if the alleged negligent treatment wouldn't have had an adverse effect on your health, regardless of whether it was done or not, you wouldn't be able claim damages for medical malpractice lawsuit 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. In order to win a medical malpractice case the plaintiff must prove four elements: that there was a duty of medical care and the physician violated the duty, that the breach caused injury, and finally caused damage. The first element of a medical malpractice lawsuit revolves around the standard of care which is determined through experts' testimony. The standard of care is what a "reasonably cautious" doctor would do under similar or identical circumstances.

The physician's breach of this obligation occurs when he/she is not following the standard of care while rendering treatment to the patient. For example, if the doctor breaks the arm of a patient and does not correctly set it or fails to cast the broken arm. A breach by the doctor causes the broken arm to heal improperly. This can result in either a complete or partial loss of use, and monetary damages.

In the majority of instances, medical malpractice lawsuits are filed with state trial courts. However in certain situations, federal courts can also consider these claims. The 94 federal districts courts across the United States each have a jury panel and judge that decides on these cases. Most states have a system of specialized state courts that handle these cases, but with different rules of procedure than federal district courts.

Causation

Doctors swear to do no harm, and when they fail to fulfill this duty and cause harm, the patient may be legally entitled to compensation for their losses. A medical malpractice lawyers malpractice lawsuit could also arise when a doctor decides to administer a procedure which has known risks and the patient would have declined the procedure had they been fully informed of all possible consequences.

The plaintiff in a medical malpractice lawsuit must prove that the physician failed to act in accordance with accepted standards of practice, that the doctor's negligence was a direct cause for the illness or injury the patient was suffering from and that the injury could not have occurred except due to the negligence of the doctor. This burden of proof is referred to as the "preponderance of the evidence" standard that is less arduous than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard that is required to convict criminal defendants.

Medical malpractice lawsuits typically require expert testimony and lengthy pretrial discovery procedures. If the case is settled or goes to trial, attorneys on both sides spend an enormous amount of time and effort preparing for the trial. This is the reason why malpractice claims can be expensive for both the physician and the plaintiff involved. It is one of the primary reasons why physicians and health organizations are in favor of efforts to change tort laws in the United States.

Damages

In the event of medical negligence, victims are able to seek punitive and compensatory damages. Compensatory damages compensate patients for financial losses and costs resulted from the negligence of the doctor for example, loss of income or the cost of future medical treatments. Non-economic damages are compensation for physical pain and mental anguish.

Medical malpractice claims are generally filed in a state trial court. There are a few instances where an action can be filed in federal courts. It is usually the case when doctors are employed by a clinic that is funded by federal funds, like the Veteran's administration, or when the doctor is from another country but is practicing in the United States as part of an agreement with extraterritorial authority.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are largely adversarial in nature and involve an extensive legal discovery. This includes written interrogatories, depositions, and requests for the production of documents. The victims of alleged medical negligence may also be required to stand trial before a jury and may be in danger of their claim being rejected by a judge, or dismissed by a juror.

You must prove that medical negligence, or error was the cause of your injury to win a case for medical negligence. The damage must be severe enough to warrant a financial award that covers your financial losses and emotional stress. New York medical malpractice law also includes certain damage caps, and other limits to the amount that an individual patient could be awarded if they successfully make an appeal.