Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Physicians are concerned about malpractice lawsuits as an actual threat. They can increase insurance costs and could alter the way doctors practice.

In general doctors owe patients a obligation to adhere to the accepted medical practice without deviation or the slightest omission. This is known as the standard of care.

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

Duty of Care

The most important element in a medical malpractice case is that the person who was injured was owed a duty by a doctor that was not met. Contrary to other types of negligence cases medical malpractice claims typically involve the existence of the relationship between a doctor and patient, which can be established through things like medical records and telephone consultations. Generally, physicians who treat patients must adhere to the accepted standards of their profession and practice.

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

The plaintiff is then required to show that the defendant's actions didn't conform to the standard of care in the circumstances. This element can only be proven by expert testimony on acceptable medical practices and the defendant's refusal to follow these standards. The second element is that the breach directly affected the patient. To prove malpractice your lawyer needs to show that the defendant's breach of duty directly caused your injury or the wrongful death of a loved one. This is known as proximate reason. For instance, if the negligent treatment claimed to be negligent would not have had an adverse effect on your health, irrespective of whether or not it was done or not, you aren't able to be awarded damages for any injuries or death that was believed to be caused by the doctor's conduct.

Breach of Duty

A physician who fails in their duty of care to clients can be held accountable for their negligence. In order to win a medical malpractice suit the person who suffered must establish four elements: there was a duty of medical care and the physician violated the obligation and that the breach resulted in injury, and finally resulted in damages. The first part of a claim for medical malpractice law firms malpractice is the standard of care that is determined by experts' testimony. The standard of care is what a "reasonably prudent" doctor would do under similar or similar circumstances.

The physician's breach of this duty occurs when he or she deviates from the standard of care when rendering treatment to the patient. For instance, when a physician breaks a patient's arm the doctor isn't able to properly set it or fails to cast the broken arm. A breach by the doctor causes the broken arm to heal in a wrong way. This could result in a partial or complete loss of use, as well as financial damages.

In the majority of instances, medical malpractice lawsuits are filed with state trial courts. However under certain circumstances, federal courts can also take on these cases. The 94 federal district courts across the United States each have a jury panel and judge that hears these cases. The majority of states have a special system of state courts that handle these matters. They do however, follow different rules for court procedures than federal district courts.

Causation

Physicians take an oath to protect their patients and should they violate this obligation and cause injury patients may be entitled to compensation for the damages. Medical malpractice claims could also arise if the doctor administers a procedure with known risks and the patient wouldn't have consented to the procedure if they had been fully informed.

In a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff must prove that the doctor's actions were not in accordance to accepted standards of practice. This breach must have been the main cause of any illness or injury sustained by the patient and the injury would not occur if it weren't for the physician’s negligence. The burden of proof, also known as "preponderance" of evidence, is less stringent than "beyond reasonable doubt" that is required to convict criminal defendants.

Medical malpractice law firm malpractice lawsuits typically require expert witness testimony and lengthy discovery procedures prior to trial. Whether the case is settled or goes to trial, attorneys on both sides invest considerable time and resources in preparing for the case. This is a major reason that malpractice claims are costly for both the plaintiff and the medical professional involved. It is one of the reasons that physicians and health care organizations are in favor of reforming tort law in the United States.

Damages

Victims may be awarded punitive or compensatory damages depending on the type of medical negligence. Compensation damages compensate the victim for the financial losses or expenses resulting from the doctor's negligence. This includes the loss of income as well as future medical costs. Non-economic damages include the payment of physical and mental suffering.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are filed in state trial courts. However, there are situations in which a lawsuit may be filed in federal court. This is typically the case when a doctor is employed at a federally-funded clinic such as the Veterans' Administration, or if the physician is from another country, but is working in the United States under a treaty of extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are adversarial and require extensive legal discovery. This includes written interrogatories and depositions, as well as requests for documents. The victims of medical malpractice could also be subject to the stress of an open jury trial and could risk being rejected by a judge or dismissed by a jury.

To be successful in a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that the medical error or negligence caused your injury. The injury has to be severe enough to warrant a monetary award that would cover your financial losses as well as emotional distress. New York medical malpractice law also has certain damage caps, and other limits to the amount that an individual patient could be awarded if they successfully make claims.