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Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Malpractice lawsuits are a serious and real threat to physicians. They drive up physician insurance costs and can alter the way doctors practice.

In general, doctors are under obligations to their patients to follow accepted medical practices. This is known as the standard of care.

To sue a physician for negligence, the patient must 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 of a medical malpractice lawsuits malpractice claim is that the victim was obliged to perform a duty by the doctor that was violated. Unlike some types of negligence cases, medical malpractice claims often require the existence of the relationship between a doctor and patient, which could be established through documents such as doctor's medical records and telephone consultations. Generally, physicians who treat patients must adhere to the standards that are accepted in their profession and practice.

However, doctors can also be held accountable for the negligence of their staff members, such as interns or assistants. They can also be held accountable for the actions of emergency personnel working under their supervision.

The next element that a plaintiff must prove is that the defendant did not satisfy the standard of medical care in the specific circumstances. This is a fact that can be demonstrated through expert testimony on acceptable medical practices and the defendant's refusal to adhere to these standards. The second factor is that the breach directly harmed the patient. To prove this, your lawyer must show a direct cause and effect between the defendant's omission of duty and your injury, or your loved one's untimely death. This is referred to as the proximate cause. If, for example, the negligent treatment you claim to have received would not have had an adverse effect on your health, irrespective of whether or not it was performed in a way that was harmful, you will not be able to claim damages for any injuries, or wrongful death that was believed to be caused by the doctor's actions.

Breach of Duty

Physicians who fail to fulfill their obligation of professional care to a patient may be held accountable for negligent behavior. In order to prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit, the injured person must prove four legal elements which include: a duty to provide professional care was in place and the doctor breached this obligation; the breach led to injuries; and the damage led to damages. The first part of a medical malpractice claim is the standard of care which is determined through expert testimony. The standard of care is defined as what an "reasonably prudent" doctor would perform in the same or similar circumstances.

The physician's breach of this obligation occurs when he or she deviates from the standard of care in giving treatment to the patient. If a physician fractures the arm of a patient, he or she may fail to cast the arm correctly. A doctor's breach causes the injured arm to heal incorrectly. This could lead to a partial or complete loss of use, as well as financial damages.

Medical malpractice cases are brought in state trial courts, but under certain circumstances federal courts can also be able to hear these cases. Each of the 94 federal district courts in the United States has a judge-jury panel that handles medical malpractice cases. Most states have a specialized system of state courts that handle these cases. However, they follow different rules for court procedures than federal district courts.

Causation

A patient could be entitled compensation for the damages caused if medical professionals fail to perform their obligation to not cause harm. A medical malpractice claim may be brought up when a doctor decides to administer a procedure that has risks and the patient would have declined the procedure if they had 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 this failure was a direct cause of the illness or injury the patient was suffering from and that the injury could not have occurred except for the physician's negligence. This burden of proof, referred to as "preponderance" of evidence is less arduous than "beyond reasonable doubt" that is required to convict criminal defendants.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice often include expert witnesses and lengthy pretrial discovery procedures. If the case is settled or goes to trial, the attorneys on both sides spend an enormous amount of time and effort preparing for the issue. This is a major reason that malpractice claims are expensive for both the plaintiff and the doctor involved, and is one of the reasons that doctors and health care organizations are in favor of reforming tort law in the United States.

Damages

Depending on the kind of medical negligence, victims can recover compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages compensate the patient for the financial losses or expenses resulting from the negligence of the doctor. This includes the loss of income as well as future medical expenses. Non-economic damages are compensation for physical pain and mental distress.

Medical malpractice claims are usually filed in a state court of trial. There are some situations where an action can be filed in federal courts. This is typically the case when a doctor is employed by a federally funded clinic like the Veteran's administration or if the doctor is from other country, but practices in the United States as part of an agreement with extraterritorial authority.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice are usually adversarial and require extensive legal discovery. This can include written interrogatories and depositions, as well as requests for documents. Victims of alleged medical malpractice might also have to deal with the stress of a jury trial and may face the threat of being denied their claim by a judge, or dismissed by jurors.

To win a medical malpractice claim, you must prove that the medical negligence or error caused your injury. The injury must be severe enough that a monetary award will significantly compensate for your financial losses as well as emotional stress. Additionally, New York medical malpractice laws have damage caps and other limits on the amount which can be awarded to a person who successfully makes a claim.

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