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Four Elements of a Medical Malpractice Case

Physicians are worried about malpractice lawsuits because they pose an actual threat. They drive up physician insurance costs and can affect the practice of medicine.

In general doctors owe patients the obligation to adhere to the accepted medical practices, medical malpractice without any deviation or Medical malpractice the slightest omission. This is referred to as the "standard of care.

To sue a physician over malpractice, a patient must prove the following elements with a preponderance: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.

Duty of Care

The first aspect of a medical malpractice claim is that the injured party was obliged to perform a duty by the doctor that was breached. Contrary to other types of negligence cases, medical malpractice claims often require the existence of the relationship between a doctor and patient, which can be established through things like a doctor's records and telephone consultations. Generally, physicians who treat patients must follow the standards that are accepted in their profession and practice.

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

The plaintiff has to demonstrate that the defendant's actions did not comply with the standard of care under the circumstances. This is a fact that can be demonstrated by expert testimony regarding acceptable medical practices and the defendant's refusal to follow these guidelines. The second aspect is that the breach directly harmed the patient. To prove that you have committed a crime your lawyer needs to prove that the breach of duty by the defendant directly caused your injury or the death of a loved one. This is called proximate cause. For instance, if the negligent treatment alleged to have caused the injury would not have had a negative impact on your health, regardless whether it was performed or not, you would not be able to win damages for any injuries or wrongful deaths that were believed to have been caused by the conduct of the physician.

Breach of Duty

A doctor who fails meet his or her obligation of professional care to a patient may be held accountable for negligence. To prevail in a medical malpractice lawyers malpractice lawsuit, the injured person must prove four legal aspects which include: a duty to provide professional care was breached and the doctor breached this duty; the breach caused injury, and the injury resulted in damages. The primary element of a medical malpractice claim centers around the standard of care which is determined by expert testimony. The standard of care is defined as what is what a "reasonably prudent" doctor would do in similar or similar circumstances.

A physician breaches this duty when he or she strays from the normal care of the patient. For instance, when a doctor breaks a patient's arm, the doctor fails to correctly set it or fails to cast the broken arm. A breach by the doctor causes the broken arm to heal improperly. This could result in an incomplete or total loss of use and financial damages.

Medical malpractice cases are brought in state trial courts, but in certain circumstances federal courts may consider these claims. Each of the 94 federal district courts in the United States has a judge-jury panel that will hear medical malpractice cases. Most states have state courts that are specialized to handle these cases, though they follow different rules of procedure than federal district courts.

Causation

A patient could be entitled to compensation for the damages caused if medical professionals fail to perform their duty to do no harm. A medical malpractice claim may be brought up when a doctor opts to carry out a procedure that carries known risks, and the patient would have opted to not undergo the procedure had they been fully informed of the possible consequences.

The plaintiff in a medical malpractice case must prove that the doctor failed to follow accepted standards of practice, that the doctor's negligence 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. The burden of proof, referred to as "preponderance" of the evidence is less stringent than "beyond reasonable doubt" required to convict criminal defendants.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice often 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 is settled or if it goes to court. This is the reason why malpractice claims can be costly for both the plaintiff and physician involved. It is also one of the main reasons why doctors and health care groups support efforts to reform the tort laws in the United States.

Damages

Based on the nature of medical negligence, victims may be able to recover punitive and compensatory damages. Compensation damages are awarded to patients for the financial losses and expenses caused by the physician's negligence, such as loss of income or cost of future medical treatments. Non-economic damages are compensation for physical pain as well as mental anxiety.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are usually filed in a state trial court. However, there are some instances where a suit could be filed in federal court. This is typically the case when a doctor is employed at a federally funded facility such as the Veteran's Administration, or when the doctor is from a different country and is practicing in the United States under a treaty of extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Lawsuits alleging medical malpractice are generally adversarial and involve large amounts of legal discovery. This includes depositions, written interrogatories, and requests for production of documents. Victims of alleged medical malpractice might also have to deal with the pressure of a jury trial and may be in danger of being rejected by a judge, or dismissed by jurors.

To win a medical malpractice claim, you must show that the medical error or negligence caused your injury. The injury must be severe enough that a financial settlement will substantially compensate for your financial losses and emotional trauma. In addition, New York medical malpractice laws provide for damage caps, as well as other limitations on the amount that could be awarded to a person who successfully makes a claim.