Medical malpractice occurs when a hospital, doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes an injury to a patient. The negligence might be the result of errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare or health management.

What are the four elements of malpractice?

The injured patient must show that the physician acted negligently in rendering care, and that such negligence resulted in injury. To do so, four legal elements must be proven: (1) a professional duty owed to the patient; (2) breach of such duty; (3) injury caused by the breach; and (4) resulting damages. The most common medical malpractice claims include misdiagnosis, childbirth injuries, medication errors, and surgical errors. However, any situation where a medical professional’s negligence injures a patient could warrant a medical malpractice claim. The same types of acts may form the basis for negligence or malpractice. If performed by a non-professional person the result is negligence; If performed by a professional person the acts could be the basis for a malpractice lawsuit. Team Nicola Cummings can handle your medical malpractice case.