Understanding Medical Malpractice: Definition, Causes & Legal Implications

Malpractice:

In general, malpractice is any professional misconduct or unreasonable lack of skill or fidelity in the performance of professional or fiduciary duties. Malpractice can be negligence, willful misconduct, breach of a fiduciary duty, or fraud.

Medical malpractice:

Medical malpractice is a civil wrong (specifically a tort) in which a doctor or other health care professional, through a negligent or wrongful act or omission, causes injury or damage to a patient. For there to be medical malpractice, there must have been a doctor-patient relationship, the health care professional must have acted negligently or wrongfully, and the negligence or wrongful act must have directly caused injury to the patient.