An Introduction to Medical Malpractice in the United States

TLDR

Medical malpractice law in the United States originates from English common law and has evolved through state court rulings, making malpractice lawsuits relatively common. The system aims to promote extensive discovery and negotiation between parties to resolve disputes without a jury trial. To obtain damages, a patient must prove negligence by establishing duty, breach, causation, and damages, with awards covering both economic loss and noneconomic pain and suffering.

Abstract

Medical malpractice law in the United States is derived from English common law, and was developed by rulings in various state courts. Medical malpractice lawsuits are a relatively common occurrence in the United States. The legal system is designed to encourage extensive discovery and negotiations between adversarial parties with the goal of resolving the dispute without going to jury trial. 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. Money damages, if awarded, typically take into account both actual economic loss and noneconomic loss, such as pain and suffering.