Medical Malpractice

An act or omission by a health care provider resulting in injuries or other medical complications is called medical malpractice. This happens when the medical practitioner deviates from the accepted standards of practice in the medical community. The plaintiff in a medical malpractice suit can be the patient, a legally designated party acting on behalf of the patient, or the executor or administrator of a deceased patient's estate in the case of a wrongful death. The defendant is the health care provider. Although a health care provider usually refers to a physician, the term includes any medical care provider, including dentists, nurses, and therapists.