What Is the Standard of Care in a Medical Malpractice Case?

In a medical malpractice case, the “standard of care” is the level of skill and care that a reasonably competent healthcare professional, with similar training and in a similar medical community, would have provided to a patient in the same situation. It is not about perfection; it is about providing accepted, professional care. 

When a medical provider’s actions fall below this benchmark and a patient is harmed as a result, it may be considered medical negligence. Understanding this concept can help you figure out if you have a valid claim.

A Deeper Look at the Medical Standard of Care

Imagine a set of unwritten but universally understood rules that every doctor, nurse, and surgeon follows to keep patients safe. That’s a simple way to think about the standard of care. It’s the baseline for competent medical practice. It’s what a jury or court would use to measure a healthcare provider’s actions against those of their peers.

The key term is “reasonable.” The law doesn’t expect doctors to be miracle workers or to have all the answers all the time. Medicine is complex, and sometimes, despite a doctor’s best efforts, a patient’s condition may not improve. A bad outcome is not, by itself, evidence of malpractice. The critical question is whether the provider acted with the same level of competence that another professional in their field would have. For example, if a patient has a heart attack, the standard of care for an emergency room doctor at a Philadelphia hospital would be judged against what other reasonably careful ER doctors would do in that situation.

How Is the Standard of Care Established in Pennsylvania?

Because the average person, and even most lawyers and judges, doesn’t have medical training, the standard of care in a specific case must be established by someone who does. This is where medical experts come in. 

In a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawsuit, another qualified medical professional in the same specialty is typically called upon to testify. This expert reviews the patient’s medical records and all the facts of the case to offer a professional opinion on what the appropriate standard of care was and whether the defendant doctor or hospital met it.

Several factors can influence the standard of care in any given situation:

• The Doctor’s Specialty: A family doctor is held to a different standard than a neurosurgeon. The law compares them to their direct peers.
• The Patient’s Condition: The patient’s age, overall health, and specific symptoms all help define the appropriate course of action.
• Available Information: The standard of care is based on the knowledge and technology that were reasonably available to the doctor at the time of the treatment.

Under Pennsylvania’s Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act, the legal framework for these cases is clearly defined. The law emphasizes that to prove a case, a plaintiff must show the healthcare provider’s conduct fell below the applicable standard of care and that this failure was a direct cause of the harm suffered. This legal standard ensures that claims are based on legitimate medical and legal grounds.

Proving a Breach of the Standard of Care

To succeed in a medical malpractice claim, you and your attorney must prove four key elements. Think of them as four legs of a table; if one is missing, the whole thing falls apart. The standard of care is central to the second element, “breach.”

1. Duty: You must first show that a doctor-patient relationship existed. This means the healthcare provider had a professional responsibility, or “duty,” to care for you.
2. Breach: You must prove that the provider breached this duty by failing to meet the accepted standard of care. This is the act of negligence.
3. Causation: It’s not enough to show a doctor made a mistake. You must also prove that this specific breach of care was the direct cause of your injury or made your condition worse.
4. Damages: Finally, you must demonstrate that the injury resulted in actual harm, which can include additional medical bills, lost wages, disability, and pain and suffering.

Successfully proving all four of these elements is essential for holding a negligent medical professional accountable for the harm they caused.

What is the Standard of Care for Different Medical Professionals?

The standard of care is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It is highly specific to the professional’s training, specialty, and role in the patient’s treatment. A registered nurse has a different set of responsibilities and is held to a different standard than a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, or a pharmacist.

For instance, a nurse’s standard of care might involve properly monitoring a patient’s vital signs after surgery, administering the correct medication as prescribed, and promptly alerting a doctor to any signs of distress. A surgeon’s standard of care, on the other hand, involves performing the procedure with the accepted techniques, avoiding damage to surrounding nerves and organs, and ensuring no foreign objects like sponges are left inside the patient. 

Each professional on a medical team, whether at a large institution or a small clinic, is responsible for meeting the standard of care for their specific role.

Common Examples of Breaching the Standard of Care

While every case is unique, certain types of medical errors frequently involve a breach of the standard of care. Understanding these examples can help clarify how this legal concept applies in the real world.

• Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: A doctor fails to recognize the clear symptoms of a serious condition, like cancer or a heart attack, that a reasonably competent peer would have identified.
• Surgical Errors: This can include operating on the wrong patient or the wrong body part, leaving a surgical instrument inside the patient, or causing unnecessary nerve damage during a procedure.
• Anesthesia Errors: Giving too much or too little anesthesia, failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs properly during surgery, or using a drug the patient is known to be allergic to.
• Medication Mistakes: Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage, or a hospital pharmacy dispensing the wrong drug, leading to a serious adverse reaction or ineffective treatment.
• Birth Injuries: A doctor or nurse failing to respond appropriately to signs of fetal distress during labor and delivery, resulting in conditions like cerebral palsy or brain damage to the baby.
• Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: A provider performing a procedure or treatment without fully explaining the risks and alternatives to the patient, preventing the patient from making an informed decision about their own care.

These are just a few examples of situations where a medical provider’s actions might fall below the accepted professional standards, leading to serious and life-altering harm for a patient.

What Happens After a Breach of the Standard of Care?

When a healthcare provider breaches the standard of care, the act is known as medical negligence. The consequences for the patient can be devastating. They may face a long road to recovery, requiring additional surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care. They might be unable to return to work, leading to a loss of income and financial instability. Beyond the physical and financial toll, there is also the emotional and psychological trauma of being harmed by a trusted medical professional.

A study from Johns Hopkins suggested that medical errors were the third leading cause of death in the United States, highlighting the serious impact of these failures. When negligence occurs, the legal system provides a path for victims to seek accountability. 

A medical malpractice lawsuit is not just about money; it is about getting answers, holding responsible parties accountable, and securing the financial resources necessary for the victim to rebuild their life. Compensation, also known as damages, can cover medical expenses, lost wages, future care costs, and the pain and suffering the patient has endured.

The Role of a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Your Case

Navigating the aftermath of a medical injury can be overwhelming. You are likely focused on your health and recovery, and the last thing you want to deal with is a complex legal battle with a hospital or insurance company. This is where a personal injury lawyer with a focus on medical malpractice cases can help.

An attorney can handle all the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on getting better. They will conduct a thorough investigation, which includes gathering all of your medical records from your primary care physician to specialists seen across the city. They work with qualified medical experts to determine if the standard of care was breached and to build a strong case on your behalf. A lawyer advocates for your rights, manages all communications, and works to obtain the full compensation you need to cover your losses and secure your future.

Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Understanding the standard of care is crucial, but applying it to your situation requires a detailed analysis of your medical records and legal experience. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury that you believe was caused by a medical professional’s negligence, you do not have to face this challenge alone. The path to recovery can be difficult, but you have rights.

At Leonard Hill – Personal Injury Lawyers And Car Accident Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping people who have been harmed by medical negligence. We use straightforward communication and provide personalized attention to help our clients pursue the maximum compensation the law allows. 

Contact us today at (215) 567-7600 or through our online form for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help you on your journey toward justice and recovery.