What constitutes malpractice?

Malpractice is defined as a breach of duty by a healthcare professional that results in harm to a patient, and it encompasses situations where the professional does not act according to the accepted standards of practice within their field. Working below the established standards means that the healthcare provider has failed to deliver care that is considered competent and safe, leading to potential injury or adverse effects for the patient.

Additionally, while making a deliberate error in judgment and neglecting to follow up on patient care can also be serious issues, they may not be explicitly classified as malpractice without the element of failing to meet the standard of care. Similarly, failing to obtain patient consent is an important ethical concern, but it typically falls under different legal categories such as informed consent violations rather than being a direct definition of malpractice itself. Therefore, the key aspect of malpractice revolves around not upholding the expected standards of practice in providing patient care.