Editing Malpractice (section)

{{Short description|Area of law concerning negligence by professionals}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Tort law}}

In the [[law]] of [[tort]]s, '''malpractice''', also known as [[professional negligence]],  is an "instance of [[negligence]] or incompetence on the part of a [[professional]]".<ref name="blacks">Malpractice definition, {{cite book|last1=Garner|first1=Bryan A.|title=Black's Law Dictionary|date=2009|publisher=West|isbn=978-0314199492|edition=9|url=https://archive.org/details/blacksl_xxx_2009_00_5869|url-access=registration|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

Professionals who may become the subject of malpractice actions include:

* '''medical professionals''': a [[medical malpractice]] claim may be brought against a [[physician|doctor]] or other healthcare provider who fails to exercise the degree of [[Duty of care|care]] and skill that a similarly situated professional of the same [[medical specialty]] would provide under the circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malpractice|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malpractice|website=Merriam-Webster.com|publisher=Merriam-Webster, Inc.|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>
* '''lawyers''': a [[legal malpractice]] claim may be brought against a lawyer who fails to render services with the level of skill, care, and diligence that a [[Reasonable person|reasonable]] lawyer would apply under similar circumstances.<ref name="blacks"/>
* '''financial professionals''': professionals such as accountants, financial planners, and stockbrokers may be subject to claims for professional negligence based upon their failure to meet professional standards when providing services to their clients.
* '''architects and engineers''': a construction professional may be accused of professional negligence for failing to meet professional standards in the design and construction of buildings and structures.