Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Tort law
In the law of torts, malpractice, also known as professional negligence, is an "instance of negligence or incompetence on the part of a professional".<ref name="blacks">Malpractice definition, Template:Cite book</ref>
Professionals who may become the subject of malpractice actions include:
- medical professionals: a medical malpractice claim may be brought against a doctor or other healthcare provider who fails to exercise the degree of care and skill that a similarly situated professional of the same medical specialty would provide under the circumstances.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- 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 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.
Proof of malpracticeEdit
Professional negligence actions require a professional relationship between the professional and the person claiming to have been injured by malpractice.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> For example, to sue a lawyer for malpractice the person bringing the claim must have had an attorney-client relationship with the lawyer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
To succeed in a malpractice action under typical malpractice law, the person making a malpractice claim must prove that the professional committed an act of culpable negligence and that the person suffered an injury due to the professional's error.<ref>See, e.g., Template:Cite journal</ref>
Medical malpracticeEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Medical malpractice is a highly complex area of law, with laws that differ significantly between jurisdictions.<ref name="marcus">Template:Cite journal</ref>
In Australia, medical malpractice and the rise in claims against individual and institutional providers have led to the evolution of patient advocates.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>