Tort__Negligence-Professional_Standard_of_Care.txt

• standard of knowledge,
• training, and skill of an ordinary member of the profession in good standing

• (1) "Average" is
• incorrect b/c this literally means that 1/2 of the members could not meet the
• standard

• (2) While the standard of care of
• the reasonable prudent person remains constant, the quantity or degree of care
• required varies significantly with the attendant circumstances. (IE: specialist
• v. general practitioners)

• Specialists—held to a higher
• standard of care than a general practitioner b/c hold themselves out to a
• higher skill. However, still held
• to objective standard. Ex—a doctor claiming to be a specialist in obstetrics or an
• attorney claiming to be a specialist in labor law.

• Professional Negligence=Malpractice—any
• professional misconduct, unreasonable lack of skill or duty, evil practice, or
• illegal or immoral conduct.

• P MUST offer expert
• testimony on the standard of care and to establish that there was a breach of
• the duty or standard. Unless the
• negligence is so obvious that it is within the common knowledge and experience
• of lay jurors.

(1) Duty—standard of care is that of attorneys in the same or similar locality under similar circumstances.

• (a) Possession of knowledge, skill,
• and ability necessary to practice
• (b) Exercise of best judgment (Good
• Faith)
• (c) Use of due care (Customary
• Practice-evidence comply w/ standard of care)

(2) Breach of duty

(3) Causation

• (a) Client must show that the original
• case would have been won had the attorney not been negligent

(4) Damages

• (1) Duty—standard of care is that of attorneys in the same or
• similar locality under similar circumstances.

• (a) Possession of knowledge, skill,
• and ability necessary to practice

(i) IE: f ailed to research; professionals are not expected to know everything, just what the ordinary member of the profession does.

• (b) Exercise of best judgment (Good
• Faith)

• (i) Doctor and lawyer is not liable
• for a "mere error of judgment"

• (c) Use of due care (Customary
• Practice-evidence comply w/ standard of care)

• (i) Violation of—it is not enough
• that an expert witness testify that he would not personally follow the
• defendant’s practice. He must also
• testify that the practice was not recognized as valid.

(1) Battery v. Breach

(a) Primary consideration whether the patient knew and authorized a procedure or exceeds scope of consent

(b) Battery= Treatment is completely unauthorized and performed without any consent at all

• (i) Does not require testimony of
• expert witness

(c) Negligence=Dr. obtains a patient's consent but has breached his duty to inform

• (i) Cause of action regardless of
• the due care exercised at treatment, assuming there is injury

(ii) Require expert testimony

• (a) Duty—held to comply with the standards of practice among members of his profession with
• similar knowledge, training and skill in good standing under the same or
• similar circumstances

• (b) Breach of Duty—doctor
• must do something in his treatment of his patient which is forbidden within
• recognized standard of good medical practice in the community or he must have
• neglected to do something which such standard requires.

(i) Expert testimony required

• (ii) Custom Rules help determine
• standard of care and custom must be met b/c custom practice IS conclusive of a
• breach for medical malpractice

1. Locality Rule

• 2. Similar community in similar
• circumstances

3. National standard

(c) Causation

(d) Injury

• (a) Duty—held
• to comply with the standards of practice among members of his profession with
• similar knowledge, training and skill in good standing under the same or
• similar circumstances

• (i) Possession of knowledge or
• skill

• (ii) Exercise of best judgment (Good
• Faith)

• 1. Doctor and lawyer is not liable
• for a "mere error of judgment"

• (iii) Use of due care—Customary
• Practice

• 1. Violation of—it is not enough
• that an expert witness testify that he would not personally follow the
• defendant’s practice. He must also
• testify that the practice was not recognized as valid.

(b) Breach of Duty—doctor must do something in his treatment of his patient which is forbidden within recognized standard of good medical practice in the community or he must have neglected to do something which such standard requires.

• (i) Expert testimony required to establish proof that professional violated the standard of
• care, unless the negligence is so obvious that it is within the common
• knowledge and experience of lay jurors or if the cause of action is a battery

(ii) Custom Rules must be met b/c custom practice IS conclusive of a breach for medical malpractice

• 1. Locality Rule—conduct measured solely by the standard of conduct within a
• specific community

• 2. Similar community in similar
• circumstances— extension of locality rule;
• Dr. act like a Dr in a different community w/ similar community and
• circumstances

• 3. National standard—Quality of medical care should not be limited to
• geographical areas; nationwide approach

• a. Specialist must adhere to this
• standard!