Medical Negligence

One often comes across the term Medical Negligence or Medical Malpractice in various media.

But What exactly is Medical Negligence ? What exactly is Medical Malpractice ? Are these two the same or there is some important difference between the two?

These are some of the questions that come to mind and will be answered here.

But first of all: Medical negligence may be defined as
" Lack of reasonable Care and Skill on the part of Medical Practitioner during the treatment of the patient as a result of which the patient suffers damage or death "

Medical Malpractice is not much different from Medical Negligence. The only difference is that fact that Medical Malpractice is usually considered charged with emotional baggage whereas Medical Negligence is not so.

The definition Medical Negligence as mentioned above is an oversimplification of a complex concept.

The detailed apects of this will be discussed one by one alongwith suitable caselaws from next post onwards.

Any comments are most welcome.

Legal Medicine