Standard of Care

Standard of Care is a legal term used in the field of medicine to describe the degree of prudence and caution required of a medical professional who is administering care to a patient. It is a benchmark against which the actual conduct of the professional can be measured, and it is often used to determine whether a legal duty of care has been breached.

Definition

The standard of care is the level of care that a reasonably competent and skilled health care professional, with a similar background and in the same medical community, would have provided under the circumstances that led to the alleged malpractice. The standard of care is often disputed in malpractice cases and is a critical component of a malpractice lawsuit.

Determination

The determination of whether a healthcare provider met the standard of care is often made by a expert witness, who will testify on their opinion of whether the defendant/provider met or did not meet the standard of care. The standard of care varies depending on a number of factors including the patient's age, overall health, and specific condition, as well as geographic location.

Legal Implications

In legal terms, the standard of care helps to define what is meant by negligence in healthcare settings. If a healthcare provider does not meet the standard of care and an injury or illness results, that provider may be found negligent. The injured patient may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

See Also

• Medical malpractice
• Negligence
• Duty of care

Standard of Care Resources
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