If you have ever been involved in a medical malpractice claim, you have likely heard your lawyer mention the term “standard of care” multiple times. But what does it actually mean, and how can it impact your claim?
What is Negligence?
At the heart of every personal injury claim is the concept of negligence—the idea that someone acted (or failed to act) in a way that caused harm and that this harm could have been prevented. Pursuing a successful negligence claim requires proving three essential components:
- Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to the plaintiff.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant violated their duty of care through action or inaction.
- Causation and Damages: The breach of duty was a cause of the plaintiff’s injuries and resulting damages.
The term “standard of care” ties directly to the first element—the duty of care. In a medical malpractice case, it is crucial to establish what the standard of care was and whether the medical provider failed to meet that standard.
How Are Medical Malpractice Cases Different?
In medical malpractice lawsuits, the standard of care refers to the level of skill, diligence, and treatment that a competent medical professional in the same field would have provided under similar circumstances. It is not enough for a patient to have experienced a poor medical outcome—malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from accepted medical practices in a way that results in harm.
To prove malpractice, both the plaintiff and the defendant typically present expert testimony from medical professionals who explain what the standard of care was in that particular case and whether the defendant met or failed to meet it. Because medicine is highly specialized, the standard of care can vary depending on factors such as the provider’s field of practice, the patient’s condition, and the available medical knowledge at the time of treatment.
What Does Standard of Care Mean in Massachusetts?
According to the Massachusetts Superior Court Model Jury Instructions, the standard of care is defined as “the degree of skill and care of the average doctor practicing in the same field during the relevant time period.” This means:
- A doctor is not required to provide the best possible care but rather the average level of care expected from a competent practitioner in the same field.
- The standard of care is determined by what a reasonably qualified medical professional would do under the same circumstances—not what the most skilled or least skilled doctor might do.
Why Does the Standard of Care Matter?
Understanding and proving the standard of care is crucial in a medical malpractice case because it forms the foundation of your claim. If a plaintiff cannot establish what the standard of care was and demonstrate that the healthcare provider violated it, the case will not succeed. By working with experienced attorneys and medical experts, plaintiffs can build a compelling case to show that a provider’s negligence directly led to their injuries.
SUGARMAN attorneys have decades of experience with medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one has suffered injury as the result of substandard care and you would like to speak to one of our partners call 617-542-1000, fill out our contact form, or email us at