What are the commonly accepted standards of care in medical malpractice cases?

The commonly accepted standards of care in medical malpractice cases in Michigan involve the professional duties and obligations of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers. These standards require that medical professionals provide care that is, at a minimum, equal to that of other healthcare providers in similar circumstances. This is often referred to as a “normal standard of care”. To meet the normal standard of care, a healthcare provider must use the same level of care, skill, and diligence as a reasonable and prudent healthcare professional in the same or similar circumstances. This means that a healthcare provider must act in a way that is at least as competent as other healthcare providers in similar settings and circumstances. For example, a doctor performed a surgery on a patient using outdated techniques. This would not meet the normal standard of care as a reasonable and prudent healthcare provider would have used modern techniques for the same procedure. In addition to the normal standard of care, a physician or other medical professional may also have an elevated standard of care in certain circumstances. This requires a higher level of judgment and expertise than the normal standard of care. For example, a doctor treating a patient with a rare condition may need to use a higher level of expertise and skill than would be necessary for treating a patient with a common condition. Ultimately, when deciding liability in a medical malpractice case, a court or jury will need to determine if a healthcare provider met the full standard of care required of them. If they failed to meet the required standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice.

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