What is the difference between professional negligence and ordinary negligence?

Professional negligence and ordinary negligence are similar in that both involve a breach of care or duty. However, the difference between professional and ordinary negligence is that professional negligence involves the breach of a duty that was assumed by a professional in their respective field, whereas ordinary negligence involves a breach of care that any reasonable person would have taken in a given situation. In Pennsylvania, professional liability law requires that professional services are provided with the highest level of expertise, care, and skill. A professional can be held liable for negligence if they fail to provide the service as expected and harm a person, either through physical injury, psychological damage, financial harm, or otherwise. For example, if a medical doctor fails to diagnose a patient, then they can be held liable for professional negligence. On the other hand, if a person trips on a sidewalk and hurts themselves, then the person who is responsible for keeping the walkway clear may be held liable for ordinary negligence. The difference between professional and ordinary negligence is that professional negligence requires that a professional breached a duty of care that was expected of them in their field. This is in contrast to ordinary negligence, which does not require the breach of any special duty of care.

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What is the difference between professional negligence and ordinary negligence?

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