title: How courts measure standards of care.
abstract: Malpractice liability exists only when a patient proves a provider failed to meet the standard of care that the law regards as his duty. Setting the standard against which the physician is measured is a complex and individualized judicial process. Such key benchmarks as similar geographic locality, community of providers, accreditation standards, expert testimony, and res ipsa loquitur are explained.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Slaven
mesh_terms: D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States