malpractice
Harmful professional negligence
Malpractice is improper, negligent, or unethical conduct by a professional—especially a doctor or lawyer—that causes harm to a client or patient.
A malpractice suit seeks damages for such harm: The surgeon faces malpractice charges after operating on the wrong knee.
The term implies violation of professional standards rather than ordinary negligence.
Civil court proceeding
- litigationLegal dispute process
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- damagesCompensation for injury
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
settlement · plaintiff · defendant · claim · compensation · verdict · attorney · tort
Improper professional behavior
- incompetenceLack of required skill
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- breachBreaking of agreement
- disbarmentRevoking a lawyer's license
revocation · suspension · sanction · disciplinary action · unprofessional · oversight · carelessness · recklessness
Violating moral standards
- violationBreaking of rules
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- exploitationSelfish use of others
accountability · transgression · corruption · betrayal of trust · professional misconduct · code violation · duty of care · boundary violation
Legal protections for care recipients
- victimOne harmed by another
- complaintExpression of discontent
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- ombudsmanPublic complaints investigator
support group · whistleblower · reporting · reform · accountability · transparency · patient safety · second opinion
Incorrect identification of ailment
- surgical errorMistake during an operation
- medical errorPreventable healthcare mistake
- delayed diagnosisMedical conclusion reached late
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
medication error · wrongful death · disfigurement · permanent injury · hospital negligence
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- litigationLegal dispute process
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- damagesCompensation for injury
liability · settlement · plaintiff · defendant · claim · compensation · verdict · attorney · tort · indemnity
misconduct
Improper professional behavior
- incompetenceLack of required skill
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- breachBreaking of agreement
disbarment · revocation · suspension · sanction · disciplinary action · unprofessional · oversight · carelessness · recklessness · omission
unethical
Violating moral standards
- violationBreaking of rules
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
exploitation · accountability · transgression · corruption · betrayal of trust · professional misconduct · code violation · duty of care · boundary violation · abuse of power
patient rights
Legal protections for care recipients
ombudsman · support group · whistleblower · reporting · reform · accountability · transparency · patient safety · second opinion · medical board
misdiagnosis
Incorrect identification of ailment
- surgical errorMistake during an operation
- medical errorPreventable healthcare mistake
- delayed diagnosisMedical conclusion reached late
informed consent · medication error · wrongful death · disfigurement · permanent injury · hospital negligence
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
- tort lawtort, tort law, negligence, duty of care, breach of duty
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
malpracticebest practices
Proven effective methods
ethical practice · due diligence · standard of care · professionalism · ethical conduct
malpracticemeticulousness
Extreme carefulness in details
diligence · thoroughness · vigilance · circumspection · caution
malpracticebest practice
Accepted superior method
standard of care · due diligence · proficiency · expertise · mastery
- medical malpracticeSubstandard care causing injury
- malpractice suitsLawsuits alleging professional negligence
- malpractice insuranceCoverage for professional wrongdoing claims
- medical malpractice lawyerAttorney handling healthcare negligence cases
- legal malpracticeLawyer's breach of duty
- malpractice claimsLawsuits alleging professional negligence