A medical malpractice cause of action involves proving that a healthcare provider's negligence harmed a patient. The following elements are essential to establish a medical malpractice claim: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. When it comes to the duty of care in a doctor-patient relationship, the patient plays a crucial role. By scheduling an appointment, the patient initiates the agreement for the doctor to provide medical services. In the event of a breach of duty, it is the patient who must provide evidence that the doctor failed to follow the accepted standard of medical practice. The patient also has the responsibility to demonstrate causation, showing that the injury would not have occurred if the provider had not been negligent. The patient must also prove that they suffered some type of actual harm and/ or damages due to this specified breach, which can be economic or non-economic. Economic damages could be medical bills or lost wages, while non-economic damages can be pain and suffering. When a patient wants to turn this into a legal matter, they first need to file a complaint. After that, the discovery phase starts, which means both parties will exchange evidence, such as the medical record, depositions, and expert witness reports. Then, negotiations are the next step in this process. If nothing can be settled, it goes to trial, where everything is presented, and the judge or jury decides. help reply to this post