Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Javier Navarro, in Oct. 2015
Malpractice is understood to be that illegal and inappropriate act in the exercise of a profession. In simple terms we could say that it is some kind of error with certain consequences.
Although the concept of malpractice is applicable to any activity professionalIt is in medicine where it is most commonly used.
Malpractice in the medical profession
The mistakes of doctors and nurses have potentially serious consequences for the health of patients.
The concept of malpractice can be understood in several ways. If a doctor has an oversight with an obvious repercussion on a patient, we would speak of negligence. Sometimes the medical failure is considered a imprudence. It could also be the case of a lack of expertise or non-compliance with a procedure when applying a specific protocol. In any case, the medical professional is responsible for his actions, so he may have to assume some responsibility legal of a civil or criminal nature.
Normally, malpractice is involuntary and without any intention, so it would be considered a negligent crime. Exceptionally, it could be the case that the malpractice was intentional, something that would be classified as a malicious crime.
The concept of malpractice is equivalent to another, medical malpractice. If these types of judgments are brought before the courts, one of the most complex issues is to demonstrate with reliable evidence that there really has been some type of irregularity.
Medicine is a discipline and a profession with a rank singularbecause it deals with the most precious aspect of life, health. For this reason, and the ancient Greeks proposed a code from conduct, the so-called Hippocratic Oath, which still has to be respected by professionals today. Likewise, in recent years the so-called deontological codes have been introduced, which are the regulations in which specify what are the duties that should govern the professional activity of doctors or any other activity.
The Hippocratic Oath and the Code of Ethics are the framework normative in which the correct actions are established and those that are not, that is, the malpractice of medicine.
Photo: iStock - 1905HKN
Topics in Malpractice