menu

Scales of Justice

Reputation for Excellence

The “Four D’s” of Medical Malpractice (What They Mean and Why They’re Important)

Request Consultation / 856-317-6558
categories
Rating Methodology

The “Four D’s” of Medical Malpractice (What They Mean and Why They’re Important)

The “Four D’s” of Medical Malpractice (What They Mean and Why They’re Important)

Medical malpractice occurs when a patient suffers harm because their medical providers fail to competently render care. As a result, medical malpractice is often thought of as a special type of personal injury claim. However, proving a medical malpractice claim is often more complex than many other kinds of personal injury cases. To win compensation in your medical malpractice case, you will need to prove the existence of the “Four D’s” of medical malpractice: duty, deviation, direct causation, and damages. 

Duty of Care

First, you must prove that the healthcare professional that you are pursuing a medical malpractice claim against owed a duty of care to you. This usually means proving that you had a doctor/provider-patient relationship with the professional. If a provider-patient relationship exists, the healthcare provider is expected to render treatment in accordance with the standard of care. Although the details of the standard of care vary in each patient’s case, the standard can generally be defined as the treatment decisions and actions that other healthcare providers of similar training and experience would undertake in identical circumstances. In other words, the duty of care is equivalent to what other doctors or healthcare providers would do if they were treating you.

Deviation

Next, you must prove that your treating provider’s actions somehow deviated from the standard of care. The law will not hold a provider liable if they made the same actions and decisions that other providers with similar training and experience would have done in your case, even if you ended up suffering harm as a result of the care.

In most cases, you will need to present expert testimony, usually from another medical professional of the same specialty as the healthcare provider you are filing your medical malpractice claim against. Your medical expert will be required to provide an opinion as to what the specific standard of care was in your case and how your provider’s actions failed to meet that standard of care. 

Direct Causation

In addition to showing that your treating providers deviated from the applicable standard of care, you must also show that this deviation was the direct cause of the harm you suffered. While this may be a straightforward issue in some medical malpractice cases, in other cases the parties may vigorously contest whether a healthcare provider’s failure to comply with the standard of care was the direct cause of the patient’s claimed harm. For example, causation may become an issue in medical malpractice cases arising from misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, since the harm suffered by the patient – namely, the medical condition they were suffering from – technically occurred before they sought treatment. However, the patient may try to argue that a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis allowed their condition to become worse and that was the harm they have suffered.

Damage

Finally, to recover compensation in a medical malpractice claim, you will need to establish that you have suffered some sort of loss that you can be financially compensated for. This may take the form of medical treatment and rehabilitation you may need to fix an injury or harm inflicted by a provider’s negligent care, or additional treatment you may need for a medical condition that was worsened by a provider’s negligence. Damages may also include lost income and future earning ability, physical pain, emotional trauma and distress, permanent disabilities and scarring/disfigurement, and reduced life expectancy.

Contact A Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Case in New Jersey

Were you or a loved one injured due to medical malpractice in New Jersey? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Haddonfield medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Andres, Berger & Tran P.C. are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout New Jersey, including Pennsauken, Voorhees, Lindenwold, and Collingswood. Call us today at (856) 795-1444 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 264 Kings Hwy. E., Haddonfield, NJ 08033.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.

standing around table

Sharon Smith

Mike Berger and staff were professional, pleasant, strategic and knowledgeable. The office always kept me informed about my case and moved the case along quicker than I expected. I would highly recommend them to anyone !!

Kathryn N.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Reliable, honest, driven, knowledgeable, compassionate, and highly respected among colleagues and medical professionals [...] fought for me during times when I wasn’t strong enough to fight for myself. The Andres, Berger & Tran law firm understands Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) [...] thank you for your support and guidance over the years.

Mike V.

Mike Berger of Andres, Berger & Tran handled my case over a six year period. He and the team examined every detail to get the best outcome. They were honest, candid and communicative throughout the whole process. It was a long ordeal but could not have been handled more professionally. I highly recommend.

Yadira R.

I just want to say thank you for what you have done for me and my family throughout the years. You made us feel like family, not just clients. You were always very detailed when it came to our cases and tried everything in your power to get us all the help we needed.

Gregory W.

Our family appreciated your unfailing attention to detail. There were last minute snags, we seldom worried that something would fall through the cracks, but you anticipated every contingency. Your firm demonstrated a veracity for the truth, a strong work ethic and overall impeccable character in dealing with our case.

01 / 05

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

case results

View All Case Results

$10million

Settlement/

Gas Explosion

$9.5million

Settlement/

Baby Brain Injury

$9.25million

Settlement/

Anesthesia Malpractice

$7.8million

Settlement/

Anesthesia Malpractice

$7.4million

Settlement/

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

$7million

Settlement/

Anesthesia Malpractice

Areas We Serve

  • Burlington County
  • Bass River
  • Beverly
  • Bordentown City
  • Bordentown Township
  • Burlington City
  • Burlington Township
  • Chesterfield
  • Cinnaminson
  • Delanco
  • Delran
  • Eastampton
  • Edgewater Park
  • Evesham
  • Fieldsboro
  • Florence
  • Hainesport
  • Lumberton
  • Mansfield
  • Maple Shade
  • Medford Lakes
  • Medford Township
  • Moorestown
  • Mount Holly
  • Mount Laurel
  • New Hanover
  • North Hanover
  • Palmyra
  • Pemberton Borough
  • Pemberton Township
  • Riverside
  • Riverton
  • Shamong
  • Southampton
  • Springfield
  • Tabernacle
  • Washington Township
  • Camden County
  • Ashland
  • Audubon
  • Audubon Park
  • Barclay CDP
  • Barrington
  • Bellmawr
  • Berlin
  • Blackwood
  • Brookfield
  • Brooklawn
  • Camden
  • Cherry Hill
  • Chesilhurst
  • Clementon
  • Collingswood
  • Echelon
  • Ellisburg
  • Gibbsboro
  • Glendora
  • Gloucester City
  • Golden Triangle
  • Greentree
  • Haddon Heights
  • Haddonfield
  • Hi-Nella
  • Kingston Estates
  • Laurel Springs
  • Lawnside
  • Lindenwold
  • Magnolia
  • Merchantville
  • Oaklyn
  • Pine Hill
  • Pine Valley
  • Runnemede
  • Somerdale
  • Springdale
  • Stratford
  • Tavistock
  • Wood-Lynne
  • Cape May County
  • Avalon
  • Cape May Point
  • Cape May
  • Dennis Township
  • Lower Township
  • Middle Township
  • North Wildwood
  • Ocean City
  • Sea Isle City
  • Stone Harbor
  • Upper Township
  • West Cape May
  • West Wildwood
  • Wildwood Crest
  • Wildwood
  • Woodbine
  • Cumberland County
  • Bridgeton
  • Cedarville
  • Fairton
  • Laurel Lake
  • Millville
  • Port Norris
  • Rosenhayn
  • Seabrook Farms
  • Shiloh
  • Vineland
  • Gloucester County
  • Beckett
  • Clayton
  • Gibbstown
  • Glassboro
  • Mullica Hill
  • National Park
  • Newfield
  • Oak Valley
  • Paulsboro
  • Pitman
  • Richwood
  • Swedesboro
  • Turnersville
  • Victory Lakes
  • Wenonah
  • Westville
  • Williamstown
  • Woodbury
  • Woodbury Heights
  • Mercer County
  • Groveville
  • Hamilton Square
  • Hightstown
  • Hopewell
  • Lawrenceville
  • Mercerville
  • Pennington
  • Princeton
  • Princeton Junction
  • Robbinsville
  • Trenton
  • Twin Rivers
  • White Horse
  • Yardville
  • Ocean County
  • Barnegat
  • Barnegat Light
  • Bay Head
  • Beach Haven
  • Beach Haven West
  • Beachwood
  • Cedar Glen Lakes
  • Cedar Glen West
  • Crestwood Village
  • Dover Beaches North
  • Dover Beaches South
  • Forked River
  • Harvey Cedars
  • Holiday City South CDP
  • Holiday City-Berkeley CDP
  • Holiday Heights
  • Island Heights
  • Lakehurst
  • Lakewood
  • Lavallette
  • Leisure Knoll
  • Leisure Village
  • Leisure Village East
  • Leisure Village West
  • Manahawkin
  • Mantoloking
  • Mystic Island
  • New Egypt
  • North Beach Haven
  • Ocean Acres
  • Ocean Gate
  • Pine Beach
  • Pine Lake Park
  • Pine Ridge at Crestwood
  • Point Pleasant Beach
  • Point Pleasant
  • Seaside Heights
  • Seaside Park
  • Ship Bottom
  • Silver Ridge
  • South Toms River
  • Surf City
  • Toms River
  • Tuckerton
  • Vista Center
  • Waretown
  • Salem County
  • Alloway
  • Carneys Point
  • Elmer
  • Hancocks Bridge
  • Olivet
  • Pedricktown
  • Penns Grove
  • Pennsville
  • Quinton
  • Salem
  • Woodstown
  • Philadelphia
  • Bella Vista
  • Callowhill
  • Chinatown
  • East Passyunk
  • Fairmount
  • Fishtown
  • Graduate Hospital
  • Logan Square
  • Market East
  • Midtown Village
  • Northern Liberties
  • Old City
  • Pennsport
  • Powelton Village
  • Queen Village
  • Rittenhouse Square
  • Society Hill
  • Spring Garden
  • Spruce Hill and Cedar Park
  • University City
  • Washington Square West
  • Bucks County
  • Bristol
  • Brittany Farms - The Highlands CDP
  • Chalfont
  • Churchville
  • Cornwells Heights
  • Croydon
  • Doylestown
  • Dublin
  • Eddington
  • Fairless Hills
  • Feasterville
  • Hulmeville
  • Ivyland
  • Langhorne
  • Langhorne Manor
  • Levittown
  • Milford Square
  • Morrisville
  • New Britain
  • New Hope
  • Newtown
  • Newtown Grant
  • Penndel
  • Perkasie
  • Plumsteadville
  • Quakertown
  • Richboro
  • Richlandtown
  • Riegelsville
  • Sellersville
  • Silverdale
  • Spinnerstown
  • Trevose
  • Trumbauersville
  • Tullytown
  • Village Shires
  • Warminster Heights
  • Woodbourne
  • Woodside
  • Yardley
  • Montgomery County
  • Ambler
  • Arcadia University CDP
  • Ardmore
  • Audubon
  • Blue Bell
  • Bridgeport
  • Bryn Athyn
  • Bryn Mawr
  • Collegeville
  • Conshohocken
  • Eagleville
  • East Greenville
  • Evansburg
  • Flourtown
  • Fort Washington
  • Gilbertsville
  • Glenside
  • Green Lane
  • Halfway House
  • Harleysville
  • Hatboro
  • Hatfield
  • Haverford College CDP
  • Horsham
  • Jenkintown
  • King of Prussia
  • Kulpsville
  • Lansdale
  • Maple Glen
  • Montgomeryville
  • Narberth
  • Norristown
  • North Wales
  • Oreland
  • Penn Wynne
  • Pennsburg
  • Plymouth Meeting
  • Pottsgrove
  • Pottstown
  • Red Hill
  • Rockledge
  • Royersford
  • Sanatoga
  • Schwenksville
  • Skippack
  • Souderton
  • Spring House
  • Spring Mount
  • Stowe
  • Telford
  • Trappe
  • Trooper
  • West Conshohocken
  • Willow Grove
  • Woxall
  • Wyncote
  • Wyndmoor
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
Firm Award
View Rating Methodology

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey