Negligence and malpractice

Abstract

Negligence is a departure from a due standard of care. Standards of care are set up by the profession not merely as a guideline to doctors, but as a minimum requirement. It is about proper management and also about patient rights. Continuing Medical Education programmes that do not aim to divulge what the standard of care is, may not be imparting to professionals what is expected from them. Although practices may vary before they become actual 'standards', some practices may also be abandoned, and those who continue to practice them may of course be guilty of malpractice .