malpractice and medical negligence are both terms used to describe situations where a healthcare provider fails to provide the standard of care expected in their profession, resulting in harm to a patient. However, there are some key differences between the two concepts.

Medical negligence refers to a healthcare provider’s failure to act in a reasonably prudent manner, resulting in harm to a patient. This can include errors in diagnosis, treatment, or aftercare. Negligence is often a result of carelessness, lack of skill, or failure to follow established protocols.

On the other hand, medical malpractice is a specific type of negligence that involves a breach of the duty of care owed by a healthcare provider to a patient. In order to prove medical malpractice, the patient must show that the healthcare provider’s actions deviated from the accepted standard of care, and that this deviation directly caused harm to the patient. Medical malpractice cases often involve more serious consequences and may require expert testimony to establish the standard of care and the provider’s deviation from it.

In summary, medical negligence is a broader term that encompasses any failure to provide adequate care, while medical malpractice specifically refers to cases where a healthcare provider’s actions fall below the standard of care, resulting in harm to a patient.