How is "malpractice" defined under Ohio law?

Under Ohio law, "malpractice" is defined primarily as professional negligence by a medical provider, which involves a failure to meet accepted standards of practice within the medical community. This definition underscores the importance of the standard of care that healthcare professionals are expected to adhere to in their practice.

When a medical provider does not perform their duties to the standard expected of them, and this failure results in harm to a patient, it constitutes malpractice. This can include errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management, where the actions (or lack of actions) of the provider deviate from what is considered acceptable and responsible behavior in similar circumstances.

In contrast, while intentional harm (like in the option about an intentional act causing harm) may lead to legal issues, it falls under a different category of law, such as intent-based torts rather than malpractice. Similarly, the obligation to obtain informed consent is a component of medical practice but does not encompass the broader concept of malpractice itself. Lastly, not every adverse outcome qualifies as malpractice, as there needs to be a connection between a provider's negligence and the actual harm suffered by the patient, rather than simply any negative result post-treatment.

This clarification helps establish that the essence of malpractice in Ohio relates directly