Medical malpractice occurs across every discipline of medicine — in operating rooms, emergency departments, labor and delivery suites, primary care offices, and long-term care facilities. Understanding which category of malpractice applies to your situation is the first step in assessing whether a viable legal claim exists.
The seven categories below represent the most frequently litigated types of medical malpractice in the United States. Each page provides a detailed analysis of how the law applies, what must be proven, the evidentiary challenges involved, and the types of harm typically compensated.
If your situation does not fit one of these categories, that does not mean a claim cannot exist. Malpractice can arise in any licensed healthcare setting — including dental offices, mental health facilities, nursing homes, urgent care centers, and telemedicine consultations.