- malpractice
- The violation of a professional duty to act with reasonable care and in good faith without fraud or collusion, as in the case of a public accountant, 1 Am J2d Accts § 15, or a beautician. Ocean Acci. & Guarantee Corp. v Herzberg's Inc. (CA8 Neb) 100 F2d 171. By an attorney at law:–the failure to exercise on behalf of his client the knowledge, skill, and ability ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of the legal profession, whereby an actual loss is caused the client. 7 Am J2d Attys §§ 167 et seq. By physician or surgeon:–the wrong, for which a physician or surgeon is answerable to his patient where it results in injury to the patient, consisting in the want of that reasonable degree of learning, skill, and experience which ordinarily is possessed by others of his profession, the omission to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the exertion of his skill and the application of his knowledge, or his failure to exert his best judgment in the case entrusted to him. 41 Am J1st Phys & S §§ 79, 82. A cause of action predicated by law on the relation which exists between physician and patient, although supported by some cases on the theory of liability under a contract implied by law. 41 Am J1st Phys & S § 79.
Ballentine's law dictionary. Anderson, W.S.. 1998.