Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, hospital or other health care professional/provider does not meet the standard of professional competence resulting in provable damages to the patient.  The damages may be a result of ignorance, negligence or intentional wrongdoing.  Damages may result from intentional actions or errors of omission.  In order to prove medical malpractice, an expert must testify what the standard of care would be in a particular situation and present evidence demonstrating that the professional did not meet this standard.  The defendant may also present experts to testify that they did, in fact, meet the medical standard for care.