Medical negligence glossary of terms

We appreciate that some of the terms you might hear when you're thinking about making a medical negligence claim may be confusing and that the terminology can sometimes feel daunting. But don't worry - our medical negligence glossary below will help you by explaining what these phrases mean.

If the care or treatment given falls below a reasonable standard, the healthcare professional is in breach of his or her duty to the patient, which could constitute ‘clinical negligence'.

Causation essentially refers to the identification of the direct cause of the injury or illness that was suffered as a result of clinical negligence.

Clinical negligence and medical negligence fundamentally refer to the same thing. It includes doctors and all other health professionals, such as therapists, nurses, opticians and dentists.

There are two types of damages when referring to compensation. ‘General damages' refer to pain, suffering and loss of comfort. ‘Special damages' refer to the financial expenses or losses incurred as a direct result of an injury.

All healthcare professionals have what is referred to as a ‘duty of care' to their patients. This means providing care that meets a certain expected standard within the medical sector.

Not all medical accidents are a direct result of negligence. In some circumstances, there may be a situation that is not a reflection of the level of care received from a medical professional, such as unavoidable or unforeseen health complications.

Medical negligence is the term used to refer to a ‘medical accident' in which a patient has been harmed because a medical professional has not given the appropriate standard or level of care.

This refers to receiving an incorrect diagnosis of a particular illness or health-related issue. It spans the entire medical field to cover everything from mental health issues to broken bones and serious injuries and illnesses.

This is the legal term used to describe the financial value of the claim in terms of damages.

This refers to a level of care that was not sufficient enough to meet the regulations within the medical profession and was, therefore, deemed below standard.