Medical malpractice is negligence committed by a medical professional.
Medical malpractice and medical negligence therefore have the same meaning, and the two terms can be used interchangeably. The determination of whether a medical professional was negligent is made by measuring the person's conduct against an objective standard of reasonable care under the circumstances. The standard of care for medical professionals is a national standard of care. The standard of care for a medical professional is set by other medical professionals. Accordingly, both the standard of care itself, and the claimed failure to meet it, must be established by expert testimony.