In short, medical malpractice or hospital negligence occurs when a patient is injured as a result of a healthcare professional’s intentional or unintentional negligence. The American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA) lists the criteria for defining medical malpractice and hospital negligence as: (1) the standard of care was violated, (2) doctor negligence resulted in injury to the patient, and (3) significant damages resulted from the injury.