A medical professional is required to provide a certain standard of care when treating patients. This standard of care is based on the treatment that a reasonable person with a similar level of skill and experience would have provided to a patient in the same situation. If a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional did not meet this standard of care, and a patient suffered harm as a result, this is considered medical negligence, and the patient may be able to recover damages through a medical malpractice claim.