Opinion ID: 146762
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Elements of Medical Malpractice

Text: This diversity suit is governed by the substantive law of Puerto Rico. See Marcano Rivera v. Turbado Med. Ctr., 415 F.3d 162, 167 (1st Cir.2005). In Puerto Rico, as in many jurisdictions, in order to prevail on a medical malpractice claim, a party must establish (1) the duty owed; (2) an act or omission transgressing that duty; and (3) a sufficient causal nexus between the breach and the harm. Id. (citation omitted). In the context of medical malpractice actions, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court has explained that a physician's duty is to offer his or her patient that medical care, attention, skill, and protection that, in the light of the modern means of communication and education, and pursuant to the current status of scientific knowledge and medical practice, meets the professional requirements generally acknowledged by the medical profession. Santiago Otero v. Méndez, 1994 P.R.-Eng. 909,224, 1994 WL 909224 (1994). To prevail, a plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence both that the standard of care was not met, and that the failure to meet an acceptable standard caused the harm. Id. In order to determine the applicable standard of care in a medical malpractice action and to make a judgment on causation, a trier of fact will generally need the assistance of expert testimony. See Rojas-Ithier v. Sociedad Espanola de Auxilio Mutuo y Beneficiencia de P.R., 394 F.3d 40, 43 (1st Cir.2005) (citing Rolon-Alvarado v. Municipality of San Juan, 1 F.3d 74, 78 (1st Cir.1993); Lama v. Borras, 16 F.3d 473, 478 (1st Cir.1994)).