Opinion ID: 1953829
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Initial Considerations

Text: The law has never held a physician or surgeon liable for every untoward result which may occur in medical practice, and a physician is not a warrantor against bad results. Dazet v. Bass, 254 So.2d 183, 187 (Miss. 1971). [A] physician may incur civil liability only when the quality of care he renders (including his judgment calls) falls below minimally acceptable levels. Hall v. Hilbun, 466 So.2d 856, 871 (Miss. 1985). To present a prima facie case of medical malpractice, a plaintiff, (1) after establishing the doctor-patient relationship and its attendant duty, is generally required to present expert testimony (2) identifying and articulating the requisite standard of care and (3) establishing that the defendant physician failed to conform to the standard of care. Boyd v. Lynch, 493 So.2d 1315, 1318 (Miss. 1986); Hammond v. Grissom, 470 So.2d 1049, 1053 (Miss. 1985). In addition, (4) the plaintiff must prove the physician's non-compliance with the standard of care caused the plaintiff's injury, as well as proving (5) the extent of the plaintiff's damages. Boyd v. Lynch, 493 So.2d at 1318.