Question

What are the four D’s of negligence? Provide a brief explanation of each one.

Answer 1

The four D's of negligence are:

1) Duty - Patient-physician relationship exists where the physician owed the a patient a duty. 
2) Derelict - Dereliction of duty; The physician failed to comply to the standards of his profession. 
3) Direct Cause - Damages incurred by the patient must be directly caused by the physicians breach of duty.
4) Damages - Injury incurred by the patient resulting from the physician's negligence.