Malpractice, or professional negligence, is a tort committed when a professional breaches their duty to a client. The duty of a professional to a client is generally defined as the duty to follow generally accepted professional standards. Of course, the other elements of a negligence tort (duty, breach, proximate cause, actual cause and damages) must also be shown. Malpractice suits are most common against doctors and lawyers.
[Last updated in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]