What constitutes a "medical malpractice" claim in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, a "medical malpractice" claim is fundamentally defined as a legal claim that arises from negligence or a failure to provide adequate healthcare. This involves situations where a healthcare provider deviates from the standard of care that is expected in the medical community, leading to harm or injury to a patient. The concept of negligence is central to medical malpractice; it requires showing that a provider's actions fell below the accepted level of competence, and this failure directly caused the patient's injury or harm.

For a successful medical malpractice case, it is necessary to illustrate that the standard of care was not met and that the breach of this standard resulted in specific damages. This definition aligns with the overarching principles of tort law, where the focus is on remedies for harm caused by another party’s negligence.

Other options, while related to healthcare operations, do not specifically encapsulate the essence of medical malpractice claims. For example, failing to keep accurate patient records could be a contributing factor in forming a malpractice case, but it is not the definition of a malpractice claim itself. Similarly, inadequate staffing levels and administrative errors could impact healthcare delivery but do not inherently reflect the legal nature of a medical malpractice claim as framed under South Carolina law.