In the law of torts, malpractice, also known as professional negligence, is an "instance of negligence or incompetence on the part of a professional".
[3] For example, to sue a lawyer for malpractice the person bringing the claim must have had an attorney-client relationship with the lawyer.
[4] To succeed in a malpractice action under typical malpractice law, the person making a malpractice claim must prove that the professional committed an act of culpable negligence and that the person suffered an injury due to the professional's error.
[5] Medical malpractice is a highly complex area of law, with laws that differ significantly between jurisdictions.
[6] In Australia, medical malpractice and the rise in claims against individual and institutional providers have led to the evolution of patient advocates.