Part of a Current Project
Restatement of the Law, Third,

Torts: Medical Malpractice

This project is part of ALI’s ongoing revision of the Restatement Second of Torts. Portions of the Restatement Second have been superseded by the Restatement Third of Torts: Products Liability, Apportionment of Liability, Liability for Physical and Emotional Harm, and Liability for Economic Harm.
This Restatement addresses medical liability.
More details and content summary
X

Reporters:

Nora Freeman Engstrom, Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA

Michael D. Green, Washington University School of Law, Saint Louis, MO

Mark A. Hall, Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, NC

William C. Powers, Jr., University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Austin, TX [deceased 2019]

Shop individual parts
 

 

  •  
    Tentative Draft No. 2
    Tentative Draft No. 2
    206 pages, 2024, #1R3TMMTD2

    Table of Contents

    Section                                                                                                                                                  Page

    Project Status at a Glance ....................................................................................................................... xiii

    Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. xiv

    Reporters’ Memorandum ......................................................................................................................... xv

     

    Medical Malpractice

    Introductory Note ....................................................................................................................................... 1

    Special Note on Reproductive Harm ......................................................................................................... 2

    § 4. Liability for Breach of Duty .................................................................................................................. 2

    § 5. Standard of Reasonable Medical Care ............................................................................................... 3

    § 6. Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care ................................................................................... 39

    § 7. Res Ipsa Loquitur ............................................................................................................................. 53

    § 8. Lost Chance ..................................................................................................................................... 55

    § 9. Agreements Affecting Medical Liability ............................................................................................. 66

    § 10. No Waiver of Liability ...................................................................................................................... 70

    § 11. Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care ................................................................... 72

    Reporters’ Special Note to §§ 12 and 13 on Ethical Idealism versus Legal Pragmatism in Informed Consent Law ............................................................................................................................................ 87

    § 12. Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions ........................................................................................ 88

    § 13. Informed Consent: Factual Cause and Scope of Liability ............................................................. 128

    § 14. Medical Institutions’ Duties ........................................................................................................... 140

    § 15. Vicarious Liability .......................................................................................................................... 163

     

    Appendix A. Black Letter of Tentative Draft No. 2 ............................................................................ 182

    Appendix B. Black Letter of Sections Approved by Membership ................................................... 188

    Tentative Draft No. 2 contains material on Liability for Breach of Duty, Standard of Reasonable Medical Care, Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care, Res Ipsa Loquitur, Lost Chance, Agreements Affecting Medical Liability, No Waiver of Liability, Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care, Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions, Informed Consent: Factual Cause and Scope of Liability, Medical Institutions’ Duties, and Vicarious Liability. The membership voted to approve this draft at the 2024 Annual Meeting subject to the discussion at the Meeting and editorial prerogative. This material may be cited as representing the Institute’s position until the official text is published.

    206 pages, 2024, #1R3TMMTD2E

    Table of Contents

    Section                                                                                                                                                  Page

    Project Status at a Glance ....................................................................................................................... xiii

    Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. xiv

    Reporters’ Memorandum ......................................................................................................................... xv

     

    Medical Malpractice

    Introductory Note ....................................................................................................................................... 1

    Special Note on Reproductive Harm ......................................................................................................... 2

    § 4. Liability for Breach of Duty .................................................................................................................. 2

    § 5. Standard of Reasonable Medical Care ............................................................................................... 3

    § 6. Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care ................................................................................... 39

    § 7. Res Ipsa Loquitur ............................................................................................................................. 53

    § 8. Lost Chance ..................................................................................................................................... 55

    § 9. Agreements Affecting Medical Liability ............................................................................................. 66

    § 10. No Waiver of Liability ...................................................................................................................... 70

    § 11. Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care ................................................................... 72

    Reporters’ Special Note to §§ 12 and 13 on Ethical Idealism versus Legal Pragmatism in Informed Consent Law ............................................................................................................................................ 87

    § 12. Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions ........................................................................................ 88

    § 13. Informed Consent: Factual Cause and Scope of Liability ............................................................. 128

    § 14. Medical Institutions’ Duties ........................................................................................................... 140

    § 15. Vicarious Liability .......................................................................................................................... 163

     

    Appendix A. Black Letter of Tentative Draft No. 2 ............................................................................ 182

    Appendix B. Black Letter of Sections Approved by Membership ................................................... 188

    Tentative Draft No. 2 contains material on Liability for Breach of Duty, Standard of Reasonable Medical Care, Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care, Res Ipsa Loquitur, Lost Chance, Agreements Affecting Medical Liability, No Waiver of Liability, Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care, Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions, Informed Consent: Factual Cause and Scope of Liability, Medical Institutions’ Duties, and Vicarious Liability. The membership voted to approve this draft at the 2024 Annual Meeting subject to the discussion at the Meeting and editorial prerogative. This material may be cited as representing the Institute’s position until the official text is published.

     
  •  
    Tentative Draft No. 1
    Tentative Draft No. 1
    98 pages, 2023, #1R3TMMTD1

    Table of Contents

    Section                                                                                                                                        Page

    Project Status at a Glance............................................................................................................. xii

    Foreword..................................................................................................................................... xiii

    Reporters’ Memorandum............................................................................................................. xiv

    Medical Malpractice

    § 6. Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care........................................................................... 1

    § 7. Res Ipsa Loquitur................................................................................................................... 14

    § 8. Loss of Chance [RESERVED].............................................................................................. 16

    § 9. Agreements Affecting Medical Liability................................................................................ 16

    § 10. No Waiver of Liability.......................................................................................................... 20

    § 11. Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care........................................................ 23

    Reporters’ Special Note to §§ 12 and 13 on Ethical Idealism versus Legal Pragmatism in Informed Consent Law...................................................................................................................... 37

    § 12. Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions............................................................................. 38

    Appendix A. Black Letter of Tentative Draft No. 1................................................................ 79

    Appendix B. Black Letter of Sections Approved by Membership......................................... 82

    Tentative Draft No. 1 includes material on Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care, Res Ipsa Loquitur, Agreements Affecting Medical Liability, No Waiver of Liability, Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care, and Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions. Because there was insufficient time to discuss this draft at the 2023 Annual Meeting, no vote was taken to approve any of the material.

    98 pages, 2023, #1R3TMMTD1E

    Table of Contents

    Section                                                                                                                                        Page

    Project Status at a Glance............................................................................................................. xii

    Foreword..................................................................................................................................... xiii

    Reporters’ Memorandum............................................................................................................. xiv

    Medical Malpractice

    § 6. Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care........................................................................... 1

    § 7. Res Ipsa Loquitur................................................................................................................... 14

    § 8. Loss of Chance [RESERVED].............................................................................................. 16

    § 9. Agreements Affecting Medical Liability................................................................................ 16

    § 10. No Waiver of Liability.......................................................................................................... 20

    § 11. Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care........................................................ 23

    Reporters’ Special Note to §§ 12 and 13 on Ethical Idealism versus Legal Pragmatism in Informed Consent Law...................................................................................................................... 37

    § 12. Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions............................................................................. 38

    Appendix A. Black Letter of Tentative Draft No. 1................................................................ 79

    Appendix B. Black Letter of Sections Approved by Membership......................................... 82

    Tentative Draft No. 1 includes material on Establishing Breach of the Standard of Care, Res Ipsa Loquitur, Agreements Affecting Medical Liability, No Waiver of Liability, Agreements to Take a Nonstandard Approach to Care, and Informed Consent: Duty and Exceptions. Because there was insufficient time to discuss this draft at the 2023 Annual Meeting, no vote was taken to approve any of the material.