Answer:
In a malpractice case, to prove negligence, the four "D"s often referred to are:
1. **Duty**: The healthcare provider owed a duty of care to the patient. This means that there was a doctor-patient relationship, and the healthcare professional had a duty to provide a certain standard of care.
2. **Dereliction**: The healthcare provider breached their duty of care. This involves demonstrating that the provider's actions or inactions fell below the accepted standard of care in the medical community.
3. **Direct Cause**: There must be a direct link between the breach of duty and the harm suffered by the patient. This means showing that the provider's actions or negligence directly caused the injury or harm.
4. **Damages**: To have a valid malpractice claim, there must be actual damages or harm suffered by the patient. This can include physical injury, emotional distress, financial losses, or other forms of harm.
Proving these elements is essential in a medical malpractice case to establish that the healthcare provider was negligent in their care of the patient.