D.P. v. Wrangell General Hospital

I,. INTRODUCTION

This medical malpractice case raises the question whether a hospital staff exercised care consistent with professional medical standards of restraint and supervision for a psychiatric patient. In such cases, Alaska law requires expert testimony to establish a breach of the standard of care before the plaintiff can recover. Because plaintiff offered no such testimony, even when notified by the trial court that it was required, I would affirm the trial court's decision to dismiss the case.

IIL DISCUSSION

The burdens of proof in a medical malpractice action in Alaska are set out in…