Code of Alabama
Article 29 - Medical Liability Act of 1987.
Section 6-5-542 - Definitions.

For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(1) HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. A medical practitioner, dental practitioner, medical institution, physician, dentist, hospital, or other health care provider as those terms are defined in Section 6-5-481.
(2) STANDARD OF CARE. The standard of care is that level of such reasonable care, skill, and diligence as other similarly situated health care providers in the same general line of practice, ordinarily have and exercise in like cases. A breach of the standard of care is the failure by a health care provider to comply with the standard of care, which failure proximately causes personal injury or wrongful death. This definition applies to all actions for injuries or damages or wrongful death whether in contract or tort and whether based on intentional or unintentional conduct.
(3) FUTURE DAMAGES. Damages for future medical treatment, care, or custody, loss of future earnings, future loss of earning capacity, future loss of bodily function, future loss of consortium, or future pain and suffering.
(4) PERIODIC PAYMENT. The payment of money or delivery of other property to the judgment creditor at regular intervals.
(5) SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. Substantial evidence is that character of admissible evidence which would convince an unprejudiced thinking mind of the truth of the fact to which the evidence is directed.

Structure Code of Alabama

Code of Alabama

Title 6 - Civil Practice.

Chapter 5 - Actions.

Article 29 - Medical Liability Act of 1987.

Section 6-5-540 - Legislative Intent.

Section 6-5-541 - Short Title; Construction.

Section 6-5-542 - Definitions.

Section 6-5-543 - Damages Against Health Care Provider to Be Itemized; Future Damages Over $150,000 to Be Paid by Periodic Payments Over Period of Years; Judgment to Specify Payment Terms; Requirement to Post Security or Provide Evidence of Insurance...

Section 6-5-544 - Recovery of Noneconomic Losses; Limitation of Such Losses; Mistrial if Jury Advised of Limitation.

Section 6-5-545 - Evidence Admissible That Medical Expenses Will Be Reimbursed; Information Subject to Discovery.

Section 6-5-546 - Venue of Actions; Transfer.

Section 6-5-547 - One Million Dollar Limit on Judgments; Mistrial if Jury Advised of Limitation.

Section 6-5-548 - Burden of Proof; Reasonable Care as Similarly Situated Health Care Provider; No Evidence Admitted of Medical Liability Insurance.

Section 6-5-549 - Standard of Proof Shall Be Proof by Substantial Evidence; Scintilla Rule of Evidence Abolished; Instruction to Jury.

Section 6-5-549.1 - Limits of Liability Insurance Coverage in Legal Action Against Health Care Providers; Testimony of Health Care Providers as Specialists.

Section 6-5-550 - Cause of Action for Malicious Prosecution of Civil Action Against Health Care Provider.

Section 6-5-551 - Complaint to Detail Circumstances Rendering Provider Liable; Discovery.

Section 6-5-552 - Application.