90-21.12. Standard of health care.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in any medical malpractice action as defined in G.S. 90-21.11(2)(a), the defendant health care provider shall not be liable for the payment of damages unless the trier of fact finds by the greater weight of the evidence that the care of such health care provider was not in accordance with the standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and experience situated in the same or similar communities under the same or similar circumstances at the time of the alleged act giving rise to the cause of action; or in the case of a medical malpractice action as defined in G.S. 90-21.11(2)(b), the defendant health care provider shall not be liable for the payment of damages unless the trier of fact finds by the greater weight of the evidence that the action or inaction of such health care provider was not in accordance with the standards of practice among similar health care providers situated in the same or similar communities under the same or similar circumstances at the time of the alleged act giving rise to the cause of action.
(b) In any medical malpractice action arising out of the furnishing or the failure to furnish professional services in the treatment of an emergency medical condition, as the term "emergency medical condition" is defined in 42 U.S.C. 1395dd(e)(1)(A), the claimant must prove a violation of the standards of practice set forth in subsection (a) of this section by clear and convincing evidence. (1975, 2nd Sess., c. 977, s. 4; 2011-283, s. 4.1(a); 2011-400, s. 6.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Chapter 90 - Medicine and Allied Occupations
Article 1B - Medical Malpractice Actions.
§ 90-21.12 - Standard of health care.
§ 90-21.12A - Nonresident physicians.
§ 90-21.13 - Informed consent to health care treatment or procedure.
§ 90-21.14 - First aid or emergency treatment; liability limitation.
§ 90-21.15 - Emergency treatment using automated external defibrillator; immunity.
§ 90-21.15A - Emergency treatment using epinephrine auto-injector; immunity.
§ 90-21.16 - Volunteer health care professionals; liability limitation.
§ 90-21.17 - Portable do not resuscitate order and Medical Order for Scope of Treatment.
§ 90-21.18 - Medical directors; liability limitation.
§ 90-21.19 - Liability limit for noneconomic damages.
§ 90-21.19B - Verdicts and awards of damages in medical malpractice actions; form.