Medical malpractice is the act of negligence on the part of a heath care provider. When this occurs, it may result in further complications in the condition of the patient, or possibly even the death of the patient. Legal victories in medical malpractice lawsuits typically occur when the health care provider deviates from what is the accepted standards of care, either by mistake or on purpose. The most common types of situations where medical malpractice occurs are: errors from anesthesia, misdiagnosis of cancer, nursing home abuse, medical errors and surgery mistakes.