Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers | January 8, 2026 | Medical Malpractice
Causation establishes a healthcare provider’s negligence as the cause of your injury in a medical malpractice case. Even if a doctor made an apparent mistake, you can only recover compensation if that mistake actually caused your harm.
Kentucky courts require plaintiffs to prove causation through expert testimony, making it one of the most challenging elements in Lexington medical malpractice claims.
What Is Causation in Medical Malpractice?
Cause is the reason why something happens. In a personal injury case, causation is a required element to prove that the defendant is responsible for damages. In a medical malpractice claim, causation links a medical provider’s breach of duty to the harm sustained by a patient.
There are two types of cause in a medical malpractice case: cause in fact (actual cause) and legal cause (proximate cause):
- Cause in fact: Factual or actual cause establishes why something happened. Courts often apply the “but for” test to determine actual cause. The patient would not have suffered harm “but for” a doctor’s conduct. For example, a patient would not have sustained a life-threatening infection if a doctor had not left a surgical sponge inside the patient during surgery.
- Proximate cause: Proximate cause uses the foreseeability test. In the above example, it is reasonably foreseeable that leaving an implement inside a patient during surgery could cause the patient harm. Proximate cause means there is a legally sufficient reason to hold a defendant financially liable for the patient’s harm.
Causation is often one of the toughest elements to prove in a medical malpractice case. Because patients generally are ill or have a medical condition, proving causation can be complicated.
The Four Elements of a Kentucky Medical Malpractice Claim
Generally, medical malpractice claims require the injured party to prove the following four elements to win their case:
- Duty of care: Medical providers owe a legal duty to their patients to provide care that meets the medical standard of care. Typically, the duty of care arises when a person agrees to receive care, and the doctor provides care.
- Breach of duty: The doctor breached their duty by failing to provide care that met the standard of care. The standard of care is based on medically accepted practices. Common breaches of duty include medication errors, surgical mistakes, cancer misdiagnosis, and emergency room errors.
- Causation: The deviation from the standard of care was the direct and proximate cause of the patient’s harm. Causation is often the most contested element in a medical malpractice case.
- Damages: The breach of duty resulted in damages, including injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses. Patients can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Together, these four elements form the foundation of a Kentucky medical malpractice claim, and all must be proven to hold a healthcare provider legally responsible for a patient’s injuries.
Why Expert Testimony Is Required
In most medical malpractice cases, plaintiffs must file a Certificate of Merit with their complaint. This document confirms that a qualified medical expert has reviewed the case and found a reasonable basis for the claim.
Medical experts play a central role in proving both breach of the standard of care and causation. Because medical causation involves complex issues beyond common knowledge, expert testimony is usually required to explain how a provider’s actions caused the patient’s injury.
Common Causation Challenges in Medical Malpractice Cases
Defendants challenge causation in several ways. Common causation challenges in medical malpractice cases include:
- Pre-existing conditions: The patient had a medical condition that could have been responsible for the alleged injury.
- Multiple potential causes: The defense may raise several potential causes for the patient’s condition. The medical provider may argue that their actions were not a substantial factor in causing the patient harm.
- Patient non-compliance: Defense attorneys may accuse the patient of failing to follow the doctor’s instructions or treatment plan. Instead of the doctor causing the injury, the patient’s actions were the cause.
- Natural disease progression: The defense team may present testimony arguing that the alleged injuries are the result of the patient’s condition. The patient is worse because of the disease.
A patient can fight these allegations by providing testimony from medical experts to contradict the defense’s arguments. Experts use the patient’s medical records and their medical knowledge to explain why the defense’s arguments are incorrect.
Contact a Lexington Medical Malpractice Attorney for Help
Proving causation in medical malpractice cases in Lexington, Kentucky, requires thorough investigation and qualified expert witnesses. Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered millions for injured clients in Kentucky.
If you believe a healthcare provider’s negligence caused your injury, contact our office to discuss your potential claim. Our Lexington medical malpractice lawyers offer free consultations.
We proudly serve Fayette County and the surrounding areas.
Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers – Lexington
501 Darby Creek Rd UNIT 48
Lexington, KY 40509
(859) 413-3900
