How do I prove medical negligence?

What the Law Says

German law does not have a separate 'medical malpractice' statute — instead, doctors’ liability arises under general tort and contract law, primarily governed by § 276 of the German Civil Code (BGB). This section defines negligence as failing to exercise the care required in ordinary traffic (Verkehrssorgfalt).

To succeed in a medical negligence claim, you must prove three core elements: (1) a duty of care owed by the healthcare provider, (2) a breach of that duty (i.e., failure to meet professional standards), and (3) a causal link between the breach and your injury or damage.

Under § 276(2) BGB, negligence is defined objectively: it occurs when someone disregards the level of care expected in normal professional practice — not what *this specific doctor* thought was reasonable, but what a competent peer would have done under the same circumstances.

Importantly, § 276(1) confirms that unless stricter or looser liability is agreed (e.g., via contract or guarantee), the standard rule is liability for both intent and negligence — meaning doctors are presumed liable if they act negligently.

Statutory Text

Fahrlässig handelt, wer die im Verkehr erforderliche Sorgfalt außer Acht lässt.

— BGB § 276(2) — German Civil Code

Statutory Text

Der Schuldner hat Vorsatz und Fahrlässigkeit zu vertreten, wenn eine strengere oder mildere Haftung weder bestimmt noch aus dem sonstigen Inhalt des Schuldverhältnisses, insbesondere aus der Übernahme einer Garantie oder eines Beschaffungsrisikos, zu entnehmen ist.

— BGB § 276(1) — German Civil Code

What Courts Have Said

German courts apply strict standards to medical conduct — and in clear cases of gross error, they ease the patient’s evidentiary burden significantly.

What to Do

Sources

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