How is "Gross malpractice" characterized?

Gross malpractice is characterized by significant and egregious errors that indicate a severe lapse in the standard of care expected from a medical professional. In this context, being under the influence of substances is particularly illustrative of gross malpractice. When a chiropractor or any healthcare provider operates while impaired, it shows a blatant disregard for patient safety and care standards. This impairment can lead to critical errors in judgement and potentially harmful outcomes for patients, highlighting a severity that goes beyond simple negligence.

While inadequate patient care, misdiagnosis, or negligence in follow-up care are all important concepts in the realm of malpractice, they typically fall under the umbrella of ordinary malpractice or negligence rather than gross malpractice. Gross malpractice requires a level of misconduct that is starkly serious and often involves factors like substance abuse that elevate the act to a much higher standard of wrongdoing in the context of patient care.