This course will provide a comprehensive overview of the civil action for substandard medical care. The risk exposures of all providers are examined from individual physician, physician's assistant, nurse and hospital to managed care institutions and health care insurers. All essential elements of the medical liability claim are examined: breach of care, causation, damage theory and defenses. An effort is made to provide practical insight to the prosecution and defense of the medical liability case with appearances by New Mexico trial attorneys who specialize in these cases. Special consideration is given to the New Mexico Medical Malpractice Act, New Mexico pattern uniform jury instructions and the New Mexico appellate decisions. The course includes a consideration of the policies behind and merit of current tort reform legislative proposals.