malpractice
n. C / Un. careless or illegal behavior by a professional person, such as a doctor or lawyer, while they are doing their job. It usually results in harm or loss to the person they are helping.
n. improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner or lawyer. Often involves a breach of the duty of care that results in injury or loss to a client or patient.
The doctor faced a lawsuit for medical malpractice.
The law firm was investigated for legal malpractice after failing to file the client's documents before the court deadline.
Proving professional malpractice requires the plaintiff to demonstrate that the practitioner deviated from the accepted standard of care and that this deviation directly caused the resulting damages.
From mal- + practice.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of professional misconduct; countable when referring to specific instances or lawsuits.