A patient brings a diversity action against a doctor for medical malpractice after surgery. What must the patient prove regarding the administration of medication?

In a diversity action for medical malpractice, the patient must establish that the doctor was negligent in their care, which includes the administration of medication. To prove negligence, the patient typically has to demonstrate that the doctor failed to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent physician would have provided under similar circumstances. This can involve showing that the medication was given improperly, whether due to incorrect dosage, lack of necessary monitoring, or failure to account for the patient’s specific medical history.

Proving that negligence occurred effectively establishes a breach of duty owed by the doctor to the patient, which is a critical component of any medical malpractice claim. This means the patient had to show how the doctor's actions, or lack thereof, deviated from expected medical practices, resulting in harm.

The other options do not address the core issue of negligence in this context. Intent to harm is not necessary to prove negligence, as medical malpractice claims hinge on care standards rather than malicious intent. A pre-existing condition may be relevant but does not, by itself, establish negligence. Similarly, whether the medication was expired could be a factor, but it is not a requisite proof point in showing negligence without more context about how that expiration affected the treatment and outcomes.

Overall, the necessity to prove the matter