Medical Malpractice occurs when a medical provider is negligent in their care of a patient, either by acts that deviate from normal standards of care, or by omitting actions that are considered normal standards of care, resulting in the injury or death of a patient. Doctors are required to carry medical malpractice insurance to provide compensation to any patients who suffer at their hands. The specific laws and insurance requirements vary by state, but if a doctor is sued for negligence in a medical malpractice lawsuit, lawyers generally call a variety of expert witnesses who attest to the normal standards of care for that doctor's field of practice and the procedure or treatment said to be negligent. Medical malpractice information on a particular doctor or hospital can be difficult to access, since there are no national reporting agencies. But a thorough and specific search on the internet, especially on the Web sites of state medical boards, can reveal some helpful information.