Glossary of Medical Malpractice Law Terms

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Percocet: A prescription pain reliever containing oxycodone and acetaminophen. Classified in the same category as Oxycontin, Percocet contains no more than 5mg of oxycodone.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneum, a sac lining the abdomen, and has no known cure.

Prescription Error: A form of medical malpractice that occurs when a patient does not receive the appropriate medication, at the right dose, at the right time. A Florida prescription error can often cause harm to a patient, and in some circumstances, can even lead to death. A Florida prescription error is considered medical malpractice when a medical professional's negligence or mistake led to patient harm.

Physical Dependence: A physiological need for a substance, the absence of which leads to withdrawal. Physical dependence is distinguishable from addiction in that addiction also involves mental fixation.

Physical therapy: Therapy designed to improve mobility and keep muscles stretched.

Plaintiff: The party who initiates a legal action; in a personal injury lawsuit, the person who alleges that he or she has suffered monetary damages due the negligence of another party.

Pleadings: Written documents stating the allegations and claims of the opposing parties in a legal dispute.

Pleural mesothelioma: A type of cancer found in people who have been exposed to asbestos. Occurs in the pleura, a sac lining the lungs, and has no known cure.

PPA: Short for Phenylpropanolamine, a drug which was used in many over-the-counter cold medicines and weight loss drugs. The FDA issued a recall of PPA after a study linked it to a higher risk of hemhorragic stroke.

Prempro: A type of hormone replacement therapy that combines estrogen and progestin. A study that sought to determine the effectiveness of long-term Prempro® use was halted when researchers discovered that it led to an increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots.

Preponderance of evidence: The relative weight, credit and value of the evidence presented by adversaries in a trial. In a civil trial, the jury is charged with reaching a verdict based on this standard, as opposed to the "reasonable doubt" standard in a criminal trial.

Professional Services: Services for which a person is licensed, trained and qualified to perform in the capacity of a healthcare provider.

Propulsid: A prescription heartburn medication used to relieve the symptoms of nighttime heartburn associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Propulsid was recalled by the FDA after a report linked it to heart rhythm abnormalities and some deaths.