When the expected standard of care is not met by a doctor, medical malpractice litigation may ensue. Healthcare professionals are required, by law, to meet the same standard of care that other professionals who specialize in the same field of medicine would meet. This isn't the case, however, with every doctor. Medical malpractice litigation is the means by which a patient that has suffered as a result of a doctor's negligence can seek compensation for their injuries, both physical and psychological. A patient, or a family member in the case of wrongful death, may also seek compensation for lost wages, pain and suffering, out-of-pocket expenses, and punitive damages, if any, from the doctor. Medical malpractice compensation awards are considerably larger than other types of personal injury case compensations. This is because when a patient's rights have been violated, the courts take it very seriously.