Duty in plain English
The legal obligation created by a provider-patient relationship or other rule.
Where this term may appear
Early liability analysis about the legal relationship and obligation owed.
What to verify
Ask which facts and expert opinions support duty in this specific case; the term should not be inferred from a bad medical outcome alone.
Why context matters
Duty is one part of a larger liability analysis; the other elements and the governing state law still matter.
Use official and primary sources for current medical, licensing, court, and state-law information.