The standard of care pertinent to a medical malpractice claim in Connecticut is defined by Connecticut General Statutes § 52-184(c) as a breach of the prevailing professional standard of care—that level of care, skill and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar health care providers.

There is an inherent tension in the language of the statute. “Prevailing” in its everyday usage means common, frequent, or widespread. However what is a popular practice among a group of health care providers may not be “reasonably prudent.” For example, the prevailing practice among interventional radiologists in 2004 when implanting a hemodialysis catheter was apparently to throw away the instructions for use at the time of the surgery (thus preventing important safety warnings from getting to patients and other health care providers who will be using the catheter). Query whether this is reasonably prudent.