The noneconomic injury which accompanies the physical injury a malpractice victim suffers as a result of the professional negligence, for which the law allows an amount of money to be paid to the victim as compensation. Some states limit the amount which can be awarded for pain and suffering in malpractice lawsuits.
Psychological distress or discomfort experienced as a result of an injury. Estimates of pain and suffering are used to determine the extent of a patient’s award in malpractice cases and the residual disability a patient may have.