Missouri Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense is a legal instruction used in Missouri courtrooms to guide jurors in cases involving medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians. This instruction specifically addresses the defense of statute of limitations, which focuses on the time limit within which a plaintiff must file a medical malpractice claim. Keyword: Medical Malpractice Claim Medical malpractice refers to the negligence or improper care provided by a healthcare professional, which leads to harm or injury to a patient. In Missouri, when a patient seeks legal action against a hospital and its affiliated physicians for medical malpractice, it becomes essential to establish the defense and implications of the statute of limitations. Keyword: Hospital And Physician In a medical malpractice claim, both a hospital and the physician involved may be held accountable for the negligence that caused the patient's harm. This Missouri Jury Instruction — 1.3 addresses the defense for both the hospital and the physician, specifically covering the statute of limitations. Keyword: Statute Of Limitations Defense The statute of limitations defense is a legal concept that determines the time limit within which a plaintiff must file a medical malpractice claim. This defense asserts that the plaintiff has failed to file the claim within the stipulated time frame, and as a result, the case should be dismissed. This instruction guides the jurors in understanding the implications and application of the statute of limitations defense, emphasizing the need for timely filing of medical malpractice claims. Different Types of Missouri Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense: 1. Standard Statute of Limitations Defense: This type of defense argues that the plaintiff failed to file the medical malpractice claim within the specified time limit set by Missouri law. It asserts that the claim should be dismissed based on the expiry of the statute of limitations. 2. Tolling Statute of Limitations Defense: In certain situations, the statute of limitations may be "tolled" or temporarily suspended. This defense argues that the plaintiff's claims should be dismissed because the statute of limitations was tolled due to specific circumstances, such as the plaintiff's incapacity to file the claim within the prescribed period. 3. Discovery Rule Statute of Limitations Defense: The discovery rule defense argues that the statute of limitations should be extended based on when the plaintiff discovered or could have reasonably discovered their injury or the negligence of the hospital and physician involved. This defense contends that the plaintiff was unaware of the harm caused until a certain point, thereby justifying the delayed filing of the claim. 4. Minor Plaintiff Statute of Limitations Defense: This defense applies when the plaintiff is a minor at the time of the alleged medical malpractice. It argues that the statute of limitations clock should start once the minor reaches the age of majority (typically 18 years old), rather than the date of the alleged incident. This defense allows for additional time for the minor plaintiff to file a claim. Overall, Missouri Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense aims to educate jurors on the various aspects and defenses associated with the statute of limitations in medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians.