New Mexico Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense Explanation: In legal cases involving medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians, understanding the statute of limitations defense is crucial. The New Mexico Jury Instruction — 1.3 provides guidance on this defense and its application in such instances. Keywords: New Mexico Jury Instruction, medical malpractice claim, hospital, physician, statute of limitations defense. When it comes to medical malpractice claims against hospitals and physicians, the statute of limitations defense plays a significant role. This defense refers to a legal time limit imposed on the filing of a lawsuit. In New Mexico, the statute of limitations defense aims to ensure that potential plaintiffs file their claims within a reasonable timeframe. The New Mexico Jury Instruction — 1.3 emphasizes the importance of adhering to the statutory time limit in medical malpractice cases. This instruction offers guidance to the jury to evaluate whether the plaintiff has filed their claim within the allowable timeframe or if it is barred by the statute of limitations defense. There are several types of New Mexico Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense instructions. They include: 1. Standard Statute of Limitations Instruction: This instruction informs the jury of the generally accepted statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in New Mexico. It outlines the specific time period within which a patient must file their lawsuit after the alleged malpractice occurred. 2. Discovery Rule Instruction: This instruction highlights the "discovery rule," which allows for an extended statute of limitations based on when the plaintiff discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, their injury or the negligent action. The jury will consider whether the discovery rule applies to the case and if the plaintiff filed their claim within the designated timeframe after discovering the malpractice. 3. Statute of Repose Instruction: This instruction informs the jury about the statute of repose relating to medical malpractice claims. A statute of repose sets an absolute time limit from the date of the alleged malpractice, regardless of when the plaintiff discovered the injury. The jury must assess whether the plaintiff filed their claim within this set timeframe. It is crucial for both the plaintiff and defendant to understand and present their arguments regarding the statute of limitations defense appropriately. Failure to comply with the time limitations set by the statute of limitations may result in the dismissal of the case or the defendant's successful defense against the claim. The New Mexico Jury Instruction — 1.3 Medical Malpractice Claim Against Hospital And Physician Statute Of Limitations Defense instructions aims to ensure that the jury understands the constraints and considerations regarding the statute of limitations defense in medical malpractice cases. By properly evaluating the timeliness of the plaintiff's claim, the jury plays a significant role in the ultimate outcome of the case.