Oregon Jury Instruction — 1.3 Duty To Mitigate In General Pursuing Medical Care is a legal guideline provided to jurors in Oregon courts to help them understand the duty of a plaintiff to mitigate damages by pursuing necessary medical care after an injury or accident. This instruction highlights the importance of the injured party taking reasonable steps to mitigate their damages and minimize the financial burden on the defendant. The duty to mitigate in pursuing medical care is an essential aspect of personal injury cases that seeks to ensure fairness and reasonableness in the process. It encompasses various factors that the jury needs to consider when evaluating the plaintiff's actions in seeking medical treatment. The following are examples of different types or scenarios that may be covered under this Oregon Jury Instruction: 1. Prompt Medical Attention: This instruction emphasizes that the injured party has a duty to seek medical attention promptly after an accident or injury. It highlights that a delay in seeking treatment may be considered a failure to mitigate damages. 2. Reasonable and Necessary Medical Care: The instruction further emphasizes that the plaintiff has a duty to seek reasonable and necessary medical care. It implies that the injured party should not seek excessive or unnecessary treatment that could unnecessarily inflate damages. 3. Seeking Expert Medical Advice: This instruction might also highlight the importance of the injured party seeking expert medical advice to understand the nature and extent of their injuries fully. It may require the plaintiff to consult professionals to determine appropriate treatment options. 4. Consent to Surgical or Medical Procedures: If relevant to the case, this instruction might address the plaintiff's duty to consent to reasonable surgical or medical procedures recommended by qualified healthcare providers. It emphasizes that failure to undergo such procedures without a valid reason might be seen as a failure to mitigate damages. 5. Compliance with Treatment Protocols: Jurors may be instructed to consider whether the plaintiff has complied with the prescribed treatment protocols provided by healthcare professionals. This can include attending follow-up appointments, adhering to medication regimens, and following rehabilitation programs. 6. Failure to Mitigate Damages: In certain cases, the instruction might outline the consequences of the plaintiff's failure to mitigate damages. This could include reducing the damages awarded to the injured party or potentially absolving the defendant of liability, to some extent. Understanding and applying the Oregon Jury Instruction — 1.3 Duty To Mitigate In General Pursuing Medical Care is crucial for jurors to make fair and informed decisions in personal injury cases. By considering these instructions, jurors can evaluate the reasonableness of the plaintiff's actions in seeking medical care and determine appropriate damages in accordance with the principle of mitigation.