District of Columbia · Medical Malpractice
District of Columbia medical malpractice damage caps and statute of limitations
Refreshed 2026. No cap damage cap. 3 years from act or omission. Full breakdown below.
Damage caps
No statuteNon-economic damages cap
None
Total damages cap
None
Status
no cap
Notes
No damage cap enacted. Unlike neighboring Maryland and Virginia, DC imposes no limits on medical malpractice recovery.
Statute of limitations
DC Code § 12-301(8)Standard SOL
3 years from act or omission
Discovery rule
Yes; clock starts when plaintiff knew or should have known of injury
Statute of repose
None
Minor exception
Tolled during minority; 3-year clock does not start until age 18. Also tolled for mental incompetence and imprisonment.
Wrongful death SOL
2 years from date of death (DC Code § 16-2702)
Notes
DC has no statute of repose for medical malpractice, making it one of the more plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions.
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District of Columbia med-mal FAQ
What is the medical malpractice statute of limitations in District of Columbia?+
3 years from act or omission. Yes; clock starts when plaintiff knew or should have known of injury Statute of repose: None. Wrongful death: 2 years from date of death (DC Code § 16-2702). DC has no statute of repose for medical malpractice, making it one of the more plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions. Source: DC Code § 12-301(8).
Does District of Columbia have a medical malpractice damage cap?+
No. District of Columbia has not enacted a medical malpractice damage cap. No damage cap enacted. Unlike neighboring Maryland and Virginia, DC imposes no limits on medical malpractice recovery.
How does District of Columbia handle the discovery rule in med-mal cases?+
Yes; clock starts when plaintiff knew or should have known of injury
What is the District of Columbia minor exception for medical malpractice?+
Tolled during minority; 3-year clock does not start until age 18. Also tolled for mental incompetence and imprisonment.
What is the wrongful death statute of limitations for District of Columbia medical malpractice?+
2 years from date of death (DC Code § 16-2702)
Other state lookups
This tool is informational. It is not legal advice. District of Columbia damage caps and statute of limitations periods change frequently. Always verify against current statute and consult a licensed District of Columbia attorney before relying on a deadline. Data refreshed May 2026.