What type of damages compensates for injuries or losses due to violations of patients' rights?

The correct answer is general compensatory damages. These damages are intended to provide compensation for the actual injuries or losses that a patient suffers as a result of violations of their rights, such as a breach of the standard of care or other forms of negligence.

General compensatory damages address non-economic losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, which are directly linked to the violation of a patient's rights. This type of compensation seeks to restore the patient to the position they would have been in had the violation not occurred.

In contrast, special compensatory damages are meant to cover specific, quantifiable losses such as medical expenses or lost wages, while punitive damages are awarded not to compensate for injuries but to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar misconduct in the future. Consequential damages may refer to losses indirectly caused by an event but are not specifically aimed at addressing violations of patient rights. General compensatory damages encompass the overall harm suffered and provide a more comprehensive avenue for redress in cases of patients' rights violations.