Which term refers to professional negligence by a healthcare professional harming a patient?

Which term refers to professional negligence by a healthcare professional harming a patient?

• A. Negligence
• B. Lawsuits
• C. Malpractice
• D. Patient-Centered Care

Answer: (C)

Malpractice is professional negligence by a healthcare provider that harms a patient. It specifically ties the lapse to a clinician’s duty to meet the accepted standard of care and shows that failing to do so caused injury. While general negligence means failing to exercise reasonable care in any situation, malpractice refers to the medical or professional context and the legal responsibility that comes with it. The other options don’t fit: negligence is a broader term for carelessness; lawsuits are the actions filed after harm has occurred; patient-centered care is an approach focused on aligning care with the patient’s values and needs.

Malpractice is professional negligence by a healthcare provider that harms a patient. It specifically ties the lapse to a clinician’s duty to meet the accepted standard of care and shows that failing to do so caused injury. While general negligence means failing to exercise reasonable care in any situation, malpractice refers to the medical or professional context and the legal responsibility that comes with it. The other options don’t fit: negligence is a broader term for carelessness; lawsuits are the actions filed after harm has occurred; patient-centered care is an approach focused on aligning care with the patient’s values and needs.