Which statement best defines negligence in a clinical context?

Which statement best defines negligence in a clinical context?

• A. Battery
• B. Intentional harm
• C. Deviation from standard of care causing harm
• D. Fraud

Answer: (C)

Negligence in a clinical context means a clinician fails to meet the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent professional, and that failure causes patient harm. The standard of care is what a similar clinician would do in the same situation, guided by training, guidelines, and accepted practice. When there is a deviation from that standard and harm results, it constitutes negligence. Battery and intentional harm refer to deliberate acts of harm, not unintentional lapses in care, and fraud involves deception for gain. So linking harm to a deviation from the standard of care best captures the concept of negligence.

Negligence in a clinical context means a clinician fails to meet the standard of care expected of a reasonably competent professional, and that failure causes patient harm. The standard of care is what a similar clinician would do in the same situation, guided by training, guidelines, and accepted practice. When there is a deviation from that standard and harm results, it constitutes negligence. Battery and intentional harm refer to deliberate acts of harm, not unintentional lapses in care, and fraud involves deception for gain. So linking harm to a deviation from the standard of care best captures the concept of negligence.