Which term refers to negligence by a professional causing harm?

• A. Malpractice
• B. Neglect
• C. Negligence
• D. Elder Abuse

Answer: (A)

Professional responsibility and patient safety depend on meeting the standard of care. Malpractice is professional negligence where a practitioner breaches the accepted standard of care, and that breach causes harm to a patient. In healthcare, this means actions or omissions by a licensed professional fall below what a competent practitioner would do, leading to injury or worse. For example, prescribing or administering a medication incorrectly due to avoidable errors that harm a patient would be considered malpractice because it shows a failure to uphold professional standards.

Neglect describes failing to provide basic care or protection, often in caregiving contexts, and isn’t necessarily tied to a breach of professional standards. Negligence is the broader idea of carelessness or failure to exercise reasonable care and can apply to anyone, not just a professional. Elder abuse involves harming an elderly person and can include neglect or mistreatment, but it isn’t a term that specifically denotes professional liability for harmed patients.

So, the term that best captures negligence by a professional causing harm is malpractice.