What is malpractice defined as?

Malpractice is specifically defined as negligence by a professional that leads to harm or injury to a patient or resident. In the context of healthcare, this means that a professional, such as a medication assistant, fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in negative consequences for the individual receiving care. This could involve errors in medication administration, failure to monitor a patient's condition adequately, or providing improper care that causes harm.

While other options may involve actions that can lead to negative outcomes or issues in care, they do not encompass the full scope of malpractice. For instance, a medication error may not necessarily be classified as malpractice unless it is proven that the error resulted from negligence. Similarly, improper documentation and failure to follow facility protocols can be serious but fall under different categories of professional responsibilities and may not directly constitute malpractice unless they directly relate to negligent behavior causing harm. Understanding malpractice in this context is crucial for healthcare professionals to ensure they adhere to their duty of care and minimize the risk of harming those they serve.