Which term describes the responsibility of healthcare workers to avoid causing harm to patients?

Prepare for the Law and Ethics: Professional Liability and Medical Malpractice Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your test!

The term that describes the responsibility of healthcare workers to avoid causing harm to patients is "duty of care." This legal and ethical obligation requires medical professionals to adhere to a standard of care while treating patients, ensuring they act in the best interest of their patients and provide the level of care that any reasonable professional in their field would provide under similar circumstances.

Understanding "duty of care" is essential in the context of healthcare, as it forms the foundation for evaluating the actions of medical professionals. If a healthcare worker fails to fulfill this duty, they could potentially cause harm to a patient.

Dereliction refers to a failure to fulfill a duty or responsibility, which can be a result of a breach of duty of care. Negligence encompasses the overall failure to meet the duty of care, particularly if that failure results in harm to a patient. Damages relate to the monetary compensation that a patient may receive as a result of harm caused by negligence. Each of these terms has its own specific definition and context but understanding duty of care is crucial for recognizing the core responsibility healthcare professionals have toward their patients.

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