Which term describes professional negligence?

• A. Assault
• B. Battery
• C. False Imprisonment
• D. Malpractice

Answer: (D)

Professional negligence—malpractice—describes what happens when a professional fails to meet the standard of care expected in their field, and that failure causes harm. It’s about how the professional acted (or failed to act) compared with what a reasonably prudent professional would do in similar circumstances, not about an intention to harm. To prove malpractice, the typical elements are a duty to the patient, a breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to the harm, and actual damages. In contrast, assault and battery involve intentional harmful acts (threat or actual contact), and false imprisonment involves intentionally restraining someone’s freedom. These are intentional torts, whereas malpractice centers on negligence in professional practice.