Negligence is defined as which of the following?

Negligence is defined as the omission or commission of an act that causes harm. This definition encapsulates the essence of negligence, which centers on the idea that an individual or entity has a duty of care towards others and that failing to uphold this duty—either by doing something harmful (commission) or failing to do something necessary (omission)—can result in injury or damage.

In the context of healthcare and other professional fields, determining negligence often involves assessing whether the actions taken (or not taken) by a provider deviated from accepted standards of care, leading to a harmful outcome for a patient or client. This concept is fundamental in legal settings where individuals seek accountability for losses resulting from another's failure to act responsibly.

While the other options may describe behaviors or situations that could be related to negligence, they do not fully capture its definition. For instance, failure to follow protocol may contribute to situations of negligence, but it does not encompass the broader idea of causing harm. Similarly, inadequate patient care might imply negligence, but it does not define the act of omission or commission that constitutes it. Unintentional misconduct suggests a wrongdoing that lacks intent, but negligence is specifically about the failure to exercise due care, not merely about misconduct.