In healthcare, what is meant by professional negligence?

Professional negligence in healthcare refers to the failure of a medical professional to meet the established standards of care that are expected in their field. This means that when a healthcare provider does not act with the level of skill, care, and diligence that is required, resulting in harm to a patient, it constitutes negligence. This concept is fundamentally based on the premise that there are certain accepted norms and practices within the medical profession, and any deviation from these standards that leads to patient injury can be classified as negligence.

The other options, while related to different aspects of healthcare management, do not accurately describe professional negligence. Financial loss for the facility concerns economic impacts rather than patient care standards. Inadequate staff training can contribute to negligence but isn't the definition itself. Refusal to provide treatment based on patient history might reflect a critical clinical decision but does not encapsulate the broader concept of negligence focused on failing to meet care standards.