Malpractice is defined as which of the following?

Malpractice refers to professional negligence specifically within a healthcare context. This occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standards of care, resulting in harm to a patient. For instance, if a physician makes a critical mistake in diagnosis or treatment that a competent professional would not have made, leading to injury or deterioration in the patient's condition, that could be considered malpractice.

In the context of healthcare, it is essential to understand that the standard of care is defined by what a reasonable and prudent healthcare provider would do under similar circumstances. If a provider falls short of this standard due to a lack of skill, failure to act, or poor decision-making, it constitutes malpractice.

The other provided options address different legal and ethical issues. For example, failure to give expected care might be an element of negligence but does not encompass the full definition of malpractice, which specifically involves professional duties. Written defamation refers to the false and damaging statements made about a person, which is a different legal issue altogether. Unauthorized disclosure of patient information relates to patient confidentiality and privacy laws, particularly those outlined by regulations such as HIPAA, and does not necessarily involve the professional negligence aspect that defines malpractice. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in navigating legal and ethical issues in healthcare.