Negligence in healthcare occurs when?

Negligence in healthcare is defined as a failure to provide an expected standard of care that results in harm to a patient. This means that healthcare providers are obligated to act in ways that align with accepted medical guidelines and practices. When a healthcare professional fails to meet these standards, whether through an omission or an improper action, and a patient is subsequently harmed as a result, this constitutes negligence.

The notion of expected level of care is critical here, as it establishes the baseline against which healthcare professionals are measured. In instances where a patient's care falls below this standard due to oversight or inaction, it can lead to serious consequences, such as medical complications or worsening of conditions, supporting the finding of negligence.

The other options do not align with the definition of negligence. For example, excessive medication could indicate another issue but doesn't directly relate to the standard of care being met or not. Similarly, informing a patient of all risks is an essential component of ethical practice, not negligence. Lastly, while lack of communication can contribute to negligence, it alone does not constitute negligence without the failure to meet an expected standard of care leading to harm.