What does negligence refer to in a medical context?

Negligence in a medical context specifically refers to the unintentional failure of a healthcare provider to meet established standards of care, which subsequently leads to harm or injury to a patient. This concept is rooted in the idea that there is an expectation for healthcare professionals to adhere to a certain level of competency and care based on the standards set by their profession. When they fail to do so—without intent to cause harm—they can be held liable for the consequences of their actions or omissions.

For example, if a doctor neglects to order necessary tests or mismanages a patient’s treatment due to a lack of attention or failure to follow established protocols, and this results in the patient's deterioration or injury, this would constitute medical negligence.

Other answer choices pertain to different issues in healthcare practice. Intentional wrongdoing refers to actions taken with the intent to harm, which falls under a different category of liability. Breaching confidentiality is related to privacy laws and ethical responsibilities rather than negligence in care provision. Similarly, failing to document patient interactions is an important concern in healthcare, but it does not inherently involve the failure to meet care standards leading to patient harm, which is the essence of negligence.