Define "medical negligence."

Medical negligence refers to the failure of a healthcare provider to meet the standard of care that is expected in their field, resulting in harm to the patient. The standard of care is essentially the degree of proficiency, diligence, and care that a reasonable medical professional would be expected to exercise in similar circumstances.

When a healthcare professional does not adhere to this established standard, leading to an adverse outcome for the patient, it constitutes medical negligence. This can include errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or health management. For example, a physician who fails to diagnose a serious condition that another competent physician would have recognized may be found to be negligent since they did not uphold the expected level of care.

The other options presented, while related to issues that could arise in a medical setting, do not specifically capture the essence of medical negligence. For instance, providing treatment without patient consent raises ethical and legal issues but is not solely about negligence in care quality. Failing to report medical errors may indicate a breach of duty but is more about procedural failings than a direct impact on care quality. Lastly, overcharging patients pertains to pricing issues and is primarily an economic concern rather than a matter of care quality or medical competence. Thus, the correct understanding of medical negligence is rooted