What is the term for the failure to perform professional care?

The term that best fits the description of failure to perform professional care is negligence. Negligence in a professional context refers to the failure of a professional to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent professional would deliver under similar circumstances. It encompasses actions that fall below established standards of practice, which can result in harm to a patient or client.

In the context of healthcare or other professional fields, negligence implies a breach of duty resulting from carelessness or the omission of necessary actions. For instance, if a healthcare provider fails to follow proper procedures, leading to injury or harm, this can be classified as negligence.

The other terms have specific connotations that do not directly relate to the failure to perform professional care. For example, malpractice is a legal term often used interchangeably with negligence to describe professional negligence that results specifically in harm, but it typically implies a higher standard related to liability and wrongdoing. Misconduct refers to improper or unethical behavior within a professional context but does not necessarily imply a failure in the execution of care itself. Misdiagnosis is the incorrect determination of a medical condition, which is a specific type of error but does not encompass the broader concept of failing to provide care.