Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

What term describes improper or unskilled care provided by the healthcare team?

1. Malpractice

2. Negligence

3. Assault

4. Battery

The correct answer is: Malpractice

The term that describes improper or unskilled care provided by the healthcare team is malpractice. This legal term specifically refers to situations where a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent professional would provide under similar circumstances, resulting in harm to the patient. Malpractice encompasses a range of issues, including poor judgment, lack of appropriate skills, and failure to follow established medical protocols, all of which can jeopardize patient safety and lead to adverse outcomes. In contrast, negligence generally refers to a broader lack of care that can be seen in various non-professional contexts, while assault and battery are legal terms that pertain to intentional acts of harm or threat towards an individual rather than a failure in the standard of professional care. Therefore, in the healthcare context, malpractice is the most accurate term for unskilled or improper care rendered by a healthcare professional.