Torts include unintentional and intentional acts; which option lists an intentional tort in healthcare?

• A. Assault
• B. Negligence
• C. Malpractice
• D. Informed consent

Answer: (A)

The concept here is identifying intentional torts in healthcare versus unintentional acts. An intentional tort is a wrongful act done on purpose or with the intent to cause harm or to place someone in fear of harm. Assault fits this because it involves intentionally causing apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact. In a healthcare context, this could be threatening to perform a procedure or approaching someone with the means to cause harm in a way that makes them fear an unwanted touch, even before any actual contact occurs.

Negligence and malpractice describe failures to meet the standard of care, which are unintentional and involve harm that results from carelessness or errors by a clinician. Informed consent is a process of informing a patient about risks, benefits, and alternatives and obtaining their permission; it’s not an act of harm itself, though lacking proper consent can lead to other legal claims.

So, the option that represents an intentional tort in healthcare is assault.