Which of the following best describes negligence?

Negligence is defined as the failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances, leading to unintentional harm or damage. This can occur when a personal support worker does not perform their duties to the required standard of care, which results in a negative outcome for the client. The key aspect of negligence is that it is unintentional; the action or lack of action is not meant to cause harm but rather stems from a lack of competence or oversight.

For instance, if a personal support worker fails to follow proper safety protocols while assisting a client, resulting in an injury, that worker may be deemed negligent. The focus remains on the lack of intention to harm and the absence of competent care, which is central to understanding negligence in a healthcare context.

In contrast, the other options involve intentional actions or an awareness of misconduct. Acting knowingly against regulations implies a conscious decision to disregard rules. Deliberately failing to provide care suggests intentional neglect, while intentionally causing harm clearly indicates malice, which goes beyond negligence into the realm of abuse or assault. This distinction is crucial in differentiating negligence from other forms of misconduct in caregiving environments.