Failure to perform a legal duty, such as failing to refer a patient when necessary.

Failure to perform a legal duty, such as failing to refer a patient when necessary.

• A. Misfeasance
• B. Malfeasance
• C. Negligence
• D. Nonfeasance

Answer: (D)

Nonfeasance is a failure to perform a duty owed to the patient. In healthcare, when the standard of care requires referring a patient for further evaluation or treatment and that referral is not made, the clinician has omitted an action they were obligated to take. That omission fits nonfeasance. Misfeasance would be performing an action but doing it poorly or incorrectly. Malfeasance involves an illegal or wrongful act. Negligence is a broader failure to exercise reasonable care and can describe both omissions and commissions, but the specific act of not acting when a duty to refer exists is best labeled nonfeasance.

Nonfeasance is a failure to perform a duty owed to the patient. In healthcare, when the standard of care requires referring a patient for further evaluation or treatment and that referral is not made, the clinician has omitted an action they were obligated to take. That omission fits nonfeasance.

Misfeasance would be performing an action but doing it poorly or incorrectly. Malfeasance involves an illegal or wrongful act. Negligence is a broader failure to exercise reasonable care and can describe both omissions and commissions, but the specific act of not acting when a duty to refer exists is best labeled nonfeasance.