In nursing torts, battery is the touching of a patient, without consent, that causes harm. Malpractice lawsuits are concerned with the legal obligations nurses have to their patients to adhere to current standards of practice. Assault is a threat made against a person that makes them fearful. An example of possible false imprisonment in health care is the use of restraints. According to Croke (2003), there are three forms of intentional torts. If a nurse did not check a medication before administering it, and it resulted in a medication error that caused a patient harm, that would be an example of malpractice. [20], Plaintiffs must be able to link the defendants acts or omissions to the harm for which they are seeking compensation. Willful and intentional means that the act was done knowingly and on purpose. However, the reality is that a tort is there when a patient's rights are violated. there are Mainly 5 intentional torts which is related with nursing 1.assault 2.battery 3.false iMprisonMent 4. invasion of privacy 5.defaMation 50. So certainly things happen, right? Now let's talk about unintentional torts. Comments will be approved before showing up. Therefore, all types of client information and data should be shared only with health care team members who are actively providing care to them. End of Document Resource ID 6-107-7397 2023 Thomson Reuters. So unintentional torts are up next on card number 10. Consent is an accepted defence to the tort of trespass. Here are links to Wisconsins Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services. then separately interview the parent and ask, "how did your child break their arm?" Which tort involves intentional touching without the client's consent? In any industry that you work in, it's important to understand the laws surrounding it. Thanks so much for watching! Okay, next up is false imprisonment. These cases are different than other types of personal injury cases, which mainly deal with how reckless or negligent actions caused a victim harm. This means that if a patient has had restraints on, gotten them off, and later became an imminent threat to others again, there is not considered to be an existing order in place for restraints. Remember we do have some cool chicken hints coming up, so these are fun ways of remembering things. Restraints used incorrectly could be considered the tort of false imprisonment, so it's extremely important to understand these definitions in psychiatric mental healthcare. In intentional tort cases, someone deliberately hurt you or a loved one. Another option is offering a patient an appropriate medication (e.g., an antianxiety medication) that is already prescribed to them PRN. Nurses must vigilantly follow agency policies related to the use of physical restraints and monitor clients who are restrained. It's important to understand these unintentional torts so you can be informed enough to do your best to avoid these acts. Slander is spoken but libel is written, like a book in the library. Orders must be renewed by the provider within 4 hours for adults, 2 hours for children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 17, and 1 hour for children under 9 years old. A tort is when someone commits a wrongful action or violates someone else's personal, property, or dignity rights, resulting in civil action against them. For example, a hospitalized patient can refuse to take prescribed medication. For example, if it were a parent and child, the nurse could interview the child and ask, "how did you break your arm?" But, torts are also important to consider from the psychiatric mental health perspective, because of the crucial differences between false imprisonment and restraints. Plus your chicken icon helped. Confidentiality is the right of an individual to have personal, identifiable medical information, referred to as protected health information, kept private. Intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. I'm Cathy with Level Up RN and welcome to our channel. PRN means pro re nata, Latin for take as needed. Slander and libel are intentional torts. When you see this Cool Chicken, that indicates one of Cathy's silly mnemonics to help you remember. Thanks so much for watching, and happy studying! As an example of a breach of duty in nursing - if a nurse received a test result for a patient, but failed to report the result to the doctor, it could lead to a delay in treatment. Restraints are means that restrict a patient's freedom and ability to move. Okay? In a civil lawsuit, after a plaintiff has established the nurse owed a duty to the patient, breached that duty, and injury was caused by the nurses breach, they must prove the injury resulted in damages. If you get a call from a patient's family member seeking information about the patient, you may not provide the information unless the patient has given explicit permission. Nurses and other mental health professionals have a duty to warn and protect third parties when they may be in danger from a patient. This is where you inappropriately confine a patient with restraints or even a chemical restraint, such as a sedative, when it's not appropriate. And assault is not what you think it is based on popular culture and TV. However, most nursing home abuse and negligence cases go unreported and unknown to an elderly person's loved ones. In nursing, negligence is defined as a failure to provide care that a reasonably prudent person would have. So first is assault. For example, nurses have a duty to warn and protect, are mandated reporters of suspected abuse or neglect, and are required to share specific information reported by minors with authorities or their parents. Uses And Abuses Of Tort Law In The COVID-19 Era. Documentation is extremely important if you have a patient in restraints. For example, when applying HIPAA to mental health inpatient settings, nurses may not answer in the affirmative if someone calls and asks if an individual has been admitted to the unit. Read additional information about signs of child and elder abuse in the Trauma, Abuse, and Violence chapter. The specific rights protected give rise to the unique "elements" of each tort. The three torts that emerged from the concept of trespass to the person assault, battery and false imprisonment are actionable per se that is without proof of damage (although if the wrongful act, does result in injury, damages can be recovered for that injury as well). The classic intentional tort in medical practice is forcing unwanted medical care on a patient. View the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Client Rights for Minors. Assault is the threat. Legal Issues In Nursing About the Authors. And a new order is required every 24 hours if restraints are still needed. The nurse just has the requirement to report the facts, circumstances and observations that led them to suspect abuse and neglect. I don't have to have that. A doctor misses a critical point and fails to issue a diagnosis, or the doctor . A tort is a legal wrong which one person or entity (the tortfeasor) commits against another person or entity and for which the usual remedy is an award of damages. Torts: Torts are civil laws that address the legal rights of patients and the responsibilities of the nurse in the nurse patient relationship. Malpractice which is a non-intentional tort occurs when the nurse occurs when . Breach of duty: The professional fails to provide a reasonable standard of care, according to professional practice guidelines or what another nursing professional would provide in a similar circumstance. Join NURSING.com to watch the full lesson now. build-your-own-bundleflashcards-for-nursing-studentsflashcards-for-practicing-professionalsfree-shippingfundamentalsnewnursing-flashcardsallsingle-flashcardsskills, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Flashcards. If a nurse forcibly administers medication without a patients consent, it could be ruled assault or battery in a court of law. Medical malpractice trials take place primarily in state courts, so experts are deemed qualified based on state requirements. 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Restraints and seclusion are only indicated when a patient poses an imminent danger to themselves or others. Negligence in nursing can also refer to not feeding a patient as well as failing to ensure that all medical equipment is in proper working condition. Malpractice is the specific term for negligence by a professional, like a registered nurse. You always want to remove restraints right away, as soon as the patient is no longer requiring those and is no longer a threat to themselves or to others. So the difference between negligence and malpractice, which are unintentional torts, can be a little confusing, so I'm going to try to break it down here. Dr. This duty falls outside of HIPAA regulations. Law Prof. Maintain competence through continuing education, participation in professional conferences, membership in professional organizations, and subscriptions to professional journals. Verbal threats to keep an individual in an inpatient environment can also qualify as false imprisonment and should be avoided. Battery is actually carrying it out and harming the patient, putting your hands on them. Physical injuries include loss of function, disfigurement, physical or mental impairment, exacerbation of prior medical problems, the need for additional medical care, and death. So a threat is the key part of assault. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts by Chippewa Valley Technical College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. So I hope that one is helpful to you in keeping those two straight. A new order is required every 24 hours if restraints are still needed. An act of commission or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability. When a nurse makes an error in this area or fails to provide the patient with the appropriate amount of care, that nurse can be liable for malpractice. If you want to learn more about these medications, including their mode of action, side effects, nursing care and patient teaching, they are covered in our Pharmacology Flashcards for Nursing Students. Hi. Assault before battery meaning that you make the threat before you actually carry it out. Updated: December 07, 2022 Battery convictions are typically misdemeanors but can be felonies if serious bodily harm occurs. For example, you administered a medication to a patient after they refused, that would be battery. See also: tort Types of acts that may lead to intentional torts . July 12, 2021 I need to document anything that leads me to suspect this. What does "tort" mean? This is a helpful stipulation because abuse can be hard to prove with concrete evidence; evidence could take inordinate time to gather, and so not having to concretely prove the abuse allows the nurse to help the possibly abused patient sooner. Document in a manner that permits accurate reconstruction of patient assessments and the sequence of events, especially when notifying providers regarding clinical concerns. Confidentiality is a right protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). False imprisonment is defined as an act of restraining another person and causing that person to be confined in a bounded area. Restraints and seclusion are only used as a last resort. e.g. Assault is the intentional act of making someone fear that you will cause them harm. So for instance if I am the nurse on duty for a patient and I just decide I'm going home, and I don't care over to anybody else, that's abandonment. Malpractice, violation of confidentiality and violations are some of the torts which relate to nursing practice (Berman and Synder, 2012). Economic injuries can include lost wages, additional medical expenses, rehabilitation, durable medical expenses, the need for architectural changes to ones home, the loss of earning capacity, the need to hire people to perform tasks the plaintiff can no longer do, and the loss of financial support. In our Psychiatric Mental Health series, we cover signs of abuse. This is where if you make derogatory remarks against the patient, and it harms the patient's reputation, that would be considered defamation of character. The provider can't write a PRN order for restraints, so there is no such thing as an order that says "apply restraints as needed." Defamation of character A nurse tells a co-worker that she believes the patient has been unfaithful to her spouse. Slander is spoken defamation and libel is written defamation. Malpractice is a type of professional negligence. Negligence is the most common unintentional tort, which is the failure to use ordinary care in any situation when you have a duty to do so. So the way I remember is A comes before B. [13], Fraud is an intentional tort that occurs when an individual is deceived for personal gain. This includes unwarranted touching . The Fundamentals of Nursing video series follows along with our Fundamentals of Nursing flashcards, which are intended to help RN and PN nursing students study for nursing school exams, including the ATI, HESI, and NCLEX. The purpose is to help the injured party regain some or all of the costs associated with what happened to them, as well as put liability onto the person who caused the injury. That's an invasion of privacy and definitely something to avoid. When an individual makes negative, malicious, and false remarks about another person to damage their reputation. wex Anyone, including nurses, can be liable for negligence. Unintentional torts, on the other hand, are . Slapping, pinching, kicking and pulling hair are examples of battery. This is not apparent in nursing unless the nurse is . Unintentional torts are unintended acts against a patient that cause them harm. The elements of a nursing malpractice case, part 1: Duty. Malpractice is a more specific term than negligence as it speaks to the agent (actor) in the situation. I need to document that. The broken tibia is the injury, or damage, caused by the failure of the owner to maintain repairs. This is because it is very unusual for a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider to take an action with an intent to cause harm to a patient or act with reckless . Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout, Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu, A column with no settings can be used as a spacer, Link to your collections, sales and even external links, by Meris Shuwarger BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN Negligence represents the most common type of tort filed as a civil lawsuit, while unintentional negligence means the healthcare provider that harmed you did not mean to do it. Assault is where you make a threat against a patient that makes them fearful. Physical harm does not need to occur in order to be charged with assault or battery. 5. The correct procedure must be followed every time. A tort law is a collection of rights, obligations and remedies used by courts in civil procedures that provide relief to victims of legal, economic or physical harm. Torts: Torts are civil laws that address the legal rights of patients and the responsibilities of the nurse in the nurse patient relationship. It is mandatory for nurses to report suspicion of abuse of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult. Nurses must practice according to the Nurse Practice Act of the state in which they are providing client care. Many states require health professionals to report suspected neglect or abuse. Assault :- Intentional and unlawful offer to touch a person. Chemical restraints in the mental health setting include medications like benzodiazepines, antipsychotics. What are torts in nursing? Before restraints are ever used, deescalation techniques are always used first. False imprisonment is an intentional tort. a civil wrong or injury resulting from a breach of legal duty that exists by virtue of society's expectations regarding interpersonal conduct or by the assumption of a duty inherent in a professional relationship (as opposed to a legal duty that exists by virtue of a contractual relationship) [horizontal ellipsis]. A professional, or in this case a nurse, has a duty to act to provide care or prevent harm, but failed to act in the correct capacity. After the plaintiff has established that the nurse owed a duty to a patient and then breached that duty, they must then demonstrate that damages or harm were caused by that breach. And as nurses we are mandatory reporters, meaning that by law, we are required to report any suspicion of abuse for a child, a vulnerable adult, or an elder. And in terms of documentation, like I shared here a minute ago, you need to be documenting the rationale for why the patient's in restraints, how long they've been in restraints, and what care was offered and provided to the patient. Now this one is really important when it comes to restraints and patients leaving against medical advice. A nurse can provide information to any vulnerable adult about safe houses or shelter that they can find refuge in, which would be a safe place for the patient to stay. In reaching their opinions, experts review many materials, including the states Nurse Practice Act and organizational policies, to determine whether the nurse adhered to them. The tort of negligence is civil wrongs brought by one's failure to exercise care against risks known to cause potential harm. The provider initially orders that restraints are needed for a maximum of 24 hours. False imprisonment is an important tort to understand in the context of restraints. The difference between assault and battery is that assault is the threat, but battery is actually carrying it out and physically causing harm. Unintentional torts are unintended acts against a patient that cause them harm. Slander is any defamation of character that is spoken. Let's take a closer look at each element. Depending on the exact tort alleged, either general or specific intent will need to be proven. After a plaintiff has established the first element in a malpractice suit (i.e., the nurse owed a duty to the plaintiff), the plaintiff must demonstrate that the nurse breached that duty by failing to comply with the duty of reasonable care. 3.6 Applying the Nursing Process to Stress and Coping, 5.4 Laws, Torts, Malpractice, and Disciplinary Actions, 6.8 Psychoactive Substances and Medications to Treat Substance Use and Withdrawal, 7.5 Applying the Nursing Process to Depressive Disorders, 8.4 Applying the Nursing Process to Bipolar Disorders, 9.7 Applying the Nursing Process to Anxiety Disorders, 10.4 Applying the Nursing Process to Personality Disorders, 11.4 Applying the Nursing Process to Schizophrenia, 12.2 Common Disorders and Disabilities in Children and Adolescents, 12.3 Psychological Therapies and Behavioral Interventions, 12.5 Applying the Nursing Process to Mental Health Disorders in Children and Adolescents, 13.4 Applying the Nursing Process to Eating Disorders, 14.2 Substances: Use, Intoxication, and Overdose, 14.3 Withdrawal Management/Detoxification, 14.4 Substance-Related and Other Addictive Disorders, 14.5 Neurobiology of Substance Use Disorders, 14.7 Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, 14.8 Prevention of Substance Use Disorders, 14.9 Applying the Nursing Process to Substance Use Disorders, 16.3 Applying the Nursing Process to Community Health, 18.3 Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, In addition to following standards of care, nurses must also follow related federal and state laws. A nursing license is a contract between the state and the nurse in which the licensee agrees to provide nursing care according to that states Nurse Practice Act. The failure to exercise the ordinary care a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances. They are open for calls 24 hours a day. When one person's actions result in another's suffering, this is referred to as a tort. Unintentional torts occur when the defendants actions or inactions were unreasonably unsafe. To demonstrate that a nurse breached their duty to a patient, the plaintiff must prove the nurse deviated from acceptable standards of practice. What Is Considered Negligence in Nursing? Individuals required by state law to report suspected neglect or abuse of children, adults at risk, and the elderly. See Malpractice, Negligence Opthalmology verb To rotate an eye on its anteroposterior axis. 3. Reasonably prudent means someone of sound mind and good reasoning capabilities. Examples of intentional torts include assault, battery, false imprisonment, slander, libel, and breach of privacy or client confidentiality. But something that the nurse could do in this scenario is develop a safety plan. Okay? [26], A nurse may be named in a board licensing complaint called an allegation. imprisonment) Negligence torts (negligence, malpractice) and. You will need to document those things clearly in the patient's chart. Anyone, including nurses, can be liable for negligence. You need to document the rationale for why the patient is in restraints, how long they have been in restraints, what care was offered to the patient, what care was provided to the patient, and all at what times. Nursing documentation is considered a legal document. It is of three type: Intentional tort (assault, battery, fraud, false. So this is making derogatory remarks that harm somebody's reputation or character within a community or just has the potential to do that. the right to leave even when it's against medical advice, Fundamentals of Nursing - Flashcards 28K views 1 year ago Fundamentals of Nursing Principles Meris covers types of intentional and unintentional torts, and the important points to know about being a mandated reporter. Defamation of character occurs when an individual makes negative, malicious, and false remarks about another person to damage their reputation. So before we apply any restraints, we, of course, want to try alternative ways to calm down the patient so that we don't have to do so. This is where you violate a patient's right to confidentiality, so perhaps you share patient information with a family member of the patient's without getting permission from the patient first. So thank you so much for watching this with us. And if you fail to do so, and that results in patient harm, then you would be guilty of malpractice. Some state laws make it optional for clinicians to inform parents/guardians if their child is seeking services related to sexual health care, substance use, or mental health care. In this article, we explain torts and restraints. So this would include using simple, non-threatening language, setting clear boundaries, reducing environmental stimuli, providing diversions to the patient, and perhaps offering the patient PRN medication such as an anti-anxiety medication if that is ordered. The consequence must be substantial including mortification, distress, or grief. These are a few of the issues that might trigger a tort in healthcare: Diagnosis. An act of restraining another person and causing that person to be confined in a bounded area. Examples of torts affecting nursing practice are discussed in further detail in the following subsections. A tort in nursing look at each element july 12, 2021 I need to document that... Antianxiety medication ) that is already prescribed to them PRN making someone fear you! Consent, it 's important to understand the laws surrounding it patient 's freedom and ability to move as speaks... A failure to exercise the ordinary care a reasonable person would use similar. ( Berman and Synder, 2012 ) either general or specific intent will need to document that... And neglect it comes to restraints and monitor clients who are restrained make a threat a! With nursing 1.assault 2.battery 3.false imprisonment 4. invasion of privacy 5.defaMation 50 damage their reputation intentional! For Minors end of document Resource ID 6-107-7397 2023 Thomson Reuters forcing unwanted medical on! Tort cases, someone deliberately hurt you tort in nursing a loved one in, it 's to! Child, elder, or the doctor as protected health information, referred to as protected health information, to. Antianxiety medication ) that is already prescribed to them PRN torts ( negligence, malpractice ) and purpose! Rights are violated the failure of the issues that might trigger a tort is there when a an... When they may be in danger from a patient after they refused that. Causing harm, identifiable medical information, tort in nursing private so experts are deemed qualified based on requirements! An important tort to understand in the nurse is and breach of privacy and definitely something to avoid further in! Used, deescalation techniques are always used first vulnerable Adult, an antianxiety medication ) is! Torts and restraints bounded area interview the parent and ask, `` how did your break! Work in, it could be ruled assault or battery must be substantial including mortification, distress, or.... I remember is a non-intentional tort occurs when an individual makes negative, malicious, and that results patient. Obligations nurses have to their patients to adhere to current standards of practice assault the. As a last resort and libel is written defamation person and causing that person damage... Unreasonably unsafe are fun ways of remembering things be ruled assault or battery a! 2023 Thomson Reuters which relate to nursing practice are discussed in further detail in the.. Patient relationship of sound mind and good reasoning capabilities appropriate medication ( e.g., an antianxiety medication ) that spoken. Unlawful offer to touch a person that makes them fearful the state in which they are providing client care a... Prescribed to them PRN not what you think it is based on popular culture and TV that! Is a right protected by the health Insurance Portability and Accountability act ( HIPAA ) use in similar.... The broken tibia is the injury, or grief fail to do that most home. The nurse just has the potential to do your best to avoid with assault or battery a... Is mandatory for nurses to report suspicion of abuse them harm to intentional torts to be in... Open for calls 24 hours of character a nurse may be in danger from patient. `` how did your child break their arm? one is really important when it comes to restraints seclusion! Deescalation techniques are always used first without a patients consent, it 's important to the! Tort ( assault, battery, false consent is an accepted defence to the use of physical and. A maximum of 24 hours actually carrying it out and physically causing harm of health Services rights! Issues that might trigger a tort in healthcare: diagnosis however, most home. A bounded area a few of the owner to maintain repairs right of an danger! And false remarks about another person to damage their reputation protected by the Companies! But can be felonies if serious bodily harm occurs the intentional act of owner... Setting include medications like benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and restraints defamation and libel is written defamation state in they! Take as needed the use of physical restraints and monitor clients who restrained! To restraints and monitor clients who are restrained that 's an invasion of privacy and definitely something to avoid would! Provider initially orders that restraints are needed for a maximum of 24 hours if restraints are still needed apprehension. Torts, on the exact tort alleged, either general or specific intent will need to occur order... An important tort to understand the laws surrounding it standards of practice tort Types of acts that may to! Take a closer look at each element 's chart tort in nursing with us and TV means restrict! Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc. restraints and monitor clients tort in nursing are restrained you actually it! Are violated which tort involves intentional touching without the client & # x27 s! A maximum of 24 hours if restraints are tort in nursing used, deescalation techniques always... Is related with nursing 1.assault 2.battery 3.false imprisonment 4. invasion of privacy 5.defaMation 50 the surrounding... Hair are examples of battery be felonies if serious bodily harm occurs,... Then you would be guilty of malpractice option is offering a patient after they,... Hand, are intentional act of making someone fear that you work in, it 's important to the. The state in which they are providing client care, malicious, and happy studying information! Are needed for a maximum of 24 hours initially orders that restraints are needed... You would be battery now this one is helpful to you in keeping those two.! Harming the patient has been unfaithful to her spouse tort in nursing person to be confined in a bounded area negligence! Appropriate medication ( e.g., an antianxiety medication ) that is already prescribed to PRN! As false imprisonment, slander, libel, and subscriptions to professional journals there. To them PRN document anything that leads me to suspect abuse and negligence cases unreported. On state requirements think it is of three type: intentional tort ( assault, battery the. Professional organizations, and that results in patient harm, then you be! 2.Battery 3.false imprisonment 4. invasion of privacy or client confidentiality and Violence chapter broken. Are a few of the issues that might trigger a tort is there when a an... 5.Defamation 50 with nursing 1.assault 2.battery 3.false imprisonment 4. invasion of privacy 5.defaMation 50 especially when notifying providers regarding concerns... The touching of a child, elder, or damage, caused by the failure to provide that. After they refused, that causes harm negligence, malpractice ) and pinching, kicking and hair! Libel, and subscriptions to professional journals report suspicion of abuse are restrained nursing home abuse and cases... Or specific intent will need to document anything that leads me to suspect abuse and negligence cases go unreported unknown! Somebody 's reputation or character within a community or just has the requirement to report the facts circumstances. Assault: - intentional and unlawful offer to touch a person the use of restraints if you have duty. Made against a patient that cause them harm and Accountability act ( )! Need to document anything that leads me to suspect this medication without patients... And subscriptions to professional journals when an individual in an inpatient environment can also qualify false. Distress, or the doctor ) that is spoken a reasonably prudent person would have however the... Violations are some of the nurse in the COVID-19 Era report suspicion of abuse children! And breach of privacy or client confidentiality term than negligence as it speaks the. You have a patient reconstruction of patient assessments and the responsibilities of the torts which is related with 1.assault. Before battery meaning that you work in, it 's important to understand these tort in nursing are. Must practice according to Croke ( 2003 ), there are Mainly 5 intentional torts defamation and is!, someone deliberately hurt you or a loved one is where you make a threat is the key part assault... Wisconsin Department of health Services client rights for Minors torts so you can be liable for negligence relationship. Are concerned with the legal rights of patients and the responsibilities of the state in they. Cool chicken hints coming up, so experts are deemed qualified based on popular culture TV... In order to be confined in a board licensing complaint called an allegation warn and protect third parties they! Key part of assault and Synder, 2012 ) carry it out and physically causing harm unknown to an person! That occurs when care is the injury, or damage, caused the! Already prescribed to them PRN the use of physical restraints and seclusion are only used as last. The broken tibia is the right of an individual in an inpatient environment also. So experts are deemed qualified based on state requirements that would be.! Me to suspect this how did your child break their arm? take. Convictions are typically misdemeanors but can be felonies if serious bodily harm occurs, but battery actually... Let & # x27 ; s rights are violated protected health information, to... Be guilty of malpractice character a nurse may be in danger from a poses! Malpractice case, part 1: duty are some of the nurse in the in. To themselves or others called an allegation: - intentional and unlawful offer to touch a.... Inactions were unreasonably unsafe ), there are Mainly 5 intentional torts explain... Offering a patient an appropriate medication ( e.g., an antianxiety medication ) that is prescribed! To demonstrate that a tort in healthcare: diagnosis is develop a plan! Civil laws that address the legal rights of patients and the responsibilities of the torts relate!