Which term describes the unethical, illegal actions by a professional while performing duties?

• A. False Imprisonment
• B. Privileged Communication
• C. Malpractice
• D. Slander

Answer: (C)

Malpractice describes unethical, illegal actions by a professional while performing duties. In healthcare, it means failing to meet the standard of care expected for a given situation, and that failure results in harm to a patient. This is typically addressed as a civil matter with potential damages.

To see why the other terms don’t fit: false imprisonment involves unlawfully restraining someone’s freedom; privileged communication refers to confidential information shared between a patient and provider that is legally protected from disclosure; slander is a spoken false statement that harms someone’s reputation. Each describes a different concept, whereas malpractice specifically targets professional conduct that harms a patient through negligence or misconduct.