What term is used for negligence or carelessness in the delivery of health services that leads to harm?

The term that specifically refers to negligence or carelessness in the delivery of health services that leads to harm is malpractice. Malpractice encompasses instances where a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care, resulting in injury or harm to a patient. This is a legal term that implies a breach of duty or failure to perform a responsibility that any reasonable professional in a similar situation would meet.

While negligence generally refers to the failure to exercise appropriate care in a situation, malpractice is a more specific type of negligence that applies strictly within the healthcare context. It addresses the actions of professionals who are held to a higher standard due to their specialized training and the expectations placed upon them by the public. Thus, while negligence can occur in numerous contexts, malpractice is exclusively related to healthcare professionals and their failure to meet accepted standards, making it the most precise term for the situation described in the question.

The other terms, such as misconduct and carelessness, while related to the overall theme of inappropriate or negligent behavior, do not specifically define the legal implications or the context of health services delivery in the same manner that malpractice does.