ABSTRACT
After reading this chapter you should be able to:
demonstrate an understanding of negligence and its implications;
explain why a study of negligence is crucial for nurses;
explain what patients must do to successfully win a negligence case;
explain standards and duty of care – legal, professional, ethical, contractual and voluntary – and how breach of these may be negligent;
discuss damage, including causation issues and nursing implications;
explain the distinction between tort law negligence and criminal negligence and their significance to healthcare practitioners;
use your portfolio to address the problems in the student activities.
