If a patient proves a physician failed in treating them adequately, what term describes that failure?

The term that correctly describes a physician's failure in adequately treating a patient is "dereliction." Dereliction specifically refers to the neglect of a duty, in this case, the duty of care owed by a healthcare provider to their patients. When a physician does not meet the established standard of care during treatment, this constitutes dereliction, which can have significant implications in terms of medical malpractice claims.

In this context, duty refers to the legal obligation that a healthcare provider has to act in the best interests of their patients. While it is an important part of the framework for assessing medical malpractice, it does not indicate the failure itself.

Direct cause refers to the relationship between an action (or inaction) and the resulting harm or injury. It is an essential aspect of establishing causation in a malpractice case, but it does not specifically identify the failure of treatment.

Damages are the financial compensation that a patient may seek in a legal claim for harm suffered due to inadequate treatment. While damages are a crucial outcome of proving a case, they do not define the nature of the physician’s failure in providing care.

Thus, the term "dereliction" effectively captures the essence of the physician's failure to provide adequate treatment, distinguishing it from other