A medical assistant fails to document a patient's preference against using blood products. This error falls under which legal principle?

The failure to document a patient's preference against using blood products falls under the principle of negligent torts. In healthcare, negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to act in a manner that meets the standard of care expected in the medical community, resulting in harm or the potential for harm to a patient.

In this case, the medical assistant's oversight in documenting the patient's wishes can be seen as a breach of that duty of care. By not recording the patient's preferences, the assistant may expose the patient to unwanted medical interventions, which can lead to adverse outcomes. This act of negligence is not intentional; rather, it stems from a failure to uphold the proper protocols and legal responsibilities regarding informed consent and patient autonomy.

Intentional torts involve actions taken deliberately to harm someone, which is not relevant here, as the error was not purposeful. Unintentional torts could also apply, but in the context of this situation, negligence is the more precise classification since it implies a lack of reasonable care. Contractual obligations refer to the duties outlined in formal agreements between parties, which does not apply to a failure to document a patient's treatment preferences.