What refers to the failure to provide essential goods or services to avoid harm or distress?

The term that refers to the failure to provide essential goods or services to avoid harm or distress is known as neglect. In a healthcare context, neglect specifically pertains to the failure of caregivers to provide adequate care, which can lead to harm or distress for patients. This includes not attending to a patient's basic needs such as food, shelter, safety, or medical care.

Neglect can manifest in various ways, including ignoring a patient’s physical and emotional needs, failing to assist in activities of daily living, or not maintaining a safe environment. It reflects a lack of attention or care that directly impacts the well-being of an individual. Recognizing neglect is crucial in safeguarding vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or those with disabilities, ensuring that they receive the necessary support and protection from harm.

In contrast, negligence generally refers to the failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person, which may include acts of omission but is broader than simply failing to provide essential goods or services. Inattention relates more to a lack of focus or attention to a task rather than a failure to provide necessary support. Abandonment refers to leaving a patient unattended without appropriate transfers of care and does not encompass the broader scope of failing to provide goods or services over