Which situation best exemplifies battery in a healthcare setting?

Battery in a healthcare setting occurs when a healthcare professional deliberately performs a medical procedure on a patient without obtaining consent. Consent is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and law; it ensures that patients have the right to make informed decisions about their own bodies and treatments.

In the situation where a procedure is performed after a patient has declined consent, it clearly demonstrates battery because the healthcare provider does not respect the patient's autonomy and decision-making ability. This act constitutes an illegal and unethical infringement on the patient's rights.

In contrast, helping a patient without informing them may raise concerns about autonomy and informed consent but does not meet the legal definition of battery since no physical procedure is being forcibly enacted on the patient. Assisting a patient with mobility typically falls under a supportive action that is often performed with implied or explicit consent. Taking a patient’s vitals with permission demonstrates respect for patient autonomy and compliance with ethical standards in healthcare practice.