Patient abuse


 * This article incorporates "medical abuse" which has a similar meaning but relates more specificially to harmful medical treatment rather than care in general, and may include victims who did not chose to be patients.

Patient abuse or neglect is any action or failure to act which causes unreasonable suffering, misery or harm to the patient. It includes physically striking or sexually assaulting a patient. It also includes withholding of necessary food, physical care, and medical attention. It applies to various contexts such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and home visits.