Which of the following describes the liability incurred when a patient's injury is a direct result of inadequate care provided?

Negligence is the term used to describe the liability incurred when a patient's injury directly results from inadequate care provided. In the context of healthcare, negligence occurs when a medical professional fails to meet the accepted standard of care, leading to harm or injury to a patient. This can involve various scenarios, such as failing to administer medication properly, not following established protocols, or disregarding a patient's medical history that could influence their treatment.

In order to establish negligence, it must be demonstrated that the healthcare provider had a duty to care for the patient, that this duty was breached, and that the breach directly caused the patient's injuries. This concept is fundamental in medical practice, as it emphasizes the responsibility that healthcare professionals have to their patients for providing adequate and appropriate care.

Other options like assault and battery refer to intentional harm, which is not related to providing inadequate care but rather to deliberate actions taken against a patient. Malpractice, while it can sometimes overlap with negligence, typically refers to a specific type of negligence occurring in a professional context, often implying a breach of duty that occurs due to professional misconduct or failure to uphold professional standards. However, negligence itself is the broader term that encompasses various situations where inadequate care leads to patient injury.