Patient Care Technician Certification (PCTC) AMCA Practice Exam

A very busy phlebotomist misidentified a patient when collecting a specimen for a transfusion preparation. This wrongful act is called what?

1. Assault

2. Invasion of privacy

3. Negligence

4. Fraud

The correct answer is: Negligence

The situation described involves a phlebotomist misidentifying a patient, which can lead to serious consequences when it comes to blood transfusions. This act is categorized as negligence because it signifies a failure to meet the standard of care expected in the medical field, resulting in potential harm to the patient. Negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to exercise the appropriate level of care that a reasonably competent professional would have in similar circumstances. In this case, the phlebotomist's mistake in identification could endanger the patient if they receive the wrong blood type, highlighting the critical importance of accurate patient identification in ensuring safe medical practices. In contrast, assault involves causing physical harm or threatening harm to a person, which does not apply here. Invasion of privacy relates to unauthorized access to or disclosure of a patient's personal information and also does not fit this situation. Fraud typically involves intentional deception for personal gain or harm, which is not what is taking place in the misidentification incident here. Therefore, the misidentification is best understood as negligence due to the potential risks and the breach of professional duty involved in the process.