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. A hospital employee shall be subject to disciplinary action if he or she is found responsible for: (a) Abusing a patient; (b) Failing to report an alleged incident of abuse; (c) Giving untruthful information during an investigation into abuse. Abuse by failure to act includes neglecting the care of the patient which results in physical or psychological harm. This type of abuse may be committed by an employee failing to provide authorized and prescribed treatment or by failing to intervene when a consumer needs assistance in order to maintain his or her physical or mental well-being. Example: Patient A is depressed and isolating. It is very obvious that patient A is going through some emotional trouble. Staff does not intervene. This is patient abuse by failure to act because staff are responsible to ensure that every patient is properly treated and cared for. Example: Another example is where a patient has a physician’s order for some type of treatment or medication and the staff member neglects to provide such treatment. This is patient neglect

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