When a radiologic technologist forgets to raise the side rails after an exam, leading to a patient fall, what is this an example of?

When a radiologic technologist forgets to raise the side rails after an exam, resulting in a patient fall, this scenario is an example of negligence. Negligence occurs when an individual fails to take reasonable care to prevent harm to another person. In this case, the technologist had a duty to ensure the patient's safety but failed to fulfill that duty by not raising the side rails. This lapse in judgment directly contributed to the risk of injury to the patient.

Malpractice, while related to negligence, typically refers to professional negligence specifically within a medical context. It requires a higher threshold, usually involving a violation of the standard of care established for that profession. In this scenario, the incident reflects a failure to meet the basic standard of care expected from a technologist in ensuring patient safety.

Battery involves an intentional act of causing harm or offensive contact, which does not apply here, as there was no intention to harm the patient. Informed consent violation pertains to failing to obtain a patient's consent before a procedure, which is unrelated to the safety procedures regarding the side rails.

Thus, the most accurate description of the situation is negligence, as it encapsulates the failure to act with the proper level of care that resulted in harm to the patient.