What is a potential consequence of negligence in healthcare?

Negligence in healthcare can lead to legal action against the healthcare provider because it signifies a failure to meet the standard of care expected in the medical profession. When a healthcare provider does not act in accordance with established protocols or fails to exercise the due diligence required, it can result in harm to patients. This harm may prompt patients or their families to seek recourse through legal channels, such as lawsuits.

Legal action often arises from the desire for compensation for damages caused by the negligence, which can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, or other related costs. The threat of litigation serves as a crucial motivator for healthcare professionals to adhere to standards of care and to take precautions to protect patient safety.

The other choices, while they may reflect positive aspects of healthcare, do not represent direct consequences of negligence. Regulatory bodies typically aim to prevent negligence and ensure compliance rather than support it, increased trust from patients generally stems from satisfactory care rather than negligence, and improved patient outcomes are the opposite of what typically results from negligence.