Which of the following is NOT a component of malpractice?

Malpractice is defined by specific legal criteria, which typically include a duty of care owed by the healthcare provider to the patient, a breach of that duty, and damages suffered by the patient as a result of that breach. The presence of intent to harm is not necessary for a malpractice claim. Malpractice focuses on negligence, which occurs when a provider fails to meet the standard of care, leading to patient harm.

In this context, intent to harm is associated with intentional torts rather than malpractice, which revolves around unintentional acts where the provider did not intend to cause harm but failed in their professional responsibilities. Therefore, the correct identification of intent to harm as not being a component of malpractice accurately reflects the legal standards governing malpractice claims.