Define assault in healthcare.

• A. An act or verbal threat that causes a patient to reasonably fear immediate bodily harm; physical contact is not required
• B. Physical contact is required to be assault
• C. It requires actual injury
• D. It only applies to healthcare workers

Answer: (A)

Assault in healthcare means an act or threat that would cause a patient to reasonably fear immediate bodily harm, even if no physical contact actually occurs. The crucial point is the patient's perception of imminent danger and the intent to cause fear, not whether harm happens or whether touch occurs. This differs from battery, which involves actual physical contact. The other statements aren’t correct because physical contact is not required for assault, actual injury isn’t needed, and assault isn’t limited to healthcare workers.