International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

What term describes taking reasonable care not to harm someone in a professional setting?

1. Conduct of practice

2. Due diligence

3. Ethical responsibility

4. Professional ethics

The correct answer is: Due diligence

The term that best describes taking reasonable care not to harm someone in a professional setting is due diligence. This concept encompasses the responsibility of professionals to act with a level of care that prevents harm to their clients. It involves being attentive and engaged in one's duties, ensuring that appropriate measures and standards are followed to avoid negligent behavior. In the healthcare context, this means that professionals must stay informed, follow protocols, and continuously seek to improve their knowledge and skills, thereby ensuring the safety and well-being of those they serve. While ethical responsibility and professional ethics also touch on the fundamental obligation to protect clients and act responsibly, due diligence is specifically focused on the proactive measures taken to avoid harm through careful and responsible conduct in practice. Conduct of practice refers more broadly to how one executes their professional duties, while ethical responsibility is a component of the broader notion of professional ethics. Thus, due diligence is the most precise term that relates to the active measures taken to ensure no harm comes to clients.