What it means
In health care law, battery is any intentional contact with a person who has not agreed to it, even if no harm is done and even if the care would help. Giving a medicine or doing a procedure that a client has refused, or doing more than the client consented to, can be battery. The threat of such contact is assaultuh-SAWLTIn law, a threat or act that makes a person afraid they are about to be touched in a harmful or unwanted way.Full entry .
For the nurse
Get consent before any care, and stop if the client says no. In an emergency, when a client cannot consent and delay would cause harm, implied consent lets care go ahead.
Remember it
Assault is the threat; battery is the touch.
Easy to confuse with
assault
In law, a threat or act that makes a person afraid they are about to be touched in a harmful or unwanted way.
Related terms
informed consent
A person's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after the risks, benefits and other choices have been explained to them.
assault
In law, a threat or act that makes a person afraid they are about to be touched in a harmful or unwanted way.