Which term describes performing an action that is illegal or unauthorized?

Which term describes performing an action that is illegal or unauthorized?

• A. Malfeasance
• B. Negligence
• C. Nonfeasance
• D. Tort

Answer: (A)

Taking an action that is illegal or unauthorized is malfeasance. In professional practice, this term highlights doing something that you are not allowed to do—an act that is inherently unlawful or outside your authorized scope. In athletic care, this could mean performing a medical procedure without proper credentials or consent, or acting beyond the boundaries of your role. This differs from negligence, which involves failing to exercise reasonable care, or nonfeasance, which is failing to act when there is a duty to act. A tort is a broader civil wrong that can include various types of misconduct, but the specific idea here is that the action itself is illegal or unauthorized, which is captured by malfeasance.