Failure of person responsible for an individual to provide necessary services to maintain physical and mental health, when such failure presents an imminent or probable danger or death?

• A. Neglect
• B. Negligence
• C. Abuse
• D. Assault

Answer: (A)

Neglect is the failure by someone responsible for a person to provide the basic care needed to keep them healthy and safe, and when that failure creates imminent or probable danger or death. Here, the emphasis is on an omission—not providing essential services like food, shelter, medical care, or supervision—that leads to serious risk. This differs from abuse, which involves actively harming or mistreating someone, and from assault, which is an unlawful threat or use of force. It also isn’t about a mere act of carelessness (negligence) in a broader sense; in this context, neglect specifically describes the caretaker’s failure to act when care is required, resulting in danger.