What type of negligence occurs when an individual fails to fulfill a duty of care that leads to harm?

Nonfeasance refers specifically to the failure of an individual to act when there is a duty to do so, resulting in harm or injury to another party. This type of negligence highlights the absence of action that is expected or required, which can lead to negative outcomes.

In a legal context, if a healthcare provider fails to take necessary steps—for instance, not administering medication or not responding to a patient in need—this is classified as nonfeasance. The key aspect here is that it involves inaction, rather than action that might be negligent, like administering the wrong treatment.

In contrast, other forms of negligence, such as contributory negligence, deal with situations where the injured party may also share some blame, or vicarious negligence, which refers to the legal responsibility of one party for the negligent actions of another. Commissive negligence, while not widely recognized in legal terminology, could imply the opposite of nonfeasance—actions taken that are negligent, rather than inaction. Thus, nonfeasance stands out as directly relevant to the scenario described in the question, emphasizing the consequences of failing to perform an expected duty of care.