What does a "breach of duty" refer to in first aid practice?

A "breach of duty" in first aid practice is defined as failing to act or acting incorrectly when required to do so. In the context of first aid, this means that a responder has a legal and ethical obligation to provide care when they are in a situation that requires it. If the responder chooses not to act when they should or provides care that falls below the accepted standard, they are considered to have breached their duty of care. This could lead to negative outcomes for the patient and potential legal repercussions for the responder.

In this scenario, taking unnecessary risks while providing care or seeking patient consent may not directly reflect a breach of duty as these actions can be part of reasonable decision-making in a first aid situation. Similarly, providing care while anticipating patient response relates to the practice of being attentive to the patient's condition and does not constitute a breach of obligation. The key aspect of the breach of duty is focused on the failure to fulfill the required standard of care in an emergency situation.