American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

If a phlebotomist performs a venipuncture without disinfecting the site and leaves the tourniquet on too long, what is this considered?

1. Malpractice

2. Negligence

3. Protocol error

4. Standard deviation

The correct answer is: Negligence

The situation described is classified as negligence because it involves a failure to exercise the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would have exercised in a similar situation. In the context of phlebotomy, appropriate protocols dictate that the site must be disinfected to prevent infection, and the tourniquet should not be left on for an extended period to avoid complications such as hemolysis or discomfort to the patient. When the phlebotomist neglects these critical steps, it indicates a lack of attention to the established standards of care that should be followed in a medical setting. Negligence is typically highlighted in cases where an individual or entity deviates from the expected norm, resulting in harm or potential harm to the patient. Therefore, the absence of disinfection and extended tourniquet application exemplifies a breach of duty of care, aligning with the definition of negligence. In contrast, while malpractice can refer to a more serious violation that generally involves a licensed professional, protocol errors specifically refer to mistakes made in following established procedures rather than the legal implications of harm not fulfilling care standards. Lastly, standard deviation is a statistical term used to measure variation and is not applicable in this context.