Touching or treating a patient without consent is known as?

• A. Assault
• B. Battery
• C. False Imprisonment
• D. Abandonment

Answer: (B)

Touching someone without their consent is battery. In legal terms, assault and battery are separate: assault is creating the threat or fear of imminent harmful or offensive contact, while battery is the actual physical contact or treatment without consent. The scenario describes real contact, so battery is the appropriate term. In EMS practice, consent is essential; in emergencies you may rely on implied consent for life-saving actions if the patient cannot consent, but performing a procedure on a capable patient without consent would still be battery. False imprisonment involves confining someone against their will, and abandonment means leaving a patient without proper continuity of care—neither describes the act of touching without consent.