Final answer:
The due care standard in auditing requires that an auditor avoids negligence by exercising appropriate skill and diligence. Negligence refers to a lack of care that a reasonable professional would not exhibit under similar circumstances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The essence of the due care standard is that the auditor should not be guilty of d. negligence. Due care in auditing means that the auditor should exercise the appropriate level of skill and diligence that a reasonably competent professional would exercise under similar circumstances. This involves being thorough and careful, maintaining professional skepticism, and adhering to professional standards and regulations. The auditor must avoid errors that would arise from a lack of due care and must not engage in any behavior that could be considered negligent. In contrast, bias, errors in judgment, and fraud are different issues that, while important, do not specifically define the due care standard as negligence does.