Final answer:
Refusing to pay bills for a dependent when capable of doing so can be considered neglect, as it is a failure to provide the necessary support. Legally, neglect is actionable if it causes serious harm to the dependent, and denial of responsibility does not absolve one from their duties as a caretaker.
Step-by-step explanation:
Refusing to pay bills for a dependent when funds are available can indeed be considered a form of neglect, especially if it results in substantial harm or risk to the welfare of the dependent. In legal terms, neglect can be described as the failure to provide necessary care, supervision, or support to a person for whom one has a responsibility, such as a child or elderly parent. While each jurisdiction may have different criteria for what constitutes neglect, generally, if the omission of care results in serious adverse effects on the dependent's well-being, it could be legally actionable.
The reference material provided also touches on the concept of denial of responsibility, where an individual does not take accountability for their actions or shifts blame to others. In the context of neglect, a caretaker might deny responsibility for their dependent's situation by attributing their failure to pay for necessities to external circumstances. However, if the caretaker has the means but chooses not to fulfill their financial obligations to the dependent, it is a clear case of neglect, and they can be held accountable for their behavior.