Final answer:
An adverse event in healthcare refers to negative or unexpected outcomes associated with medical interventions or treatments. It includes medication errors, surgical complications, infections, allergies, and device malfunctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
An adverse event in the context of healthcare refers to any negative or unexpected occurrence or outcome that is associated with a medical intervention or treatment. It includes a wide range of events, such as medication errors, infections acquired in healthcare settings, surgical complications, allergic reactions, and medical device malfunctions. These events can result in harm to the patient, including injury, disability, or even death.