Final answer:
Malpractice is a civil action brought against counseling professionals who cause harm to clients through negligence or misconduct. It is rooted in the principle of nonmaleficence, obliging professionals to avoid harming others and holding them accountable through the legal system when they fail in this duty. The correct answer is: d. causing harm to clients through negligence or misconduct
Step-by-step explanation:
Malpractice is a type of civil lawsuit that can be filed against counseling professionals for practicing in a manner that leads to causing harm to clients through negligence or misconduct. This concept is closely related to the principle of nonmaleficence, which mandates that healthcare providers should act in ways that do not cause harm to others. In cases where harm is a potential outcome, the necessary steps must be taken to minimize it, such as ensuring that any procedure, treatment, or test is justified and essential for effective treatment.
In civil law cases, at least one party alleges harm or injury committed by another, differentiating these from criminal law cases. If counseling professionals fail in their duty to protect their clients from harm, it may result in malpractice claims. In such scenarios, accountability for negative outcomes that occur directly from professional misconduct or negligence must be determined, and the courts provide a system to address these claims.