In negligence, what does causation (proximate cause) mean?

• A. The duty to act
• B. The severity of the injury
• C. The link between the breach of duty and the injury
• D. The patient's perception of care

Answer: (C)

In negligence, proximate cause is about tying the defendant’s breach of duty to the injury that occurs. It asks whether the harm is a foreseeable and natural result of the negligent act, and whether the breach was a substantial factor in bringing about the injury. This limits liability to harms that are reasonably connected to the breach, rather than to every possible consequence. If the injury would have happened anyway due to an unrelated cause, or if the outcome is too remote or unlikely, proximate cause may not be present. So the law looks for that clear link between what was done (or not done) and the harm that results, making the breach the proximate reason for the injury.