In statutes of physical abuse, which term describes failing to prevent bodily harm?

• A. Failing to protect property
• B. Failing to act to prevent bodily harm
• C. Failing to provide medical care
• D. Failing to enroll in school

Answer: (B)

Failing to act to prevent bodily harm captures the idea that a person with a duty to protect someone from injury can be charged even if they don’t directly injure the person themselves. In physical abuse statutes, harm to the body includes not only what someone does but also what they fail to do when action is needed to stop or reduce risk. If a caregiver or other responsible person knows that bodily harm is imminent or ongoing and does nothing to intervene, that omission can meet the elements of physical abuse.

The other options miss the focus on preventing bodily harm: failing to protect property relates to property offenses, failing to provide medical care points to medical neglect (a different welfare issue), and failing to enroll in school is educational neglect. None of those directly describe the failure to intervene to prevent physical injury.