How is misfeasance defined in relation to duty of care?

Misfeasance is defined as the improper performance of a legal act. This term specifically refers to situations where an individual or entity has a duty to act in a certain way, often due to a legal obligation, but carries out that act in a negligent or inappropriate manner. In the context of duty of care, this means that while the individual is correctly performing a legal task, they are doing so in a way that deviates from established standards, potentially causing harm to others.

For example, a paramedic is required to provide life-saving treatment to a patient. If they administer the treatment incorrectly due to negligence, this would be considered misfeasance because they were performing a legal act but did so improperly. Understanding misfeasance is crucial in fields like emergency medical services, where the duty of care is paramount and the consequences of improper performance can be severe.