A healthcare employee who bills people for supplies that were not used is committing what unethical action?

In this scenario, the healthcare employee who bills individuals for supplies that were not actually used is committing fraud. Fraud is defined as the intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. By issuing a bill for unutilized supplies, the employee is deliberately misleading patients or insurance companies into believing that services were rendered or that certain items were provided, thereby unlawfully obtaining financial benefit based on false information.

This act goes beyond just misrepresentation; while misrepresentation involves providing false information, it may not always be for personal gain. However, fraud specifically includes the element of intent to deceive for profit. In the context of healthcare, this unethical behavior not only violates legal standards but also undermines the trust that is fundamental to the patient-provider relationship and the integrity of the healthcare system as a whole.

Other options, like misrepresentation, negligence, and omission, do not fully encapsulate the intentional deceit and personal gain involved in the action described. Misrepresentation does convey aspects of lying about the service provided but lacks the clear motivation of financial gain that fraud entails. Negligence refers to a lack of care that can lead to harm but does not imply intent. Omission typically involves failing to act or provide necessary information, which does not fit the deliberate