What is it called when a patient is forced to undergo a procedure against their will?

When a patient is forced to undergo a procedure against their will, the term used to describe this act is battery. In medical and legal contexts, battery refers to the unlawful physical contact or treatment of a person without their consent. This includes performing a medical procedure without the patient’s voluntary agreement, which can lead to legal consequences for the healthcare provider.

It is important to note that while other options like assault, malpractice, and coercion relate to issues in medical practice, they do not specifically address the act of performing a procedure against a patient's will. Assault generally refers to the threat or attempt to cause physical harm, coercion implies using pressure or persuasion to achieve compliance, and malpractice involves a breach of duty leading to patient harm, but does not specifically encompass forced treatment. Therefore, battery is the accurate term that captures the essence of the situation described.