Which term refers to the legal obligation to avoid causing harm to others?

The term that accurately refers to the legal obligation to avoid causing harm to others is "Duty of Care." This concept establishes the expectation that individuals must act in a manner that does not harm others, requiring a standard of reasonable care in their actions. The Duty of Care is foundational in various areas of law, including tort law, where caregivers, professionals, and others in positions of responsibility are held to this standard.

For example, a doctor has a Duty of Care to provide competent medical treatment to patients, which means they must adhere to established medical practices to avoid causing harm. If a duty is breached and harm results, it can lead to legal liability.

Negligence, while related, refers specifically to the failure to meet the established Duty of Care, thus resulting in harm to another individual. Liability pertains to the legal responsibility for one's actions or omissions, but it does not define the obligation itself. Encroachment generally refers to illegal extensions of one party's property onto another's land and is not related to the concept of avoiding harm to others.