Unconsented surgery is classified as which of the following?

Unconsented surgery falls under the classification of assault and battery because it involves performing a medical procedure without the patient's informed consent. In the legal context, "assault" refers to the act of creating a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact, while "battery" specifically involves the actual physical contact that occurs.

When a healthcare provider performs surgery without obtaining consent, they not only violate the patient’s autonomy but also commit a physical act that can be deemed offensive. This lack of consent transforms the surgery into a legal violation, rendering it an assault and battery situation. The patient has the right to make informed decisions regarding their body and medical treatments, and failing to respect that right constitutes a serious offense in the eyes of the law.

While negligence could be considered in cases of failure to obtain consent in some contexts, the direct nature of performing surgery without consent makes the more accurate classification assault and battery, thus affirming that the correct answer addresses the legal implications of operating without a patient's consent clearly and intentionally.