What is an example of an act of commission?

An act of commission refers to an action taken that may result in harm or an adverse effect, often due to negligence or a breach of standard practice. In the context of this question, administering 15 cartridges of anesthetic to a very small child clearly exemplifies an act of commission because it involves actively engaging in a procedure that is inappropriate and dangerous given the child's size and needs. This action demonstrates a lack of judgment and can lead to severe health complications due to the potential overdose of anesthetic.

The other choices depict either harmless actions or errors that do not fall into the category of active wrongdoing. For instance, providing a patient with a toothbrush is a typical and appropriate action in dental care. Overprescribing antibiotic medication involves a serious concern regarding the effects of overmedication, but in this instance, it's categorized more as a misjudgment in prescribing rather than an outright harmful act at the moment of administration. Finally, mistakenly scheduling a follow-up appointment is an error in management, but it does not directly cause harm to the patient’s well-being, as it is an administrative mistake rather than an inappropriate medical action.