What does causing "great bodily harm" in a felony mandate?

Causing "great bodily harm" in a felony context refers to inflicting a serious injury that has significant and lasting impacts on an individual's health. This includes injuries that could result in long-term disability, disfigurement, or any kind of severe impairment. The law seeks to differentiate between minor injuries and those that have lasting consequences.

An injury classified under this definition typically leads to substantial pain, requires extensive medical treatment, or results in permanent changes to a person's physical condition. This is crucial in legal frameworks because it helps authorities and courts determine the severity of the crime and the associated penalties.

In contrast, simply experiencing physical pain without lasting effects does not meet the threshold for "great bodily harm." Similarly, while an injury requiring a hospital visit illustrates a level of seriousness, it does not necessarily indicate that the harm is great or permanent. Minor lacerations demanding only first aid clearly fall outside the scope of "great bodily harm," as they are not serious enough to warrant such a classification. Thus, choice C accurately captures the legal definition and implications of causing "great bodily harm" in the context of felony offenses.