So, the party is attacked by some manner of touch-attacking incorporeal undead which does ability drain or damage or some other negative-energy type damage (like a ghost's corrupting touch), and the monk, dragon disciple, or druid moves in to attack unarmed/with natural attacks: if they connect, should they take damage as though touched by the creature?
(For example, a ghost's corrupting touch is described as occurring when the ghost "passes through" a victim - should mere contact cause the effect?)
Thoughts?
No. Damage is applied only when the creature takes actions to actively hurt the players either on its turn or through AoO's.
I say no, they do not.
Its not the contact, it is the attack of the creature.
You could say they have to do something proactive (the ghost summoning his otherworldly might) to do that ability damage.