Question

A hospital is sued because of an error made by a nursing assistant. During preparation for the trial, the hospital's attorney says the hospital may lose the case because of the principle of respondeat superior. What is the rationale for the attorney's statement?

1. This is the principle of "buyer beware."
2. This principle states that the hospital is liable for acts of its employees when they are performing their jobs.
3. This principle states that the nurse who delegated the task to the assistant has no accountability for the assistant's actions.
4. This principle puts the blame for the actions of the assistant solely on the hospital

Answer 1

The attorney believes the hospital may lose the case due to the principle of respondeat superior, which means the hospital could be liable for the actions of its employees when those actions are part of their job duties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The attorney's rationale for suggesting that the hospital may lose the case because of the principle of respondeat superior is that this legal doctrine holds that an employer is liable for the actions of its employees when they are acting within the scope of their employment. Therefore, the hospital could be held responsible for the errors made by the nursing assistant, who was performing their job duties. This principle does not necessarily remove accountability from the individual who delegated the task, but in a legal sense, the hospital as the employer may be held liable for the actions of its employees, as stated in the principle of respondeat superior, which fits the second option provided.