Final answer:
The employer can be held accountable for employee malpractice through vicarious liability, which places responsibility on the employer for actions performed by the employee during their employment. Hospitals and equipment manufacturers can also face liability for flawed protocols or defective products, while government regulation aims to maintain safety standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a technologist is found guilty of malpractice, the employer of the employee can also be held accountable due to the legal doctrine known as vicarious liability. This doctrine holds that an employer can be responsible for the actions of its employees if the actions were performed within the course of employment. For example, if a surgical technologist employed by a hospital commits malpractice while assisting in an operation, the hospital could potentially be held liable if it can be proven that the technologist was acting within the scope of their employment and the employer failed to enforce appropriate protocols or provided faulty equipment.
The issue of accountability in healthcare extends beyond just the professional performing the procedure. Hospitals and healthcare workers must follow established protocols and are expected to deliver care that meets certain standards. Should an incident occur as a result of adherence to a flawed protocol or use of defective equipment, the question arises: who is responsible? In such cases, liability may also fall on the hospital or the manufacturer of medical equipment. Moreover, government regulation plays a significant role in overseeing the safety of medical protocols and equipment, aiming to protect public health.