Final answer:
In law, 'res ipsa loquitur' means 'the thing speaks for itself.' It allows negligence to be inferred from the nature of an injury. This means the circumstances surrounding the injury are considered evidence of negligence. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
In law, the Latin phrase res ipsa loquitur means 'the thing speaks for itself.' It is a legal doctrine that allows negligence to be inferred from the nature of an injury occurring to the plaintiff. This means that the plaintiff does not need to provide direct evidence of negligence; instead, the circumstances surrounding the injury are considered enough evidence in themselves.
For example, if a patient wakes up from surgery with a surgical instrument left inside their body, it can be inferred that the medical professional was negligent because a surgical instrument should not be left inside a patient. The nature of the injury (the presence of the instrument) speaks for itself and indicates negligence.