Final answer:
Protocols are often established by government agencies and scientific organizations to ensure medical equipment is safely sterilized, and failure to adhere can result in liability for hospitals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement regarding protocols is: a) Protocols are usually developed in conjunction with national standards. Protocols, such as those for cleaning or sterilizing medical equipment, are often established by government agencies like the FDA or scientific organizations such as the AOAC. These protocols become the standard that manufacturers and end-users, like hospitals, must adhere to.
It is crucial for these institutions to comply with the established protocols to ensure patient safety and they may be held responsible if a breach in protocol results in patient harm.