A hospital receives notice of being sued for an action performed by a nurse. The nurse realizes that which doctrine is being implemented in this case?
1. Contractual relationship
2. Stare decisis
3. Respondeat superior
4. Res ipsa loquitur
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: A contractual relationship is not a doctrine; it is what the nurse and hospital, for example, enter into when the hospital hires the nurse as an employee.
Rationale 2: "To stand by things decided," or stare decisis, is the same thing as following precedent, or applying the same rules to a situation as were applied in similar situations.
Rationale 3: "Let the master answer," or respondeat superior, means that the master (in this case the hospital/employer) assumes responsibility for the conduct of the servant (the nurse) and can be held responsible for the nurse's failure to act in a competent way.
Rationale 4: "The thing speaks for itself," or res ipsa loquitur, is a doctrine in cases where harm occurs but cannot be traced to a specific health care provider or standard.
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