Exam Guide
Written Statement That Ruins a Reputation: Libel vs. Slander
Legal & Ethical Issues · Question from the ATI RN Leadership 2023 Proctored Exam study set
Question: A nurse makes a false statement in writing that ruins a doctor's reputation. This is:
Correct answer: Libel
Why this is the answer
Libel is written defamation; Slander is spoken defamation.
The bigger concept
Defamation is a false statement that damages someone's reputation; libel is the written form and slander is spoken. The exam usually gives away the answer with the word 'writing', 'post', 'email', or 'chart', versus 'says' or 'tells' for slander. Documentation matters here: chart objective facts about a colleague's conduct in an incident report, never opinions or accusations in the patient record or on social media.
Related Legal & Ethical Issues practice questions
- Not Documenting a No-Harm Medication Error: Veracity
- Threatening to Sedate a Disruptive Patient: Assault
- Disclosing a Diagnosis to Family Without Consent: HIPAA
- Charting a Task That Was Never Done: Falsification of Records
- Wrong Medication After No ID Check: Negligence
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