A nurse tells several friends and coworkers that a client, who is also a physician, is unsafe for medical practice because he is paralyzed from the waist down and acts "slightly silly." What type of tort does the nurse's action represent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's action represents slander, which is defamation of character through spoken word or gesture. The nurse is making false statements about the client being unsafe for medical practice and acting "slightly silly", which could harm the physician's reputation and potentially damage his practice. Libel is similar to slander but involves defamation of character through written or published word, while fraud involves intentional deception for personal gain. Malpractice refers to negligence or a failure to provide a reasonable standard of care that results in harm to a patient.

A Nurse Tells Several Friends and Coworkers That a Client