Which term means legally responsible?

Which term means legally responsible?

• A. Responsible
• B. Liable
• C. Accountable
• D. Blameworthy

Answer: (B)

Liable is the term that conveys legal responsibility. In healthcare, being liable means you are legally responsible for the damages or harm that result from your actions or omissions if they fall below the accepted standard of care. It reflects a civil-law duty to compensate the patient for harm. The other words describe different kinds of accountability. Responsible typically refers to having duties or tasks to perform, not necessarily legal exposure. Accountable is about being answerable for outcomes, often in organizational or managerial contexts, rather than a direct legal obligation. Blameworthy is a moral judgment about fault, not a formal legal determination.

Liable is the term that conveys legal responsibility. In healthcare, being liable means you are legally responsible for the damages or harm that result from your actions or omissions if they fall below the accepted standard of care. It reflects a civil-law duty to compensate the patient for harm.

The other words describe different kinds of accountability. Responsible typically refers to having duties or tasks to perform, not necessarily legal exposure. Accountable is about being answerable for outcomes, often in organizational or managerial contexts, rather than a direct legal obligation. Blameworthy is a moral judgment about fault, not a formal legal determination.