Which legal doctrine states that an employer is liable for an employee's negligent act?

• A. Respondeat superior
• B. Res ipsa loquitur
• C. Gross negligence
• D. Unintentional misconduct

Answer: (A)

Respondeat superior is the idea that an employer can be held responsible for the negligent acts of an employee when those acts occur within the scope of employment and while the employee is performing duties. The important point is that liability follows the employee’s fault, not because the employer was negligent themselves, as long as the act happened in the course of work and within the employee’s authority. In radiography, if a technologist makes a negligent error while positioning a patient or acquiring images as part of their job, the facility can be liable for the resulting harm.

Res ipsa loquitur would apply only when the negligence is implied by the nature of the accident itself and the plaintiff lacks direct evidence of what went wrong, so it doesn’t establish employer liability by itself. Gross negligence implies a extraordinarily reckless level of fault, not a separate doctrine of vicarious liability, and unintentional misconduct isn’t a recognized doctrine in this context.