Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) A Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a condition of Res Ipsa Loquitur?

1. The act that caused the injury was in the nurse's control

2. No negligence on the patient's part contributed to the injury

3. Evidence of the truth is available

4. The injury would not have occurred but for the nurse's negligence

The correct answer is: Evidence of the truth is available

Res Ipsa Loquitur is a legal doctrine that applies in tort law cases, particularly in medical malpractice, when the cause of an injury is not directly clear but is typically associated with negligence. This doctrine allows a presumption of negligence to be made based on the nature of the injury itself. For this concept, several conditions must be satisfied: The first condition states that the act that caused the injury must be within the nurse’s control. This is essential because if the nurse did not have control over the action that resulted in the injury, it would not be reasonable to hold them accountable. The second condition requires that no negligence on the patient’s part contributed to the injury. This is important because if the patient’s actions played a role in the incident, it would complicate the assertion of negligence under Res Ipsa Loquitur. The third condition indicates that the injury would not have occurred but for the nurse's negligence, emphasizing the necessity for a direct connection between the nurse’s conduct and the resultant harm. Among the options provided, the point regarding the availability of evidence is not a condition necessary for Res Ipsa Loquitur to apply. While evidence is important in legal contexts, the doctrine itself allows for inferences to be drawn from