Which term describes the legal concept that an organization can be held liable for the negligent acts of its employees?

• A. End-of-Life Principles
• B. Duty
• C. Institutional Liability
• D. Good Samaritan Act

Answer: (C)

Institutional liability describes the organization being responsible for the negligent acts of its employees. In this view, the employer shares responsibility for harms caused by staff when those acts occur within the course and scope of employment. This stems from the employer–employee relationship and the authority the organization has over its workforce, so the organization can be held liable even though the individual acted negligently.

The other options don’t fit this idea. End-of-Life Principles relate to ethical guidelines for care at the end of life, not legal responsibility for staff actions. Duty is a general legal obligation but doesn’t by itself describe the organization’s liability for employees’ acts. The Good Samaritan Act protects those who provide aid from liability, not institutions for their staff.