West Coast EMT Block One Exam

You could be sued for ___________ if your radio report to the hospital describes the patient in a manner that injures his or her reputation.

1. A. Slander

2. B. Negligence

3. C. Assault

4. D. Libel

The correct answer is: A. Slander

The appropriate term to describe a situation where someone is sued for making false statements that damage another person's reputation during a radio report is libel. Libel specifically pertains to written or recorded statements that are defamatory and result in harm to someone's reputation. In this case, if the information you communicated over the radio is untrue and tarnishes the patient’s character, it might fall under libel rather than slander, which refers to spoken defamation. Slander would not apply here as it involves verbal statements that harm someone's reputation, whereas in this scenario, the communication is recorded and can be considered as written. Understanding the differences between libel and slander is crucial for EMTs, as they must ensure that their communications regarding patient details are accurate and do not unjustly harm a patient's reputation.