California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Practice Test

A medical assistant who performs a procedure ordered by the physician employer is protected under what principle?

1. Professional liability

2. Respondeat superior

3. Informed consent

4. Vicarious liability

The correct answer is: Respondeat superior

The principle that protects a medical assistant who performs a procedure as ordered by their physician employer is the concept of respondeat superior. This legal doctrine holds that an employer is responsible for the actions of their employees performed within the course of their employment. Essentially, it means that if the medical assistant is conducting a procedure that has been authorized by the physician, liability for that action primarily falls on the physician or the employer rather than the medical assistant, provided the assistant is acting within the scope of their training and duties. In this context, it reinforces the idea that employees are not solely accountable for their actions when they are executing tasks assigned by their employer, as long as those tasks are reasonable and fall within the employee's job description. This principle is particularly important in medical settings where the physician is ultimately responsible for patient care decisions, and the medical assistant acts under their supervision. The other options don't apply in this specific scenario. Professional liability refers to a professional's responsibility for the outcomes of their own negligent actions. Informed consent pertains to ensuring that patients understand and agree to procedures before they are performed, which does not directly relate to the assistant's protection in performing procedures. Vicarious liability is similar to respondeat superior but usually involves a broader context regarding legal responsibility