Which term is used to describe partial responsibility by the plaintiff for their own injury?

• A. Res ipsa loquitur
• B. Contributory negligence
• C. Duty
• D. Breach of duty

Answer: (B)

Contributory negligence describes partial responsibility by the plaintiff for their own injury. When a patient’s actions or inactions contribute to harm—such as not following post-treatment instructions, or withholding relevant medical information—their fault can limit or even bar recovery from the clinician, depending on the jurisdiction. In some legal systems, any contributory fault means no recovery, while others use comparative fault to apportion damages between plaintiff and defendant.

Res ipsa loquitur is the idea that the mere occurrence of an injury implies negligence because the event typically wouldn't happen without it, and the defendant had control. It shifts proof to the defendant, not the plaintiff’s own fault. Duty refers to the clinician’s obligation to meet a standard of care toward the patient, and breach of duty means failing that standard. Neither term describes the patient’s own contribution to harm.