Which scenario constitutes defamation of character?

• A. A nurse reports that a client is seeking drugs and colleagues should not believe the client when they say they are in pain.
• B. A nurse documents the patient’s pain and requests appropriate care.
• C. A nurse tells the patient their pain is real.
• D. A nurse reports a patient is doing well.

Answer: (A)

Defamation happens when someone makes a false statement about another person that is communicated to a third party and harms that person’s reputation. In this scenario, the nurse tells colleagues that the client is seeking drugs and that they shouldn’t believe the client’s report of pain. That is presenting an untrue accusation about the client to others, which could damage the client’s credibility and lead to stigma or denial of legitimate care. It’s a public, factual assertion about the patient that harms their reputation, which fits defamation.

By contrast, documenting the patient’s pain and requesting appropriate care is professional record-keeping and care coordination; it supports treatment and does not involve making a false claim to others. Telling the patient that their pain is real is validating and nonharmful, and reporting that the patient is doing well is a clinical update rather than a harmful accusation. These do not constitute defamation because they are either accurate, supportive, or focused on the patient’s status rather than making a slanderous claim to others.