Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

How many factors are typically considered when determining if defamation has occurred?

1. 2

2. 4

3. 6

4. 8

The correct answer is: 4

In the context of defamation, there are four key factors commonly considered to establish whether defamation has occurred. These factors include: 1. **Publication**: The statement must be made to someone other than the person it is about. This means that for a defamation claim to hold, the allegedly defamatory statement must have been communicated to at least one other party. 2. **Identification**: The statement must identify or refer to the person claiming defamation. This means the individual can be recognized, either directly or indirectly, through the words used in the statement. 3. **Defamation**: The statement must be harmful to the reputation of the person claiming defamation. This typically means that the statement has the potential to lower the individual in the estimation of right-thinking members of society. 4. **Fault**: The experience of fault is typically required, which can vary depending on the public or private status of the individual involved. In many jurisdictions, public figures must prove actual malice, while private individuals may only need to show negligence. Thus, the correct answer revolves around the consideration of these four essential factors when assessing a defamation claim. A response indicating that there are two, six, or eight factors would miss these critical elements required to