What is the term used to describe being responsible for a wrongful act?

The term that best describes being responsible for a wrongful act is liability. Liability refers to the legal obligation or responsibility to rectify a wrong or to compensate for damages resulting from one's actions or negligence. In legal terms, when someone is found liable, it indicates that they are accountable for any harm caused due to their behavior that did not meet a standard of care.

In a physical therapy context, understanding liability is crucial since practitioners must adhere to established standards of care. If a therapist fails in this regard and a patient is harmed as a result, the therapist might be found liable. This concept helps to uphold professional accountability and maintain trust within the healthcare system.

The other choices, while related to various aspects of professional conduct, do not accurately capture the broad legal responsibility associated with wrongful acts in the same way. Defamation pertains specifically to damaging someone's reputation through false statements, malpractice refers to negligent conduct specifically by a professional in a field, and confidentiality involves the ethical duty to protect private patient information. Each of these terms has its own specific context and implications, distinct from the overarching concept of liability.