A physician's liability for mistakes of a physician assistant

Journal of Legal Medicine

Volumn 21, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 125-142

  Gore, Chris L ^a  

^a SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT; CERTIFICATION; HUMAN; LAW; LEGAL LIABILITY; MALPRACTICE; NOTE; PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT; RESPONSIBILITY;

EID: 0034056373     PISSN: 01947648     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/019476400272837     Document Type: Note

References (161)

1. 1 A medical procedure is sometimes necessary to insert bilateral "tympanostomy tubes" (extremely small tubes) through the eardrum so that excess fluid in the middle ear can drain, thereby reducing the chance that the eardrum may burst, become infected, or cause the patient to suffer pain.
2. 2 225 ILCS 95/1 (West 1998).
3. 3 R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-54-2(8) (1995).
4. 4 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 15-301(a) (1994); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-1, 107.17(1)(b) (1996).
5. 4 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 15-301(a) (1994); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-1, 107.17(1)(b) (1996).
6. 4 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 15-301(a) (1994); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-1, 107.17(1)(b) (1996).
7. 5 See, e.g., Ala. Code § 34-24-297 (1975); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3519 (West 1990); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 458.347(7) (West 1999); 225 ILCS 95/14 (West 1998); Iowa Code Ann. § 148C.3(1) (West 1999); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-2896a(a) (1992); Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 112, § 91 (West 1996); Mont. Code Ann. § 37-20-402 (1999); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 328-D:3(I) (1995); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 45:9-27.13(a) (West 1992); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4730.10(A) (West 1998); 63 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 422.36(c) (West 1996); S.D. Cod. Laws § 36-4A-8 (Lexis 1999); Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-19-105 (1998); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 1734(a) (1999); Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2951.1 (Michie 1998); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 33-26-504 (Lexis 1999).
8. 6 Id.
9. 7 The Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, An Interactive Compendium of Model Hospital Policies and Procedures (visited Oct. 19, 1999) .
10. 8 See, e.g., Tex. Civ. Code Ann. 4495b-1, § 12(b) (West 1999).
11. 9 Phyllis Coleman & Ronald A. Shellow, Extending Physician's Standard of Care to Non-Physician Prescribes: The RX for Protecting Patients, 35 Idaho L. Rev. 37, 62 (1998).
12. 10 Id.
13. 11 Id. at 63.
14. 12 Id. at 48-51.
15. 13 Id. at 48-55.
16. 14 Id.
17. 15 Id.
18. 16 Id. at 62.
19. 17 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1998); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998).
20. 17 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1998); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998).
21. 17 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1998); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998).
22. 18 Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1998).
23. 19 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516(a) (West 1990).
24. 20 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998).
25. 21 Id.
26. 22 Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.17048(1) (West 1992).
27. 23 Id.
28. 24 Id. § 333.17049(1).
29. 25 Id. § 333.17048(4).
30. 26 Id. § 333.17049(2).
31. 27 Id. § 333.17049(4). See also Physicians Guide to Michigan Law, Pain and System Management (visited Feb. 17, 1999) .
32. 28 Northeast Ohio Emergency v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 637 N.E.2d 376, 380 (Ohio App. 1994).
33. 29 Id.
34. 30 Tex. Civ. Code Ann. 4495b § 3.06(d)(6)(K) (West 1976).
35. 31 Id.
36. 32 Bradford v. Alexander, 886 S.W.2d 394, 396 (Tex. App. 1994).
37. 33 See Coleman & Shellow, supra note 9, at 72.
38. 34 Id.
39. 35 Id.
40. 36 625 N.E.2d 1044 (Ill. App. 1993).
41. 37 Id. at 1047
42. 38 Id. at 1051.
43. 42 Paris v. Kreitz, 331 S.E.2d 234, 247 (N.C. App. 1985).
44. 43 Bradford v. Alexander, 886 S.W.2d 394, 397 (Tex. App. 1994).
45. 44 886 S.W.2d 394, 397 (Tex. App. 1994).
46. 45 See Coleman & Shellow, supra note 9, at 72-73.
47. 46 548 F. Supp. 603, 610 (D.S.C. 1982).
48. 47 Id. (citations omitted).
49. 48 Id.
50. 49 Id.
51. 50 Adami v. Belmonte, 704 N.E.2d 708, 714 (Ill. App. 1998).
52. 51 Id.
53. 52 331 S.E.2d 234, 247 (N.C. App. 1985).
54. 53 Id.
55. 54 SeaRiver Maritime v. Industrial Med. Servs., 983 F. Supp. 1287 (N.D. Cal. 1997).
56. 55 Id. at 1296 (citations omitted). The court used the following standard of care: "A physician [or PA] must exercise that degree of skill or care possessed by doctors in good standing practicing in the same locality under similar circumstances." Since both the physician and PA worked in an occupational medical clinic, the court said the standard of care was that exercised by other physicians and PAs working in such clinics.
57. 56 Id.
58. 57 Id.
59. 58 James Davidson, American Academy of Physician Assistants: A Look at Leading Malpractice Risk Issues (visited Oct. 19, 1999) .
60. 59 Id.
61. 60 Id.
62. 61 Id.
63. 62 Id.
64. 63 Id.
65. 64 Id.
66. 65 Id.
67. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
68. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
69. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
70. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
71. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
72. 66 See, e.g., Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 3516.5 (West 1990); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-36-106(5)(b)(I) (1997); Ga. Code Ann. § 43-34-103(d) (1994); 225 ILCS 95/7 (West 1998); La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 1360.31 (A)(1) (West 1994); Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. I, § 15-301 (a) ( 1994). See also Edward P. Richards & Thomas R. McLean, Physicians in Managed Care: A Multidimensional Analysis of New Trends in Liability and Business Risk, 18 J. Legal Med. 443, 470 (1997).
73. 67 See, e.g., Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-1, 107.17(b) (1996) ("The physician assistant may function without the personal presence of the supervising physician in an office other than where such physician maintains his or her primary practice...."); S.D. Cod. Laws § 36-4A-19(3) (Michie 1999) (stating that "if the proposed office of the physician assistant is separate from the main office of the supervising physician, the hoard may also consider the availability or nonavailability of medical services in the proposed location of the physician assistant and such specific requirements as the board may provide as a condition precedent to approving a particular placement."); Wash. Rev. Code § 18.71A.020(2)(b)(ii) (1999) (stating that "such supervision and control shall not be construed to necessarily require the personal presence of the supervising physician or physicians at the place where services are rendered").
74. 68 See Mont. Code Ann. § 37-20-101(1)(c) (1999).
75. 69 See Richards & McLean, supra note 66, at 471.
76. 70 Restatement (Second) of Agency § 213 (1958).
77. 71 Id.
78. 72 Dennis P. Saccuzzo, Liability for Failure to Supervise Adequately Mental Health Assistants, Unlicenced Practitioners and Students, 34 Cal. W.L. Rev. 115, 127 (1997).
79. 73 Id.
80. 74 548 F. Supp. 603, 612 (D.S.C. 1982).
81. 75 Id. at 611 (quoting Porter v. United States, 128 F. Supp. 590 (D.S.C. 1955), aff'd, 228 F.2d 389 (4th Cir. 1955)).
82. 76 Id.
83. 77 853 F. Supp. 1430 (M.D. Ga. 1994).
84. 78 Id. at 1438.
85. 79 Id.
86. 80 Id.
87. 81 James H. Cook, The Legal Status of Physician Extenders in Iowa: Review, Speculations, and Recommendations, 72 Iowa L. Rev. 215, 230 (1996).
88. 82 Id. at 231.
89. 83 Id.
90. 84 See, e.g., Comfort v. Wheaton Family Practice, 594 N.E.2d 381, 385 (Ill. App, 1992).
91. 85 Lynn D. Lisk, A Physician's Respondeat Superior Liability for the Negligent Acts of Other Medical Professionals - When the Captain Goes Down Without the Ship, 13 U. Ark. Little Rock L.J. 183, 184 (1991).
92. 86 Comfort, 594 N.E.2d at 385.
93. 87 Barnes v. Mitchell, 67 N.W.2d 208, 213 (Mich. 1954) (citations omitted).
94. 88 Simons v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 22 P.2d 609, 613 (Mont. 1933).
95. 89 Id.
96. 90 Id.
97. 91 Id.
98. 92 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 187.
99. 93 Id. at 188.
100. 94 Keitz v. National Paving & Contracting Co., 134 A.2d 296, 301 (Md. 1957). See also Lisk, supra note 85, at 188-90.
101. 95 Keitz, 134 A.2d at 301.
102. 96 134 A.2d 296, 301 (Md. 1957).
103. 97 Id.
104. 98 Id.
105. 99 869 P.2d 682, 685 (Kan. 1994).
106. 100 Id. at 683.
107. 101 Id. at 685.
108. 102 Id.
109. 103 Id.
110. 104 Id.
111. 105 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 190-91.
112. 106 Restatement (Second) of Agency § 227 (1957).
113. 107 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 190.
114. 108 Sherri W. Johnson & Neil S. Richman, The Borrowed Servant Defense and the Federal Tort Claims Act: Defending Physicians in Training, 33 A.F.L. REV. 171, 173 (1990).
115. 109 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 191.
116. 110 Id.
117. 111 Id.
118. 112 Swigerd v. City of Ortonville, 75 N.W.2d 217, 222 (Minn. 1956).
119. 113 Id.
120. 114 Id.
121. 115 Id.
122. 116 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 191.
123. 117 Id.
124. 118 Id. at 192.
125. 119 Id. at 193.
126. 120 Keitz, 134 A.2d at 301.
127. 121 466 N.W.2d 512, 520 (Neb. 1991).
128. 122 Id.
129. 123 Id.
130. 124 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 193.
131. 125 Stewart R. Reuter, Toward a More Realistic and Consistent Use of Respondeat Superior in the Hospital, 29 St. Louis U.L.J. 601, 619 (1985).
132. 126 Id. at 643.
133. 127 Id. at 619.
134. 128 Id.
135. 129 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 194.
136. 130 Id. at 195.
137. 131 Id.
138. 132 Id.
139. 133 Jason R. Yungtum, The "Captain of the Ship" Sets Sail in Nebraska: Long v. Hacker, 29 Creighton L. Rev. 379, 391 (1997).
140. 134 Id.
141. 135 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 197.
142. 136 Id. at 196.
143. 137 65 A.2d 243, 245 (Pa. 1949).
144. 138 See Yungtum, supra note 133, at 391.
145. 139 McConnell, 65 A.2d at 245.
146. 140 Id.
147. 141 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 197.
148. 142 Id at 198.
149. 143 Id.
150. 144 Id.
151. 145 Id.
152. 146 See, e.g., SeaRiver Maritime v. Industrial Med. Servs., 983 F. Supp. 1287, 1297 (N.D. Cal. 1997).
153. 147 Id.
154. 148 Id.
155. 149 Id.
156. 150 Id.
157. 151 364 P.2d 955, 957 (Kan. 1961).
158. 152 SeaRiver, 983 F. Supp. at 1287.
159. 153 Voss, 364 P.2d at 955.
160. 154 See Lisk, supra note 85, at 184.
161. 155 Id. at 188.