Doctors sued for failing to supervise assistant

Cortlandt Forum, March 27, 2008

When a physician assistant missed a diagnosis that led to complications with a sinus infection, two supervising doctors were named in the malpractice suit. Their practice agreement claimed one of the physicians would see every patient treated by the assistant, and their failure to do so played a part in the $3 million verdict. Failure to diagnose accounts for about 40% of all medical malpractice lawsuits, and in this case, the jury found that the PA's failure led to the patient's impairment and the financial burdens of extensive medical and rehabilitation costs.