Opinion ID: 1930692
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hinkley's Claim Against Dr. Nesin

Text: [¶ 16] We turn now to Hinkley's claims against Dr. Nesin. Although we have never before recognized the independent tort of negligent supervision, Hinkley urges us to do so now. However, because we find that Nesin was a governmental employee under the MTCA, we need not address that issue. [¶ 17] The MTCA defines an employee as a person acting on behalf of a governmental entity in any official capacity, whether temporarily or permanently, and whether with or without compensation from local, state, or federal funds.... 14 M.R.S.A. § 8102 (Supp.2001). In order to determine whether an individual is an employee under the Act, we must examine the type of function that the individual serves and how that function effects the State's responsibilities and interests. Kennedy v. State, 1999 ME 85, ¶ 9, 730 A.2d 1252, 1255. In Taylor v. Herst, 537 A.2d 1163 (Me.1988), we decided that a private doctor was acting as a governmental employee under the MTCA when he diagnosed an individual for purposes of involuntary commitment to the Augusta Mental Health Institute Id. at 1165. In reaching this conclusion, we examined the role of a physician in the involuntary commitment process and decided that it was central to effecting the State's important responsibilities of protecting the public and treating the mentally ill. Id. (quoting Darling v. Augusta Mental Health Inst., 535 A.2d 421, 428 (Me.1987)). We noted that [w]ithout protection from civil liability, physicians would be discouraged from examining persons for involuntary commitment, thereby making the process unworkable. Id. at 1166. [¶ 18] In this case, Dr. Nesin contracted with PVH to act as Blaine's primary supervising physician. Under Maine law, a physician assistant can only render medical services if supervised by a physician or surgeon. 32 M.R.S.A. § 3270-A (1999). The kind of supervision furnished by Dr. Nesin allows governmental health care providers to hire physician assistants rather than more costly physicians. As a result, such health care providers are able to continue to provide much needed medical care to rural communities. The role that these supervising physicians serve furthers the State's interest in ensuring the health of its citizenry. The MTCA applies to Dr. Nesin in his capacity as Blaine's primary supervising physician. Therefore, because Hinkley failed to comply with the procedural provisions of the MTCA, his claims against Dr. Nesin were also properly dismissed. The entry is: Judgments affirmed.