Opinion ID: 1057613
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Relationship to Supervising Physician

Text: Other states have addressed the relationship between physician assistant and doctor in at least three ways. A significant number of states have adopted statutes specifying that a physician assistant is an agent of his or her supervising physician. [13] A few states have legislation specifically providing that a supervising physician is liable for the acts or omissions of his or her physician assistant. [14] Numerous other states have legislation similar to Tennessee's, which refers more generally to the supervising physician's responsibility for his or her physician assistants. [15] In this case, it is uncontroverted that Dr. Adams acted as Maddox's supervising physician. While the record before us does not contain any writing purporting to set forth the precise contours of their relationship, our review of the pertinent Tennessee statutory provisions and the Rules set forth above convinces us that, as a general matter, a physician assistant stands in an agency relationship with his or her supervising physician when the physician assistant is providing authorized medical services within the scope of the parties' joint protocol. Specifically, Tennessee Code Annotated section 63-19-106(b) states that [a] physician assistant shall function only under the control and responsibility of a licensed physician and that [t]here shall, at all times, be a physician who is answerable for the actions of the physician assistant. (Emphases added.) Moreover, the Rules provide that [s]ervices rendered by the physician assistant must be provided under the supervision, direction, and ultimate responsibility of a licensed physician. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-03-.02(1) (emphasis added). These Tennessee authorities establish that, where a medical doctor delegates certain responsibilities to her physician assistant, she remains responsible for the assistant carrying out those responsibilities in an appropriate manner. Under these circumstances, the physician assistant occupies the role of agent and the supervising doctor occupies the role of principal. In this case, the uncontroverted proof establishes that Dr. Adams stood in an agency relationship with Maddox insofar as Dr. Adams acted as Maddox's supervising physician and insofar as Maddox acted within the scope of the agency. [16] Accordingly, Dr. Adams could be found vicariously liable for Maddox's negligence, if proven.