Can a Physician’s Assistant be Sued for Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice is the most serious charge that can be brought upon anyone in the medical profession. This is why those being accused of malpractice will generally hire a knowledgeable attorney who knows how to defend medical professionals from untrue accusations. If you are a physician’s assistant and are being charged with medical malpractice, here are some of the questions you may have regarding your legal options going forward:

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice is more than a simple error that another reasonable physician would’ve made. For a patient to prove you are guilty of medical malpractice, they must first satisfy a series of qualifications. A patient will first have to prove you were, in fact, their physician’s assistant, and therefore owed them what is known as a “duty of care.” From there, they will have to prove that you breached the standard of care in some way and that they were significantly injured, or their medical condition worsened, as a direct result of your course of action. From there, he or she will have to prove that their injury has resulted in significant past or future medical bills, or that their daily life is now significantly affected by your decision.

How can a physician’s assistant behave negligently?

A physician’s assistant can do several things that can indicate a breaching of the standard of care. Some examples of physician’s assistant negligence are as follows:

  • Failing to treat a medical condition
  • Improperly diagnosing a medical condition
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Leaving patients unsupervised
  • Medical errors
  • Disregarding or not accepting appropriate patient history
  • Negligently performing surgery
  • Performing procedures beyond the scope of his or her medical license

What are some injuries sustained due to a negligent physician’s assistant?

Some of the injuries sustained due to medical malpractice can include, though are not limited to:

  • Strains or sprains
  • Concussion
  • Fatigue
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Strokes
  • Heart attack
  • Broken bones

What happens in a medical malpractice lawsuit?

If you have a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against you, there is a very good chance you will be investigated by the Office of Professional Discipline, or OPD. Oftentimes, this investigation leads to termination, thereby barring you from practicing. Do not let an untrue or misrepresented claim destroy your livelihood. Hire an experienced attorney who will aggressively fight any unwarranted claims of medical malpractice.

Contact our experienced New York City firm

When a medical professional is accused of misconduct, they must retain strong legal representation. If you require a medical law attorney for your legal matters, call Paul E. Walker, an experienced New York City OPMC & OPD Lawyer. Please contact the Walker Medical Law firm to set up a free initial consultation.