Is a Physician's Assistant Subject to Malpractice Liablity?
January 2025
A physician's assistant (PA) can be subject to malpractice liability. Like a physician, a PA is a medical professional who provides medical services. A PA is held to the standard of care of a reasonably competent PA under similar circumstances. If a PA fails to meet the standard of care and their actions result in harm to the patient, a PA can be held legally responsible for medical malpractice.
Additionally, a PA must work within the scope of their practice as defined by the law of their state and the physician supervising them. Even if a PA is working under the supervision of a physican, that does not absolve them of malpractice liability on an individual basis.
Some common errors that are made by PA's include diagnostic errors, prescribing inappropriate treatments, prescribing inappropriate medications and failing to recognize serious conditions.
In many cases as well, the facility that employs the PA may be held responsible under the legal principle of respondeat superior. Further, the physician that is supervising the PA may also share some of the responsibility.
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice, take the time to seek experienced legal counsel. At Herrick & Hart, we have been on the side of the injured since 1951,