Professional Liability and Malpractice Law Suites

Even though medical assistants are employees working under the umbrella of the supervising physician, or healthcare practitioner responsible for the medical assistant's actions, it does NOT mean that the medical assistant cannot be named in an individual law suite should injury occur. 

"Is It True That Medical Assistants Cannot Be ued?"

No! Medical Assistants AREN'T Immune to Law Suites

Each individual practitioner, as well as allied health professional, which includes the medical assistant, is responsible for their own actions. Being that malpractice is defined as "the negligent act of a person with specialized training and education" each one can find themselves being held responsible for their own negligent acts.

Acting under the employ of the doctor does not exonerate
medical assistants from direct liability for their mistakes!

Unfortunately, unintended mistakes and errors can happen anywhere! They occur when least expected and some of these unfortunate events may inadvertently cause harm to someone! When this happens in the medical field where people are already vulnerable, they can easily have profound effects on everybody involved.

Failure to Act

Contrary to popular belief you don't have to cause severe injury to a patient to face a serious law suit as a consequence of your actions or failure to act.

Mistakes, oversights, slip-ups, mix-ups, hang-ups (on the phone!) and accidents can happen in a flash ... and turn into a big headache fast!!!

As "little" not following standards of care (omission), as "little" as failing to recognize a need for help (indifference), or as "little" as failing to return a phone call (abandonment) can be reason enough to be held liable in court should any damages occur as a result

Malpractice events place unexpected hardship on families who suddenly find themselves overwhelmed with emotional and financial burdens. Some consequences of a mistake my be temporary, but some victims may be permanently affected by their injuries.

Some may have long-term medical expenses, some may never be able to return to their jobs; yet others may not survive. Nothing is more difficult and painful than losing a loved one, and when the death resulted from someone else's negligence the family's devastation over the loss is doubled.

As a result certain states in the USA are changing the rules. For example, a new provision of Connecticut's Public Act 04-82 requires the Health Department to obtain a listing from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) of all state residents maintained on AAMA's registry and to make such listing available to the public.

• Medical Assistant Workplace Supervision
  
  Learn what a medical assistant can and cannot do and understand why medical assistants must provice care only under the direct supervision of a medical doctor.
• Medical Assistant Tort and Negligence
  
  Medical assistants and their supervisors must understand breach of duty, tort and negligence laws which impose a minimum level of due care upon them.
• Medical Assistant Malpractice Insurance
  
  Medical Assistant's malpractice insurance policy and malpractice law suit protection.
• Medical Assistant Errors and Ommissions
  
  Medical assistants need to protect themselves from malpractice lawsuits by carrying their own professional errors and omissions - also called liability insurance policy.
• Medical Assistant Criminal Record Background Check
  
  Medical assistant pre-employment background checks, prior conduct at work, public places, or at home: medical assistant criminal record background check.