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THE PLEADINGS ALLEGED THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE HOSPITAL’S “AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES” AND PLAINTIFF’S EXPERT POINTED TO THE ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN WHO TREATED PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT; THEREFORE THERE WAS A QUESTION OF FACT WHETHER THE HOSPITAL WOULD BE VICARIOUSLY LIABLE FOR THE EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN’S ACTS OR OMISSIONS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined there were questions of fact whether the defendant hospital was vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of the emergency room doctor, Vaugeois, who treated plaintiff’s decedent. Although the complaint did not name Vaugeois as a defendant, the pleadings alleged the negligence of defendant’s agents and employees:

… [Plaintiff’s expert] points to Vaugeois, the hospitalist who admitted and initially rendered care to decedent, as the negligent party. … [P]laintiff’s bill of particulars speaks to defendant’s “agents and employees, specifically including” Smithem and Dey [who had been dropped from the suit]. The word “including” is not exclusive, leaving open the prospect that vicarious liability was premised on the negligence of other providers. “A hospital is responsible for the malpractice of . . . a professional whom it holds out as performing the services it offers, even though in fact he or she is an independent contractor” … . At the very least, a question of fact is presented as to whether liability may be imposed against the hospital based on an apparent authority theory … . “Pursuant to that theory, under the emergency room doctrine, ‘a hospital may be held vicariously liable for the acts of an independent physician if the patient enters the hospital through the emergency room and seeks treatment from the hospital, not from a particular physician'” … . Fasce v Catskill Regional Med. Ctr., 2022 NY Slip Op 05906, Third Dept 10-20-22

Practice Point: The pleadings alleged negligence on the part of defendant hospital’s “agents and employees.” Plaintiff’s expert alleged the emergency room physician was negligent. Therefore, there was a question of fact whether the hospital would be vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of the emergency room physician.

 

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