Nevada Hospital May Be Liable for Doctor’s Alleged Negligence

A hospital’s written notice to patients that its doctors are independent contractors by itself doesn’t insulate the facility from liability for harm the doctor allegedly caused.

The Nevada Supreme Court Dec. 28 said a hospital can’t avoid liability based on ostensible agency simply by telling patients the doctors aren’t its employees. That is, a hospital may be liable if a doctor appears to have been its agent or employee, even if the patient is on notice that the doctor actually wasn’t employed there. The written notice in this case, which told patients the doctors were independent contractors whose services would ...