Question

1. Explain what it means to say that one physician is “covering” for another?
2. Can a nurse obtain consent from a patient for a surgical procedure if the physician is extremely busy handling an emergency case? Why or why not?
3. Can an employee be sued even if the employer (physician) is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior?

Answer 1

- A physician covering for another is also a Doctor of medicine who is working in place of the primary physician who will be unavailable for a specific period. The former will deal like a primary physician for some time.

- It is not allowed for a nurse to take surgery consent from a patient nomatter how busy the physician be. Consent includes proper education about the surgery,procedure involved,  the risks, complications and proper understanding of the patient.

After proper education and understanding , the nurse can take signature on the consent. It is important that the surgeon who is going to perform the surgery educate the patient thoroughly as he is an expert in his field and he can answer to the doubts of the patient. And as the nurse is not an expert as the surgeon, the patient can sue the nurse for delivering wrong information.

- If the employer is liable, then chances of employee being sued is less. But if employee is liable, chances of employer being sued is high