Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Boyd v. Albert Einstein Medical Center Case Brief

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania1988Docket #1758994
547 A.2d 1229 377 Pa. Super. 609 1988 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2583 Torts Agency & Partnership Health Law Civil Procedure

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A patient died after alleged negligence by doctors in an HMO network. The court reversed summary judgment for the HMO, finding a jury could hold the HMO vicariously liable because it held its doctors out as agents and controlled patient care.

Legal Significance: This case extends the tort doctrine of ostensible agency, previously applied to hospitals, to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), making them potentially vicariously liable for the negligence of their independent contractor physicians.

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

The decedent, a member of the defendant Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), was required to select a primary care physician (PCP) from a limited list provided by the HMO. The HMO marketed itself as a comprehensive health care system that provided physicians and guaranteed the quality of care. The decedent’s PCP referred her to an HMO-approved specialist for a breast biopsy, during which the specialist perforated her chest wall. Weeks later, the decedent experienced symptoms of cardiac distress. Her PCP examined her, diagnosed a minor inflammatory condition, and sent her home. She died of a myocardial infarction later that day. Her husband filed a wrongful death and survival action, alleging the HMO was vicariously liable for the negligence of its participating physicians. The trial court granted summary judgment for the HMO, finding the physicians were independent contractors and not ostensible agents.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Can a Health Maintenance Organization be held vicariously liable for the medical malpractice of its participating physicians under the doctrine of ostensible agency?

Yes. The court reversed the grant of summary judgment, holding that a Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cill

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Can a Health Maintenance Organization be held vicariously liable for the medical malpractice of its participating physicians under the doctrine of ostensible agency?

Conclusion

This decision was a landmark in managed care liability, establishing that the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut

Legal Rule

An entity that employs an independent contractor to perform services is subject Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt moll

Legal Analysis

The court extended the reasoning of *Capan v. Divine Providence Hospital*, which Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehende

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • An HMO may be held vicariously liable for the negligence of
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt

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