Texas Jurisprudence Exam Physician Assistant Practice Exam

In terms of legal accountability, what does a supervising physician assume?

1. Responsibility for their own actions only

2. Liability for the actions of the physician assistant

3. No responsibility regarding the actions of a PA

4. Only responsibility for signed orders

The correct answer is: Liability for the actions of the physician assistant

A supervising physician assumes liability for the actions of the physician assistant (PA) under their supervision. This legal accountability reflects the relational dynamics and ethical standards within the healthcare practice, where the physician and PA work as a team. The supervising physician is responsible not only for their own medical decisions and actions but also for overseeing the actions of the PA, ensuring they adhere to accepted standards of care and operate within the scope of their training and licensure. This accountability includes a duty to provide appropriate supervision, guidance, and support to the PA. In legal cases where a patient is harmed due to the actions of a PA, the supervising physician may also be held liable for those actions, particularly if it can be demonstrated that the physician did not effectively oversee the PA's practice or if they failed to provide adequate training or supervision. In contrast, the other choices suggest that the supervising physician either limits their responsibility to only their own actions, assumes no responsibility for the PA, or takes responsibility only for signed orders, which does not accurately represent the extent of legal accountability involved in the supervisory relationship in practice. The relationship is designed to ensure patient safety and high standards of care through shared responsibility.