When medical treatment goes wrong, patients want to know who is responsible. In Missouri, a hospital may sometimes be accountable for a doctor’s mistake, but not always.
The answer depends on the relationship between the doctor and the hospital. Understanding this relationship can help you get the compensation you deserve in a medical malpractice claim.
When is a hospital responsible for its doctors?
Hospitals in Missouri often work with both employees and independent contractors. If the doctor who made the mistake was a hospital employee, then the hospital may be responsible for that doctor’s actions. This is a legal concept called vicarious liability, where employers take responsibility for their employees during the course of their job duties.
However, many doctors who work in hospitals do so as independent contractors. Missouri law does not automatically hold a hospital responsible for the actions of independent contractors. This means that if the doctor was not employed directly by the hospital, then the hospital may not be legally at fault for the mistake.
There are exceptions. If the hospital presented the doctor as an employee or failed to inform the patient that the doctor was an independent contractor, the hospital may still face responsibility. Courts may also examine how much control the hospital had over the doctor’s work. If the hospital controlled the doctor’s schedule, procedures or decision-making, then the court may treat that doctor as an employee in practice, even without an official employment title.
When is medical malpractice the hospital’s fault?
Hospitals are also accountable for their own mistakes. This includes failures such as poor hiring practices, inadequate staff supervision or problems caused by hospital policies. If hospital staff made errors that contributed to a patient’s injury, those actions could result in a direct claim against the hospital.
Hospitals play a central role in patient care, so mistakes linked to them can cause serious harm. Anyone affected by a medical error should focus on recovery and take steps to protect their health and future. Understanding how hospital responsibility works under Missouri law can help you make informed choices about what to do next.
