Medical services are increasingly provided in complex arrangements involving corporate entities. Health care may be rendered by any combination of independent contractors, agents, and employees. Where there is a claim that injury has resulted from the act or omission of a single individual, there may be ramifications for other parties whose liability derives from the acts of that person. It is advisable for all counsel to consider the avenues of potential liability especially when the individual provider may have limited personal limits of coverage.

During discovery, it may be determined that claims for negligent hiring, retention, supervision, and credentialing extend liability to entities which were not initially identified as parties. Understanding the parameters of such liability under New York law could be of importance to all counsel representing litigants in malpractice cases.