PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY ACTIONS

1. (a) The rules of this chapter govern a civil action in which a professional liability claim is asserted by or on behalf of a patient or client of the licensed professional against

   1. (1) a licensed professional, and/or
   2. (2) a partnership, unincorporated association, corporation or similar entity where the entity is responsible for a licensed professional who deviated from an acceptable professional standard, and
2. (b) A professional liability claim asserted against a licensed professional includes a claim for lack of informed consent.

3. (c) As used in this chapter, ‘‘licensed professional’’ means

   1. (1) any person who is licensed pursuant to an Act of Assembly as

      1. (i) a health care provider as defined by Section 503 of the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act, 40 P. S. § 1303.503;

      2. (ii) an accountant;

         Official Note

         See the CPA Law, Act of May 26, 1947, No. 318, as reenacted and amended, 63 P. S. § 9.1 et seq.

      3. (iii) an architect;

         Official Note

         See the Architects Licensure Law, Act of December 14, 1982, P. L. 1227, No. 281, 63 P. S. § 34.1 et seq.

      4. (iv) a chiropractor;

         Official Note

         See the Chiropractic Practice Act of Dec. 16, 1986, P. L. 1646, No. 188, 63 P. S. § 625.101 et seq.

      5. (v) a dentist;

         Official Note

         See the Dental Law, Act of May 1, 1933, P. L. 216, 63 P. S. § 120 et seq.

      6. (vi) an engineer or land surveyor;

         Official Note

         See The Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, Act of May 23, 1945, P. L. 913, as amended, 63 P. S. § 148 et seq.

      7. (vii) a nurse;

         Official Note

         See the Professional Nursing Law, Act of May 22, 1951, P. L. 317, as amended, 63 P. S. § 211 et seq.

      8. (viii) an optometrist;

         Official Note

         See the Optometric Practice and Licensure Act of June 6, 1980, P. L. 197, No. 57, 63 P. S. § 244.1 et seq.

      9. (ix) a pharmacist;

         Official Note

         See the Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors License Act of December 14, 1992, P. L. 1116, No. 145, 63 P. S. § 391.1 et seq.

      10. (x) a physical therapist;

          Official Note

          See the Physical Therapy Practice Act of October 10, 1975, P. L. 383, No. 110, 63 P. S. § 1301 et seq.

      11. (xi) a psychologist; and

          Official Note

          See the Professional Psychologists Practice Act of March 23, 1972, P. L. 136, No. 52, 63 P. S. § 1201 et seq.

      12. (xii) a veterinarian.

          Official Note

          See the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act of December 27, 1974, P. L. 995, No. 326, 63 P. S. § 485.1 et seq.

   2. (2) an attorney at law; and

      Official Note

      See Rule 76 for the definition of attorney at law.

   3. (3) any professional described in paragraphs (1) and (2) who is licensed by another state.

Source

The provisions of this Rule 1042.1 adopted January 27, 2003, effective immediately, 33 Pa.B. 748; amended June 16, 2008, effective immediately, 38 Pa.B. 3481. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (295850) and (316383).