12/03/2016
Daily Question: Legal - Law of Contracts
Principle:
A principal shall be liable for any damage caused by the agent in the course of employment. The scope of an agent’s authority is conditioned not only by the powers conferred by the principal, but by the reasonable public perception of such authority.
Facts:
Omega is a well-known hospital, offering specialized facilities. When a patient comes to the hospital, the general physician examines him and refers him to the specialist concerned. The brochure of the hospital describes all the doctors as Omega’s doctors. But in fact all of them, including the general physician are independent people, using Omega’s facilities under contractual arrangements. Gokul, having gone through the brochure, came to the hospital seeking a cure for a rare kind of disease. He was admitted into the hospital and operated upon for some heart problem. Among the various documents he signed at the time of admission, there was a form where under Omega disclaimed liability for the negligence of doctor. Gokul signed all the documents mechanically as most of the patients tend to do under those agonizing circumstances. Due to the negligence of the operating surgeon, Gokul died. When his kith and kin filed a suit against Omega alleging negligence, Omega resisted the claim on the basis of the document signed by Gokul.
a. Omega shall not be liable, since the contract signed by Gokul exempted it from any liability
b. Omega shall not be liable, since it is not really in a position to control the specialist surgeon in the course of a complicated operation
c. Omega shall be liable, because Gokul was drawn into the hospital by its brochure,describing the various facilities available
d. A reasonable person should have enquired the relationship between the doctors and the hospital, hence his relatives have no claim
Note: The answer will be later today