Openai/69323caa-023c-8003-b035-9c664dbf738f

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User: Why would a physician be asked to sign a form regarding vicarious liability insurance after being terminated from a loc…

Why would a physician be asked to sign a form regarding vicarious liability insurance after being terminated from a locums company

Assistant: A physician might be asked to sign paperwork related to vicarious liability insurance after being terminated from a loc…

A physician might be asked to sign paperwork related to vicarious liability insurance after being terminated from a locums agency for a few practical, legal, and administrative reasons—none of which necessarily imply wrongdoing. Here’s the breakdown in clear terms:

1. The company needs to document the end of your coverage

Locums agencies often provide vicarious liability/malpractice coverage for physicians working under their contract. When you leave, they sometimes need a signed acknowledgment that:

• Your coverage ended on a specific date
• You understand they will no longer be responsible for your acts going forward
• Any future work you do isn’t under their insurance

This protects them from claims that you believed you were still covered.

2. They may need you to confirm “tail” coverage details

Many locums companies provide malpractice with tail coverage, but not all. A form might ask you to acknowledge:

• Whether the company is or is not providing tail
• The period of your coverage
• That you agree they’re not liable for anything after your termination date

This avoids disputes later if a claim arises.

3. It’s related to their own vicarious liability exposure

Even after termination, a company can still be sued for things you did while you were working under them (because plaintiffs often sue everyone connected).

They may want the form to:

• Confirm your role and the time period you were their contractor
• Clarify boundaries of responsibility
• Ensure you provided accurate information when they insured you

This helps them defend against vicarious liability claims if they arise in the future.

4. It may simply be part of their off-boarding process

Some locums companies have standardized legal steps:

• Termination notice
• Return of equipment
• Insurance clarification forms

If you were terminated abruptly, the insurance step may just be catching up.

5. Occasionally it’s related to a potential or ongoing claim

This does NOT mean you are under investigation, but sometimes an agency updates its insurance documentation when:

• A patient complaint was filed
• A facility reported an incident
• A risk review was triggered

They may need correct dates and your signature for the insurer. If this is the case, you would normally receive separate notice if you personally are named in a claim.

Bottom line

Being asked to sign a vicarious liability–related form after termination usually means one of these:

✔ They’re closing out your insurance coverage ✔ They’re protecting themselves from future claims ✔ They’re documenting dates and responsibilities ✔ It’s standard compliance or cleanup paperwork

It doesn’t necessarily imply that you did something wrong, nor that a claim has been filed.

If you'd like, you can tell me exactly what the form says (no personal info), and I can explain what each part means and whether anything looks unusual.