Normally, a professional is only responsible in tort to the patient or client. However, in recent cases, the courts have held some professionals liable to third parties when the professional's expertise or skill was intended to be relied upon by the third party and the professional was aware of this fact.

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This is because when a professional knows that their expertise or skill is intended to be relied upon by a third party, a duty of care can be established, making the professional potentially liable for negligence if their failure to exercise reasonable care causes harm to that third party. This principle has been recognized in various legal systems, acknowledging that the scope of professional responsibility can extend beyond a direct client or patient relationship under certain circumstances.

Normally, a Professional Is Only Responsible in Tort to the Patient