Section 6542. Performance of medical services

1. Notwithstanding any other
  provision  of  law,  a physician assistant may perform medical services,
  but only when under the supervision of a physician and  only  when  such
  acts  and duties as are assigned to him are within the scope of practice
  of such supervising physician.
    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a specialist  assistant
  may  perform  medical services, but only when under the supervision of a
  physician and only when such acts and duties as are assigned to him  are
  related  to  the designated medical specialty for which he is registered
  and are within the scope of practice of his supervising physician.
    3. Supervision shall be continuous  but  shall  not  be  construed  as
  necessarily requiring the physical presence of the supervising physician
  at the time and place where such services are performed.
    4.  No  physician  shall  employ  or supervise more than two physician
  assistants and two specialist assistants in his private practice.
    5. Nothing in this article shall prohibit a  hospital  from  employing
  physician  assistants  or specialist assistants provided they work under
  the supervision of a physician designated by the hospital and not beyond
  the scope of practice of such physician.   The numerical  limitation  of
  subdivision  four  of this section shall not apply to services performed
  in a hospital.
    6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, nothing  shall
  prohibit a physician employed by or rendering services to the department
  of  correctional  services  under contract from supervising no more than
  four physician assistants or specialist assistants in his  practice  for
  the department of correctional services.
    7.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  law,  a  trainee in an
  approved program may perform medical services  when  such  services  are
  performed within the scope of such program.
    8.  Nothing  in this article, or in article thirty-seven of the public
  health law, shall be construed  to  authorize  physician  assistants  or
  specialist  assistants  to  perform  those specific functions and duties
  specifically delegated by law to those persons licensed as allied health
  professionals under the public health law or the education law.