Title: Rahar v. Industrial Commission

State: arizona

Issuer: Arizona Supreme Court

Document:

94 Ariz. 170 (1963) 382 P.2d 656 John RAHAR, Petitioner, v. The INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION of Arizona and E.N. Basha, dba Basha's, Respondents. No. 7551. Supreme Court of Arizona. In Division. June 19, 1963. *171 Filler & Paytas, Phoenix, for petitioner. C.E. Singer, Jr., Phoenix, for respondent Industrial Commission of Arizona, Donald J. Morgan, Lorin G. Shelley, Ben P. Marshall, and Laurence Davis, of counsel. BERNSTEIN, Chief Justice. This is a petition for certiorari to review an award of the Industrial Commission. The award of the commission denied petitioner further compensation for injury to his back arising out of an industrial accident in 1959. Petitioner argues that rather than having been discharged he should have been further examined and treated in order to find out if surgery on his back was required and to see if the industrial accident had resulted in a permanent disability. Petitioner was a liquor salesman. At the time of the injury he was in a cramped position lifting beer cases in a cooler. He injured his back when he picked up one of the cases. The petitioner was first treated by Dr. Hartman who referred him for examination and treatment to Dr. Tuveson, an orthopedic surgeon. On the basis of a physical examination and x-rays Dr. Tuveson was of the opinion on May 20, 1960: The treatments did not aid petitioner's condition and on August 22, 1960, he was examined by Dr. McGovern who found Petitioner was then seen by Dr. Steelman and a myelogram was done. Both Dr. Steelman and Dr. Tuveson reported to the commission that the myelogram showed that petitioner has suffered a herniated disc at the place where his back was injured. On the recommendation of Dr. Tuveson surgery was scheduled but was cancelled because petitioner was experiencing nausea, dizziness and chest pain. A group consultation of a board made up of Drs. Tuveson, Green, Hoffman, Dorfman, and Edwards examined petitioner on October 18, 1960. They had before them his x-rays and the result of the myelogram. The board's comments were as follows: Upon examination by the internist it was found that plaintiff was not suffering from any ailment which would keep him from having necessary surgical treatment. *173 On December 2 and 21, 1960, Drs. Tuveson and Steelman reported to the commission that surgery would be of little help and Dr. Tuveson said on December 15, 1960, he tried to Another group consultation was had on April 26, 1961. The new board was made up of Drs. McLoone (Dr. Tuveson's partner) Pfeil and Edwards. Except for a physical examination the new board had before it the same data as did the original board. The comments of the board were: Based on this report petitioner was discharged. On petition for rehearing Dr. Tuveson stated that it was his opinion that the back strain had aggravated a degenerative joint disease involving the lumbar spine but that normally the aggravation would cease and further complaints would be the result of the natural progress of the disc disease. When asked why he had receded from the recommendations of the original board, of which he was a member, he testified, More importantly Dr. Tuveson testified at the rehearing in answer to a question by the referee: Dr. McLoone testified at the hearing that whatever the condition had been nature had repaired it and it had healed without any residual disability. Dr. McLoone also testified, however: Dr. Hartman testified: We have often said that we will not substitute our opinion for that of the commission where the commission has resolved a conflict in medical testimony. See, e.g. Bishop v. Industrial Commission, 94 Ariz. 65, 381 P.2d 598 (1963); Books v. Industrial Commission, 92 Ariz. 302, 376 P.2d 769. In the case there is agreement that the injury was caused by the industrial accident. There is agreement that the injury aggravated a pre-existing condition. There is agreement that there is a present disability. The only question is whether the present disability is due to the aggravation or due solely to degenerative changes. The original examining board had before it complete data when it made its comments. The second board had no further data except for a physical examination. Dr. Tuveson, who was the doctor directly concerned with petitioner's condition in these proceedings first decided the back condition was caused by degenerative changes; then recommended surgery and agreed with a board which commented that the condition *175 was caused by the injury and that surgery was indicated; then went back to his first opinion; and at the rehearing testified that to give an accurate answer he would have to re-examine the petitioner. The commission tells us that "wise men often change their minds, but fools never do". While we agree we think that the mind changing in this case amounts to equivocation. Equivocal testimony cannot create a conflict in medical testimony. Helmericks v. Airesearch Manufacturing Co. of Arizona, 88 Ariz. 413, 357 P.2d 152. The petitioner proved the injury arose out of an industrial accident and in the course of his employment, and the commission had no credible medical evidence before it on which to base its award. McAllister v. Industrial Commission, 88 Ariz. 25, 352 P.2d 359. Where this is the case the award will be set aside. Egbert v. Industrial Commission, 93 Ariz. 33, 378 P.2d 482. In any further proceedings the commission should keep in mind the difference between medical and legal causation. See, e.g., Murray v. Industrial Commission, 87 Ariz. 190, 349 P.2d 627; and Tatman v. Provincial Homes, 94 Ariz. 165, 382 P.2d 573. Award set aside. UDALL, V.C.J., and JENNINGS, J., concur.