FILED

July 2, 1997

Cecil Crowson, Jr.

Appellate Court Clerk

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

REBA V. DAVI S a nd TYLER WAYNE ) ROANE CI RCUI T

DAVI S by ne xt f r i e nd, REBA V. ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9701- CV- 00016

DAVI S, )

 )

 Pl a i ntif f s - Appe lla nt s )

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

vs . ) HON. RUSSELL E. SI MMONS, J R.

 ) J UDGE

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

HARRI MAN CI TY HOSPI TAL, THE )

CI TY OF HARRI MAN, J EAN ANGELO, )

BRENDA RUTHERFORD, BETTY )

SAMPSON, RHONDA MARTI N, MELI NDA ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED

LATHAM, SHARON UNDERWOOD a nd )

VI CKI E KLI NNERT, )

 )

 De f e nda nt s - Appe l l ees )

DAVI D C. LEE, Le e , Le e & Le e , Knoxville , for Appe lla nt s .

HAROLD D. BALCOM, J R. , Ki ngs t on, for Appe lle e , City of Ha r r i ma n

Hos pita l .

GERALD LARGEN, Ki ngs t on, for Appe l l e e s , J e a n Ange l o, Br e nda

Rut he r f or d, Rhonda Ma r t i n, Sha r on Unde r wood, a nd Vi c ki e Kl i nne r t .

O P I N I O N
1Ms . Da v i s s e t t l e d t h e cl a i ms aga i n s t t wo of t h e nur s e s , Be t t y Sa mp s on and

Me l i nda La t h a m, t h e r e f o r e , t h i s appeal co n cer n s t h e r e ma i n i n g f i v e n u r ses , Jean

Ange l o , Br e n d a Ru t h e r f o r d , Rh o n d a Ma r t i n , Vi c k i e Kl i n n e r t , and Shar on Unde r wood and

t h e i r emp l o y e r , Ha r r i ma n Ci t y Ho spi t a l .

2

Mc Mur r a y, J .

Thi s i s a me di cal ma l pr act i ce case. Pl a i nt i f f , Re ba V. Da vi s

br ought s ui t , i ndi vi dua l l y a nd on be ha l f of he r i nf a nt s on, Tyl e r ,

a ga i ns t Dr . El be r t Cunni ngha m, Ha r r i ma n Ci t y Hos pita l a nd the City

of Ha r r i ma n f or i nj ur i e s s us t a i ne d by Tyl e r s hor t l y a f t e r hi s

bi r t h. Af t e r r e a c hi ng a s e t t l e me nt wi t h Dr . Cunni ngha m, the

phys i c i a n who de l i ve r e d Tyl e r , Ms . Da vi s a me nde d he r c ompl a i nt t o

i nc l ude a l l e ga t i ons of ne gl i ge nc e aga i ns t the a tte nda nt Ha r r i ma n

City Hos pita l nur s e s .

1

The de f e nda nt s move d f or s umma r y j udgme nt . The c our t gr a nt e d

s umma r y j udgme nt on t he gr ound t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f ha d f a i l e d t o

pr e s e nt pr oof , i n c ont r a ve nt i on of t ha t of f e r e d by t he de f e nda nt s ,

t ha t a ny a l l e ge d ne gl i ge nc e on t he pa r t of t he de f e nda nt s , wa s a

pr oxi ma t e caus e of Tyl e r ' s i nj ur i e s . Ms . Da vi s ha s appeal e d and

c ha l l e nge s the pr opr i e t y of t he s umma r y j udgme nt . We a f f i r m t he

j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t .

The onl y i s s ue pr e s e nt e d, as s t a t e d in the pl a i ntif f ' s br i e f ,

i s "whe t he r ma t e r i a l evi de nce exi s t [ s ] i n t he r ecor d s uf f i c i e nt t o

ove r t ur n t he Tr i a l Cour t ' s gr a nt i ng of s umma r y j udgme nt a s t o t he

f i ve nur s e s , a nd c ons e que nt l y t he i r e mpl oye r ? "
3

Our s t a nda r d of r e vi e w i n c ons i de r i ng t he pr opr i e t y of s umma r y

j udgme nt i s a s f ol l ows :

The s t a nda r ds gove r ni ng a n a ppe l l a t e c our t ' s r e vi e w

of a t r i a l c our t ' s a c t i on on a mot i on f or s umma r y

j udgme nt ar e we l l se t t l e d. Si nc e our i nqui r y i nvol ve s

pur e l y a que s t i on of l a w, no pr e s umpt i on of c or r e c t ne s s

a t t a c he s t o t he t r i a l c our t ' s j udgme nt , a nd our t a s k i s

c onf i ne d t o r e vi e wi ng t he r e c or d t o de t e r mi ne whe t he r t he

r e qui r e me nt s of Te nn. R. Ci v. P. 56 ha ve be e n me t . Cowde n v.

Sovr a n Ba nk/ Ce nt r a l Sout h, 816 S. W. 2d 741, 744 ( Te nn.

1991) . Te nn. R. Ci v. P. 56. 03 pr ovi de s t ha t s umma r y j udgme nt

i s onl y a ppr opr i a t e whe r e : ( 1) t he r e i s no ge nui ne i ssue

wi t h r e ga r d t o t he ma t e r i a l f act s r e l e va nt t o t he cl a i m

or de f e ns e cont a i ne d i n t he mot i on, Byr d v. Ha l l , 847

S. W. 2d 208, 210 ( Te nn. 1993) ; a nd ( 2) t he movi ng pa r t y i s

e nt i t l e d t o a j udgme nt a s a ma t t e r of l a w on t he undi s -

put e d f act s . Ande r s on v. St a nda r d Re gi s t e r Co.,857

S. W. 2d 555, 559 ( Te nn. 1993) . The movi ng pa r t y ha s t he

bur de n of pr ovi ng tha t its motion s a tis f i e s the s e

r e qui r e me nt s . Downe n v. Al l s t a t e I ns . Co. , 811 S. W. 2d

523, 524 ( Te nn. 1991) .

The s t a nda r ds gove r ni ng t he a s s e s s me nt of e vi de nc e

i n t he s umma r y j udgme nt c ont e xt ar e al s o we l l es t a blis he d. Cour t s mus t vi e w t he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ght mos t

f a vor a bl e t o t he nonmovi ng pa r t y a nd mus t a l s o dr a w a l l

r eas ona bl e i nf e r e nc e s i n t he nonmovi ng pa r t y' s f a vor .

Byr d, 847 S. W. 2d a t 210- 11. Cour t s s houl d gr a nt a

s umma r y j udgme nt onl y whe n bot h t he f a c t s a nd t he

c onc l us i ons t o be dr a wn f r om t he f a c t s pe r mi t a r e a s ona bl e pe r s on t o r e a c h onl y one c onc l us i on. I d.

Ca r ve ll v. Bottoms , 900 S. W. 2d 23, 26 ( Te nn. 1995) . 

The ma t e r i a l f a c t s a r e undi s put e d. Dr . Cunni ngha m de l i ve r e d

Tyl e r by c a e s a r i a n s e c t i on on J une 12, 1991, a t 10: 39 P. M. Tyl e r

e xhi bi t e d a nor ma l a nd he a l t hy a ppe a r a nc e , a nd vi t a l s i gns we r e

withi n t he nor ma l ra nge s except f or r e l a t i ve t achypnea ( f a s t e r

br e a t hi ng r a t e t ha n nor ma l ) . Dr . Cunni ngha m i ns t r uc t e d t he nur s e s

on dut y t o " f ol l ow c l os e l y" Tyl e r ' s pr ogr e s s . Dr . Cunni ngha m
4

r e t ur ne d t o c he c k on Tyl e r a t 10: 55 a nd 11: 15 P. M. Dr . Cunni ngha m

t e s tif i e d t o t he f ol l owi ng r e ga r di ng Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on a t 11: 15

P. M. :

We ll, t he r e s pi r a t or y r a t e a t tha t time wa s 56 whi c h

i s a little hi gh but not te r r i bl y a l a r mi ng. Te mpe r a t ur e

wa s nor ma l a nd he a r t r a t e wa s , I be l i e ve , 156. So i t wa s

j us t one of t he s e t hi ngs , t hi s ba by i s ha vi ng a l i t t l e

bi t of t r oubl e ge t t i ng s t a r t e d, t he l ungs a r e not

e xpa ndi ng, l oos e ni ng up qui t e a s r a pi dl y a s we woul d

like , b ut s till s e e me d to be oka y.

The r e c or d i ndi c a t e s t ha t not hi ng e ve nt f ul oc c ur r e d f or t he

ne xt 3 hour s , a nd t ha t Tyl e r wa s ge ne r a l l y " r e s t i ng qui e t l y" wi t h

e ve n r e s pi r a t i on. At a r ound 3: 45 A. M. , t he a t t e ndi ng nur s e s not e d

t ha t r e s pi r a t i on wa s a bout 80 pe r mi nut e , we l l a bove t he nor ma l

r a t e , and t ha t Tyl e r wa s e xhi bi t i ng c ya nos i s ( bl ui s h c ol or a t i on)

a r ound the e xt r e mitie s a nd mout h. The nur s e s a dmi ni s t e r e d " bl ows "

of oxyge n, whi c h e nt a i l e d t ur ni ng on a n oxyge n t a nk c onne c t e d t o a

c a t he t e r , a nd hol di ng t he c a t he t e r i n t he ge ne r a l vi c i ni t y of t he

i nf a nt ' s nos e a nd mout h t o he l p hi m br eat he mor e easi l y. The

nur s e s a l s o s ummone d Dr . Cunni ngha m. At 3: 55 A. M. , Dr . Cunni ngha m

obs e r ve d t he s i t ua t i on a nd i ns t r uc t e d t he nur s e s t o "j us t wa t c h

[ t he ] inf a nt c l os e l y. " 

At 4: 00 A. M. , t he nur s e s a dmi ni s t e r e d mor e oxyge n. The nur s e s '

not e s indi c a t e tha t a t 5: 30 A. M. , Tyl e r wa s c ya notic in c ol or a nd

ha d " f l oppy a r ms . " Mor e bl ows of oxyge n we r e gi ve n, whi c h i mpr ove d

hi s c ol or . The nur s e s ' not e s s how t ha t Dr . Cunni ngha m c he c ke d on
5

Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on a t 7: 00 A. M. , a t whi c h t i me t he a t t e ndi ng nur s e s

i nf or me d hi m t ha t Tyl e r ' s c ol or ha d be e n " dus ky. " Dr . Cunni ngha m

opi ne d a t the time t ha t Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on wa s " pr oba bl y t r a ns i -

t i ona l." Fr om a ppr oxi ma t e l y 7: 20 A. M. , Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on de t e r i or a t e d, a nd he be ga n e xhi bi t i ng mor e a l a r mi ng s ympt oms of r e s pi r a -

t or y di s t r e s s .

Dr . Cunni ngha m t e s t i f i e d t ha t by 8: 45 A. M. , " i t be c a me

a ppa r e nt to [ hi m] tha t Tyl e r wa s not i mpr ovi ng" a nd he ma de t he

deci s i on t o t r a ns f e r hi m t o Ea s t Te nne s s e e Chi l dr e n' s Hos pi t a l .

The c hi l dr e n' s hos pi t a l pe di a t r i c t e a m a r r i ve d a r ound 10: 15 A. M. ,

a nd t r a ns f e r r e d Tyl e r by a mbul a nc e a t 12: 30 P. M. Dr . Cunni ngha m' s

di s c ha r ge di a gnos i s wa s : " Ta c hypne a of ne wbor n wi t h pr ogr e s s i ve

de t e r i or a tion of ge ne r a l c ondi t i on, a c i dos i s a nd s hoc k- l i ke s t a t e ,

e tiol ogy unde t e r mi ne d. Pos s i bl e s e ptic e mi a or pos s i bl e c onge ni t a l

hear t de f ect wa s ent e r t a i ne d as di a gnos i s whe n i t l e f t . "

As a r e s ul t of Tyl e r ' s de t e r i or a t i ng c ondi t i on a nd r e s pi r a t or y

di f f i c ultie s , he s uffe r e d br a i n da ma ge a nd i s s e r i ous l y ha ndi -

cappe d. Ne ithe r Dr . Cunni ngha m nor s ubs e que nt t r e a t i ng phys i c i a ns

we r e a bl e t o de f i ni t i ve l y de t e r mi ne a c a us e or or i gi n of hi s

me di c a l c ondi t i on. 

As not e d a bove , a f t e r r e a c hi ng s e t t l e me nt wi t h Dr . Cunni ngha m,

Ms . Da vi s a me nde d t he c ompl a i nt on Tyl e r ' s be ha l f t o i nc l ude
6

a l l e ga t i ons of ne gl i ge nc e by t he nur s e s i n a t t e nda nc e a nd Ms .

Br e nda Rut he r f or d, t he hos pi t a l ' s Di r e c t or of Nur s i ng. Fi ve of t he

de f e nda nt s , Nur s e s J e a n Ange l o, Br e nda Rut he r f or d, Rhonda Ma r t i n,

Vi c ki e Kl i nne r t , a nd Sha r on Unde r wood move d f or s umma r y j udgme nt .

I n oppos i t i on t o t he mot i on f or s umma r y j udgme nt , Ms . Da vi s

f ile d the a f f i da vit of Ms . Chr i s tine Bus c h, a n R. N. , lic e ns e d in

Vi r gi ni a . I n he r a f f i da vi t , Nur s e Bus c h s t a t e d t ha t t he de f e nda nt s

br eache d t he s t a nda r d of car e r e qui r e d of nur s e s i n c ommuni t y

hos pi t a l s s uc h a s Ha r r i ma n on s e ve r a l oc c a s i ons , i nc l udi ng

" f a il[ i ng] t o r e c ogni z e i n Tyl e r Wa yne Da vi s , s ympt oms of r e s pi r a -

t or y di s t r e s s s yndr ome . . . " The t r i a l c our t c or r e c t l y not e d t ha t

Nur s e Bus c h' s af f i da vi t wa s s uf f i c i e nt t o cr eat e a ge nui ne i s s ue of

ma t e r i a l f a c t on t he que s t i on of t he de f e nda nt s ' a l l e ge d ne gl i -

ge nce. 

Ms . Da vi s ' c ouns e l s t i pul a t e d, howe ve r , t ha t Nur s e Bus c h wa s

not qua l i f i e d t o gi ve e xpe r t te s t i mony on me di c a l c a us a t i on, a nd

t ha t s he wa s not be i ng of f e r e d a s a c a us a t i on wi t ne s s . Ms . Da vi s

pr e s e nt e d t he de pos i t i on t e s t i mony of Dr . J os e ph B. Phi l i ps , I I I ,

f or pr oof on t he c a us a t i on i s s ue . The t r i a l c our t f ound t he

f ol l owi ng:

The Cour t f i nds t ha t t he pa r t i e s ha ve not di s put e d

t he opi ni on of t he pl a i nt i f f ' s e xpe r t wi t ne s s , Dr . J os e ph

B. Phili ps , I I I , tha t the c a us a tion of the pl a i ntif f ' s

i nj ur y wa s the f a ilur e to mor e a ggr e s s i ve l y i nt e r ve ne t o
7

di a gnos e and t r eat the pl a i ntif f . He a l s o indi c a t e d tha t

t he me di cal pe r s on r e s pons i bl e t o di a gnos e a nd ins titut e

t r e a t me nt wa s Dr . Cunni ngha m.

Dr . Cunni ngha m i n hi s de pos i t i on i ndi c a t e d t ha t he

wa s ke pt f ul l y a wa r e of t he c ondi t i on of t he pa t i e nt by

t he de f e nda nt nur s e s , a nd tha t it wa s hi s r e s pons i bility

t o di a gnos e a nd i ns t i t ut e a ppr opr i a t e t r e a t me nt whi c h

i nc l ude d t he a dmi ni s t e r i ng of oxyge n.

* * *

The Cour t f i nds f r om t he a bove t ha t a ny br e a c h of

t he s t a nda r d of c a r e by t he nur s e de f e nda nt s wa s not t he

caus e of a ny pe r s ona l i nj ur y t o t he pl a i ntif f a nd tha t

t he Mot i on f or Summa r y J udgme nt s houl d be s us t a i ne d.

T. C. A. § 29- 26- 115 r e qui r e s a c l a i ma nt t o pr ove tha t t he

de f e nda nt ' s ne gl i ge nce wa s t he caus e of hi s or he r inj ur i e s . I t

pr ovi de s i n pe r t i ne nt pa r t a s f ol l ows :

( a ) I n a ma l pr act i ce act i on, t he cl a i ma nt s ha l l ha ve

t he bur de n of pr ovi ng by e vi de nc e a s pr ovi de d by s ubs e c -

t i on ( b) :

* * *

( 3) a s a pr oxi ma t e r e s ul t of t he de f e nda nt ' s

ne gl i ge nt a c t or omi s s i on, the pl a i ntif f s uf f e r e d

i nj ur i e s whi c h woul d not ot he r wi s e ha ve oc c ur r e d;

* * *

For s umma r y j udgme nt pur pos e s , onc e a pl a i ntif f is f a c e d with

a pr ope r l y s uppor t e d mot i on, he or s he mus t pr e s e nt e vi de nc e a t

l eas t s uf f i c i e nt t o r a i s e a ge nui ne i s s ue of ma t e r i a l f act a s t o

whe t he r the de f e nda nt s ' al l e ge d ne gl i ge nce wa s t he pr oxi ma t e caus e

of he r inj ur i e s . Ki l pa t r i c k v. Br ya nt , 868 S. W. 2d 594 ( Te nn.

1993) ; Whi t e v. Me t hodi s t Hos p. Sout h, 844 S. W. 2d 642 ( Te nn. App.
8

1992) . Thus , a s Ms . Da vi s ha s not e d i n he r br i e f , " t he que s t i on

he r e i n is whe t he r Dr . Philips ' te s timony c ombi ne d with tha t of

Nur s e Bus c h es t a bl i s h[ e s ] caus a t i on a ga i ns t t he f i ve nur s e s , a nd

c ons e que nt l y t he i r e mpl oye r unde r t he doc t r i ne of r e s ponde a t

s upe r i or . "

Dr . Philips te s tif i e d by de pos ition a s f ollows :

Q: At thi s ti me , Doc t or , i f you woul d, woul d you go

a head and s t a t e f or us your opi ni ons ? And we c a n

lis t thos e , the opi ni ons you ha ve i n t hi s cas e ba s e d

upon your r e vi e w of t he s e r e c or ds a nd t he n we c a n

ki nd of go ba c k a nd t a ke e a c h one a nd l ook a t t he

ba s i s f or t hos e opi ni ons , i f you c a n do t ha t f or us .

MR. WAI TE: Obj e c tion.

A: We ll, my ove r a ll opi ni on is tha t a ll of the i ndi vi dua l s c a r i ng f or t hi s i nf a nt i gnor e d a col l ect i on of

s ympt oms t ha t s houl d ha ve be e n s uf f i c i e nt t o t r i gge r

ear l i e r a nd mor e a ggr e s s i ve i nt e r ve nt i on to di a gnos e

a nd s t a biliz e thi s i nf a nt a nd pr e ve nt wha t ul t i -

ma t e l y ha ppe ne d.

Q: Oka y. Any ot he r opi ni ons ?

MR. WAI TE: Obj e c tion.

A: We ll, it' s my opi ni on t ha t f a i l ur e t o a ppr opr i a t e l y

di a gnos e and t r eat t hi s i nf a nt ear l i e r caus e d t he

s e ve r e br a i n inj ur y tha t the c hi l d s uf f e r e d a nd t ha t

i s r e s pons i bl e f or why t he c hi l d i s pr of oundl y

i nj ur e d t oda y. 

* * *

Q: Whe n you s a y a l l i gnor e d t he c ol l e c t i on of s ympt oms ,

who a r e you r e f e r r i ng t o whe n you s a y " a l l " ?

A: Thos e i ndi vi dua l s who we r e c a r i ng f or t he i nf a nt ,

t he nur s i ng s t a f f a nd Dr . Cunni ngha m.

* * *
9

Q: Al l r i ght . Le t ' s go ba c k a nd s e e i f we c a n now i n

t e r ms of wha t you' ve s e e n i n t he c ha r t t ha t evi -

de nced s i gns of r e s pi r a t or y di s t r e s s a nd you' ve

i ndi c a t e d whe n t he r e c or ds s how e a c h pa r t i c ul a r si gn

wa s c ha r t e d whi c h you c ons i de r t o be c l i ni c a l l y

s i gni f i c a nt .

 

Le t ' s t a ke t ha t i nf or ma t i on a nd ge t your opi ni on as

t o whe n t he s e cons t e l l a t i on or a c c umul a t i on of s i gns

we r e c l i ni c a l l y s i gni f i c a nt e nough t o whe r e you

be lie ve Dr . Cunni ngha m s houl d ha ve i nt e r ve ne d and

t he n we can t a l k a bout t he i nt e r ve nt i on a f t e r we do

t ha t .

A: We ll, I be l i e ve t ha t by f our A. M. on t he mor ni ng

f ollowi ng bi r t h, whi c h i s a bout f i ve a nd a ha l f

hour s of a ge , t he i nf a nt wa s be i ng gi ve n bl ows of

oxyge n i n or de r to r e lie ve c ya nos i s a nd ha d ha d s ome

s i gns of r e s pi r a t or y di s t r e s s i n a ddi t i on t o t ha t

a nd in a ddition ha d t he el e va t e d t e mpe r a t ur e s . By

t ha t ti me , by f our A. M. , s ome t hi ng mor e t ha n or de r -

i ng a bl ood s uga r s houl d ha ve be e n done .

Q: Now, is it c or r e c t to s a y tha t you be l i e ve t ha t by

f our o' c l oc k i n t he mor ni ng t he r e c or d r e f l e c t s t ha t

t he r e we r e e nough s i gns a nd s ympt oms of re s pi r a t or y

di s t r e s s tha t Dr . Cunni ngha m s houl d ha ve t a ke n s ome

act i on? I s t ha t cor r ect ?

A: Ye s . 

* * *

Q: Wha t tr e a t me nt woul d you be l i e ve s houl d ha ve be e n

i ns titut e d a t tha t poi nt ?

A: The pr i nc i pa l t r e a t me nt pr oba bl y woul d ha ve be e n t he

a dmi ni s t r a t i on of s uppl e me nt a l oxyge n.

Q: Oka y. How a bout f l ui ds ? 

A: As we l l as t he pl aceme nt of a n i nt r a ve nous l i ne and

a dmi ni s t r a t i on of i nt r a ve nous a nt i bi ot i c s .

Q: Ha d t ha t occur r e d at or a bout 5: 30 A. M. , do you ha ve

a n opi ni on ba s e d upon r e a s ona bl e me di cal pr oba bi l i t y

t ha t thi s i nf a nt woul d not ha ve s uf f e r e d pe r ma ne nt

ne ur ol ogi c a l i nj ur y?
10

A: I thi nk tha t is c or r e c t .

( Al l e mpha s i s a dde d) .

The r e c or d r e ve a l s t ha t a l t hough t he s t a ff nur s e s we r e a llowe d

t o a dmi ni s t e r bl ows of oxyge n on a n e me r ge nc y ba s i s , t he y we r e not

a ut hor i z e d, a bs e nt a phys i c i a n' s or de r , t o pe r f or m t he " a dmi ni s t r a -

tion of s uppl e me nt a l oxyge n" a s Dr . Phi l i ps opi ne d s houl d ha ve be e n

done . Dr . Phi l i ps ' t e s t i mony s uppor t s t he de f e nda nt nur s e s '

a r gume nt t ha t i t wa s Dr . Cunni ngha m, a nd not t he nur s i ng s t a ff, who

wa s r e s pons i bl e f or t he di a gnos i s a nd t r e a t me nt whi c h Dr . Phi l i ps

s a ys s houl d ha ve oc c ur r e d a nd t ha t t he ne gl i ge nc e of t he nur s e s or

t he i r de vi a t i on f r om t he s t a nda r d of c a r e wa s not t he c a us e of ha r m

t o Tyl e r . Dr . Phi l i ps f ur t he r de pos e d a s f ol l ows :

Q: Wi t h r e ga r d t o your opi ni on t ha t t he r e wa s a f a i l -

ur e t o di a gnos e a nd t r e a t Tyl e r Da vi s whi c h c a us e d

t he s e r i ous ne ur ol ogi c a l inj ur y, is it a c or r e c t

s t a t e me nt t ha t Dr . Cunni ngha m wa s t he me di c a l

pe r s on who wa s c ha r ge d wi t h t he r e s pons i bility to

di a gnos e a ny c ondi t i ons a nd i ns t i t ut e t r e a t me nt ?

MR. WAI TE: Obj e c tion.

THE WI TNESS: I wa nt t o hear t ha t aga i n, pl eas e .

( Re que s t e d por t i on of r e c or d r e a d) .

A: He wa s t he me di cal pe r s on, ye s .

* * *

Q: Ca n you s e t your own pa r a me t e r s a s t o how you woul d

f e e l c omf or t a bl e a ns we r i ng t ha t que s t i on?

A: Now, l e t me ma ke s ur e I know wha t you' r e a s ki ng me .

You' r e a s ki ng me c a n nur s e s r e nde r di a gnos e s a nd

pr e s c r i be t r eat me nt s .
11

Q: Ri ght .

A: I n ne wbor n i nt e ns i ve c a r e or i n ne wbor ns .

Q: Ri ght. 

A: Some c a n, thos e with s pe c i a l tr a i ni ng.

Q: Oka y.

A: Mos t f l oor nur s e s , s hi f t nur s e s a r e not .

Ms . Da vi s pr e s e nt e d no e vi de nc e s ugge s t i ng t ha t a ny of t he

de f e nda nt nur s e s ha d "s peci a l t r a i ni ng" or a ut hor i z a t i on t o r e nde r

di a gnos e s or pr e s c r i be t r eat me nt s . 

Si gni f i c a ntly, t he r e c or d s hows t ha t Dr . Cunni ngha m wa s

pr e s e nt a nd obs e r vi ng Tyl e r ' s me di c a l s i t ua t i on a t 3: 55 AM. Hi s

onl y or de r to the nur s e s a t tha t time wa s to " j us t wa t c h inf a nt

c l os e l y. " Dr . Cunni ngha m t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he nur s i ng s t a f f ha d

i nf or me d hi m t ha t t he y ha d a dmi ni s t e r e d bl ows of oxyge n i nt e r mi t -

t e ntly, a nd t ha t he wa s not i f i e d e ve r y time Tyl e r wa s gi ve n oxyge n.

The f ol l owi ng por t i ons of Dr . Cunni ngha m' s de pos i t i on t e s t i mony a r e

s i gni f i c a nt wi t h r e ga r d t o t he c ommuni c a t i on be t we e n hi ms e l f a nd

t he de f e nda nt nur s e s :

Q: And dur i ng thi s e ntir e time f r a me f r om the time of

e l e ve n o' c l oc k—or c a n we a c t ua l l y s t a r t i t, I

gue s s , 10: 55 whe n you f i r s t s a w t he c hi l d; ba s e d on

t hi s l a t e e nt r y i n your t e s t i mony, ha d t he nur s e s

c ommuni cat e d i n your opi ni on t he i nf or ma t i on t o you

t ha t wa s necess a r y f or you t o ma ke a pr ope r di a gnos i s of wha t wa s oc c ur r i ng wi t h Tyl e r Da vi s ?

A: Ye s .
12

* * *

A: I wa s ke pt a c ut e l y a wa r e of t he ba by' s c ondi t i on- -

Q: Oka y.

A: —by t he nur s e s . The nur s e s we r e al l ve r y a tte ntive

a nd ve r y c onc e r ne d t he whol e t i me .

* * *

Q: Oka y. We r e you a dvi s e d a t 5: 45 t ha t t he r e s pi r a -

t i ons of t he c hi l d we r e t ha t hi gh?

A: I don' t know, but I wa s a dvi s e d mul t i pl e t i me s

dur i ng tha t ni ght tha t the r e s pi r a t i ons we r e cha ngi ng up a nd down f r om t i me t o t i me .

Q: Oka y.

A: And t he , quot e , nor ma l pa r a me t e r s of r e s pi r a t i ons

va r y be t ween 65 a nd 30 a nd t he n 10 pe r c e nt e i t he r

a bove or be yond t ha t i s not r e a l l y t e r r i bl y e xc i t -

i ng a t tha t time .

Q: All r i ght .

A: But I wa s a wa r e of t he c ondi t i on of t he ba by a l mos t

mi nut e by mi nut e .

Dr . Cunni ngha m' s t e s t i mony t ha t t he nur s e s pr ovi de d hi m wi t h

a l l t he e s s e nt i a l i nf or ma t i on he ne e de d t o ma ke a n a ppr opr i a t e

di a gnos i s i s undi s put e d. Fur t he r , he t e s t i f i e d t ha t " I ne ve r l e f t

t he hos pi t a l ... I wa s a l wa ys imme di a t e l y a va i l a bl e . "

Fr om t he f or e goi ng t e s t i mony, and our r e vi e w of t he e nt i r e

r ecor d in thi s c a s e , we f i nd tha t, ta ki ng int o c ons i de r a tion a l l

t he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ght mos t f a vor a bl e t o t he pl a i nt i f f a nd

dr a wi ng al l r eas ona bl e i nf e r e nces i n he r f a vor , we conc ur wi t h t he

j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t t ha t t he i nj ur i e s s us t a i ne d by Tyl e r
13

we r e pr oxi ma t e l y c a us e d by Dr . Cunni ngha m' s de vi a t i on f r om t he

accept e d s t a nda r d of c a r e a nd not by a ny ne gl i ge nc e on t he pa r t of

t he de f e nda nt nur s e s . The pl a i nt i f f ha s f a i l e d t o me e t t he bur de n

pl a c e d upon he r by T. C. A. § 29- 26- 115( a ) ( 3) .

Ac c or di ngl y, t he t r i a l c our t ' s j udgme nt i s a f f i r me d a nd t he

cas e r e ma nde d f or s uc h ot he r a nd f ur t he r a c t i on a s ma y be ne c e s -

s a r y. Cos t s on appeal ar e t a xe d and as s e s s e d t o t he appe l l a nt . 

___________________________

Don T. Mc Mur r a y, J udge

___________________________________

Hous t on M. Godda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge

___________________________________

He r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J udge
I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

REBA V. DAVI S a nd TYLER WAYNE ) ROANE CI RCUI T

DAVI S by ne xt f r i e nd, REBA V. ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9701- CV- 00016

DAVI S, )

 )

 Pl a i ntif f s - Appe lla nt s )

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

vs . ) HON. RUSSELL E. SI MMONS, J R.

 ) J UDGE

 )

 )

 )

 )

 )

HARRI MAN CI TY HOSPI TAL, THE )

CI TY OF HARRI MAN, J EAN ANGELO, )

BRENDA RUTHERFORD, BETTY )

SAMPSON, RHONDA MARTI N, MELI NDA ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED

LATHAM, SHARON UNDERWOOD a nd )

VI CKI E KLI NNERT, )

 )

 De f e nda nt s - Appe l l ees )

JUDGMENT

Thi s a ppe a l c a me on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t he

Ci r c ui t Cour t of Roa ne Count y, br i e f s a nd a r gume nt of c ouns e l .

Upon c ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s of t he opi ni on t ha t t he r e

wa s no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t .

The t r i a l cour t ' s j udgme nt i s af f i r me d and t he case r e ma nde d

f or s uc h ot he r a nd f ur t he r a c t i on a s ma y be ne c e s s a r y. Cos t s on

a ppeal ar e t a xe d and as s e s s e d t o t he appe l l a nt .
15

 PER CURI AM