# FILED July 2, 1997 Cecil Crowson, Jr. App ellate C ou rt Clerk I N THECOUR

TOFAPPEALS

R EBA V. DAVI Sa n dTYLER W AYNE ) RO

A N ECI RCU

I T D A V I Sby ne xt f r i e nd, R EBA V . ) C. A

. N O . 03A 01- 9701- C

V

- 00016 DAVI S , ) ) Pl a i ntif f s - A pp e lla nt s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. R US SELLE. SI M

M ONS , J R. ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) HAR R I M AN C I TY HOSPI TAL, THE) C I TY OFHAR

R I M AN, J EAN ANGELO, ) BR ENDA R UTHER FOR D, BETTY ) SAM PS ON, R

HONDA M

AR TI N, M ELI NDA ) AFFI R

M ED AND R

EM ANDED LATHAM , SHAR ON UNDER

W OOD a n d) VI CKI EKLI NNER

T, ) ) D

e f e n d a nt s - A

pp e l l ees )

D A V I D C. LEE, Le e , Le e & Le e , K

n o x v ille , for A

pp e lla nt s . HAR OLD D . BA LCO M , J R. , K

i n g s t o n , for A

pp e lle e , Cityo f H a r r i m a n H o s p ita l . GER ALD LAR GEN, Ki n g s t o n , fo r A ppe l l e e s , J e a n A nge l o, Br e nda R ut he r f or d, R

honda M

a r t i n, Sha r on U

nde r w ood, a nd V

i c ki e K

l i nne r t . O PI N I O N1Ms . D a v i s s e t t l e d t h e cl a i m s aga i n s t t w

o of t h e nur s e s , Be t t y S a m p s on and M e l i nda La t h a m

, t h e r e f o r e , t h i s app eal co n cer n s t h e r e m a i n i n g f i v e n u r ses , Jean A nge l o , Br e n d a R

u t h e r f o r d , R

h o n d a M

a r t i n , V

i c k i e K

l i n n e r t , and Shar on U nde r w ood and t h e i r em

p l o y e r , H

a r r i m a n Ci t y H

o spi t a l . 2 Mc Mur r a y , J . Thi s i s a m

e di cal m

a l pr act i ce case. Pl a i nt i f f , R e b a V . D a 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 g a i n s t D

r . El b e r t C

unni ngha m

, H a r r i m a n C i t yH o s p ita l a n dthe C

ity of Ha r r i m

a nf 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 b i r t h . A

f t e r r e a c hi ng a s e t t l e m e nt w i t h D r . C unni ngha m

, th e phys i c i a n w

ho de l i ve r e d Tyl e r , M s . D a vi s a m

e nde d he r c om

pl a i nt t o i nc l ude a l l e ga t i ons of ne gl i ge nc e ag a i n s t the a tte n d a nt H a r r i m a n C ityH o s p ita l nur s e s . 1

The de f e nda nt s m

ove df or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt . The c our t gr a nt e d s umma r yj udgm

e 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 nc 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 h a t a ny a l l e ge d ne gl i ge nc e on t h e pa r t of t he de f e nda nt s , w a s a pr oxi m a t e cau s e o f Ty l e r ' s i nj ur i e s . M s . D a vi s h a s app eal e dan d c h a l l e n g e s the pr opr i e t y of t he s um m a r y j udgm

e nt . W e a f f i r m

t he j udgm e 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 dinthe p l a i ntif f ' s br i e f , i s "w h e t h e r m

a t e r i a l evi de nce exi s t [ s ] i nt h e r ecor ds u f f i c i e nt t o ove r t ur n t he Tr i a l C our t ' s gr a nt i ng of s um m a r y j udgm

e 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 m pl oye r ? "3

Our s t a nda r d of r e vi e w i n c ons i de r i ngt he pr opr i e t y of s umma r y j udgm e nt i s a s f ol l ow

s : 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 m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm e nt ar e w

e 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 um

pt 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 udgm e nt , a nd our t a s k i s c onf i ne dt o r e vi e w i ng t he r e c or d t o de t e r m i ne w he t he r t he r e qui r e m

e nt s of Te nn. R. C

i v. P. 56 ha ve be e n m e t . C ow de n v. S ovr a nBa nk/ C

e nt r a l S out h , 8 16 S . W . 2d 741, 744 ( Te nn. 1991) . Te nn. R. C

i v. P. 56. 03 pr ovi de s t ha t s um m a r y j udgm

e nt i s onl y a ppr opr i a t e w he r e : ( 1) t he r e i s no ge nui ne i ssu e w i t hr e g a r dt ot h e m a t e r i a l f act s r e l e v a nt t ot h e cl a i m or de f e n s e co nt a i n e d i n t he m ot i on, Byr d v. H

a l l , 847 S . W . 2 d208, 210 ( Te nn. 1993) ; a nd ( 2) t he m ovi ng pa r t y i s e nt i t l e d t o a j udgm e nt a s a m

a t t e r of l a w

on t he undi s - put e df act s . A nde r s on v. St a nda r d R e gi s t e r C

o .,8 5 7 S . W . 2d 555, 559 ( Te nn. 1993) . The m ovi ng pa r t y ha s t he bur de no f pr o v i n gth a t its m o tio ns a tis f i e s the s e r e qui r e m

e nt s . D

o w n e nv . A

l l s t a t e I n s . C

o . , 811 S . W

. 2 d 523, 524 ( Te nn. 1991) . The s t a nda r ds gove r ni ng t he a s s e s s m e nt of e vi de nc e i nt he s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt c o nt e xt ar e al s ow e l l es t a b

lis h e d . C

our t s m

us t vi e w

t he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ght m os t f a vor a bl e t o t he nonm ovi ng pa r t y a nd m us t a l s o dr a w

a l l r eas o n a b l e i nf e r e nc e s i n t he nonm ovi ng pa r t y' s f a vor . Byr d , 847 S . W

. 2d a t 210- 11. C our t s s houl d gr a nt a s umma r yj udgm

e nt onl y w

he 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 w n f r om t he f a c t s pe r m

i 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 v e ll v . Bo tto m s , 900 S . W

. 2d 23, 26 ( Te nn. 1995) .
The m a t e r i a l f a c t s a r e undi s put e d. D r . C unni 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 da nor m

a l a nd he a l t hy a ppe a r a nc e , a nd vi t a l s i gns w e r e w ithi nt he nor m

a l ra n g e s ex cept f or r e l a t i v e t achyp n ea ( f a s t e r br e a t hi ngr a t e t h a nn or m a l ) . D

r . C unni ngha m

i ns t r uc t e d t he nur s e s ondut y t o " f ol l ow c l os e l y" Tyl e r ' s pr ogr e s s . D r . C unni ngha m4

r e t ur ne dt o c he c k on Tyl e r a t 10: 55 a nd 11: 15 P. M . D r . C unni ngha m t e s tif i e dt o t he f ol l ow i ng r e ga r di ng Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on a t 11: 15 P. M . : W

e ll, t h e r e s p i r a t or yr a t e a t th a t tim e w a s 5 6whi c h i s a little hi ghb ut n o t te r r i bl ya l ar m i ng . Te m

p e r a t ur e wa s nor m

a l a nd he a r t r a t e w a s , I be l i e ve , 156. S o i t w a s j u s 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 w e w oul d like , b ut s till s e e m e dtob e 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 o r t he ne xt 3 hour s , a nd t ha t Tyl e r w a s ge ne r a l l y " r e s t i ng qui e t l y" w i t h e v e nr e s pi r a t i on. A t a r ound 3: 45 A

. M . , t he a t t e ndi ng nur s e s not e d t h a t r e s pi r a t i on w a s a bout 80 pe r m i nut e , w

e l l a bove t he nor m a l r a t e , an d t h a t Tyl e r w a 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 oundthe e xt r e m itie s a nd m

out h. The nur s e s a dm i ni s t e r e d " bl ow

s " of oxyge n, w

hi c h e nt a i l e d t ur ni ng on a noxyge 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 m out h t o h e l phi m br eat h e m

or e easi l y . Th e nur s e s a l s o s um

m one d D r . C unni ngha m

. A t 3: 55 A

. M . , D r . C unni ngha m obs e r ve dt 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 u s t w a t c h [ t he ] inf a nt c l o s e l y . "

At 4: 00 A

. M . , t he nur s e s a dm

i ni s t e r e dm

or e oxyge n. The nur s e s ' n o t e s in di c a t e th a t a t 5 : 3 0A . M . , Ty l e r w

a s c y a n o tic inc o l or a n d ha d" f l oppy a r m

s . " M or e bl ow

s of oxyge n w

e r e gi ve n, w

hi c h i m

pr ove d hi s c ol or . The nur s e s ' not e s s how t ha t D

r . C unni ngha m

c he c ke d on5

Ty l e r ' s c ondi t i on a t 7: 00 A . M . , a t w

hi c h t i m

e t he a t t e ndi ng nur s e s i nf or m e d hi m t ha t Tyl e r ' s c ol or ha d be e n " dus ky. " D r . C unni ngha m opi ne da t the tim e t ha t Tyl e r ' s c ondi t i on w a s " pr oba bl y t r a ns i

- t i o n a l." Fr o m

a ppr oxi m

a 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 m or e a l a r m

i ng s ym

pt om s of r e s pi r a - t or y di s t r e s s .
Dr . C unni ngha m

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

e a pp a r e nt to[ hi m

] th a t Ty l e r w

a s not i m

pr o vi ng" a nd he m a de t he deci s i o nt o t r a ns f e r hi m t o Ea s t Te nne s s e e C hi l dr e n' s H

os 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 n dt r a ns f e r r e d Tyl e r by a m bul a nc e a t 12: 30 P. M . D r . C unni ngha m

' s di s c ha r ge di a gnos i s w a s : " Ta c hypne a of ne w bor n w i t h pr ogr e s s i ve de t e r i or a tio nof ge ne r a l c ondi t i on, a c i dos i s a nds hoc k- l i ke s t a t e , e tio l o g yunde t e r m i ne d. Po s s i b l e s e p tic e m i a or pos s i bl e c onge ni t a l h ear t de f ect w

a s ent e r t a i n e das di a g n o s i s w h e ni 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 u ltie s , he s u ffe r e d br a i n da m a ge a nd i s s e r i ous l y ha ndi

- capp e d . N

e ithe r D

r . C unni 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 m i ne a c a us e or or i gi n of hi s m e 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 m e nt w i t h D r . C unni ngha m

, Ms . Da v i s a m

e nde d t he c om

pl a i nt on Tyl e r ' s be ha l f t o i nc l ude6

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 ndMs . Br e nda R

ut he r f or d, t he hos pi t a l ' s D i r e c t or of N

ur s i ng. Fi ve of t he de f e nda nt s , N

ur s e s J e a n A

nge l o, Br e nda R

ut he r f or d, R

honda M

a r t i n, V i c ki e K

l i nne r t , a nd Sha r on U nde r w ood m ove d f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt .
I nop pos i t i on t o t he m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt , M s . D a vi s f ile dthe a f f i d a v it o f M s . Chr i s tine Bu s c h , a nR. N . , lic e n s e din V i r g i ni a . I n he r a f f i da v i t , N ur s e Bu s c hs t a t e dt h a t t h e de f e n d a nt s br eache dt h e s t a n d a r do f car e r e qui r e dof nur s e s i n c om m uni t y hos pi t a l s s uc h a s H a r r i m a n on s e ve r a l oc c a s i ons , i nc l udi ng

" f a il[ i n g ] t o r e c ogni z e i n Tyl e r W a yne D a vi s , s ym

pt om s of r e s pi r a - t or y di s t r e s s s yndr om e . . . " 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 Bu s c h ' s af f i d a vi t w a s s u f f i c i e nt t ocr eat e a g e nui n e i s s u e o f m a 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

- g e nce.

M s . D a vi s ' c ouns e l s t i pul a t e d, how e ve r , t ha t N

ur s e Bus c h w

a s not qua l i f i e d t o gi ve e xpe r t te s t i m ony on m

e di c a l c a us a t i on, a nd t ha t s he w

a s not be i ng of f e r e d a s a c a us a t i on w i t ne s s . M

s . D a vi s pr e s e nt e d t he de pos i t i on t e s t i m ony of D

r . 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 ow i ng:

The C

our 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 w i t ne s s , D

r . J os e ph B. Phili ps , I I I , th a t the c a u s a tio no f the p l a i ntif f ' s i nj ur ywa s the f a ilur e tom or e a ggr e s s i ve l y i nt e r ve ne t o7

di a gnos e an dt r eat the p l a i ntif f . H e a l s oin di c a t e dth a t t he m e di cal p e r s o nr e s pons i bl e t o di a gnos e a n din s titut e t r e a t m e nt w a s D r . C unni ngha m

. D r . C unni ngha m

i n hi s de pos i t i on i ndi c a t e d t ha t he w a s ke pt f ul l y a w

a 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 n dth a t it w a s hi s r e s p o n s i b ility t odi a gnos e a nd i ns t i t ut e a ppr opr i a t e t r e a t m e nt w hi c h i nc l ude d t he a dm

i ni s t e r i ng of oxyge n. * * * The C our 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 w a s not t he cau s e of a ny pe r s ona l i nj ur y t o t he p l a i ntif f a n dth a t t he M ot i on f or Sum

m a r y J udgm

e 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 m a nt t o pr ove th a t t he de f e nda nt ' s n e g l i g e nce w a s t h e cau s e o f hi s o r h e 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 ow s : ( a ) I na m

a l pr act i ce act i o n , t h e cl a i m a nt s h a l l h a v e t he bur de n of pr ovi ng by e vi de nc e a s pr ovi de d bys ubs e c - t i on ( b) : * * * ( 3 ) a s a pr oxi m a 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 o m i s s i o n , th e p l a i ntif f s u f f e r e d i nj ur i e s w

hi c h w oul d not ot he r w

i s e ha ve oc c ur r e d; * * * For s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt pur pos e s , onc e a p l a i ntif f is f a c e dw ith a pr ope r l y s uppor t e d m ot i on, he or s he m us t pr e s e nt e vi de nc e a t l eas t s u f f i c i e nt t or a i s e a g e nui n e i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l f act a s t o w he t he r the de f e n d a nt s ' al l e g e dn e g l i g e nce w a s t h e pr o xi m

a t e cau s e of h e r inj ur i e s . K i l p a t r i c kv . Br y a nt , 868 S . W . 2d 594 ( Te nn. 1993) ; W

hi t e v. M

e t hodi s t H

os p. S out h , 844 S . W . 2d 642 ( Te nn. A

pp.8

1992) . Thus , a s M s . D a vi s ha s not e d i n he r br i e f , " t he que s t i on h e r e i nis w

h e t he r D

r . Philip s ' te s tim o nyc o m

b i ne dw

ithth a t o f Nur s e Bu s c hes t a b l i s h [ e s ] cau s a t i o n a g a i ns t t he f i ve nur s e s , a nd c ons e que nt l yt he i r e m pl oye r unde r t he doc t r i ne of r e s ponde a t s upe r i or . "

D r . Philip s te s tif i e db yde p o s itiona s f o llo w s : Q: At thi s ti m

e , D o c t or , i f y o u w

oul d, w

oul d you go a headan ds t a t e f or us your opi ni ons ? A nd w e c a n lis t th o s e , th e opi ni ons youh a v e i nt hi s cas e b a s e d upony our r e vi e w

of t he s e r e c or ds a nd t he n w e c a n ki ndof 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 youc a n do t ha t f or us . M R. W A I TE: O bj e c tio n . A: W e ll, myo v e r a ll op i ni o nis th a t a ll o f the i ndi vi dua l s c a r i ng f or t hi s i nf a nt i gnor e da co l l ect i o no f s ym pt om s t ha t s houl dha 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 m

or e a ggr e s s i ve i nt e r ve nt i ontodi a gnos e a n ds t a b iliz e thi s i nf a nt a nd pr e ve nt w ha t ul t i

- m a t e l y ha ppe ne d. Q: O ka y. A

ny ot he r opi ni ons ? M R. W A I TE: O bj e c tio n . A: W e ll, it' s m

yopi ni on t ha t f a i l ur e t o a ppr opr i a t e l y di a g nos e an dt r eat t hi s i nf a nt ear l i e r cau s e d t h e s e v e r e br a i ninj ur yth a 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 w hy t he c hi l d i s pr of oundl y i nj ur e d t oda y. * * * Q: Whe nyou s a y a l l i gnor e d t he c ol l e c t i onof s ym pt om s , w ho a r e you r e f e r r i ng t o w he n you s a y " a l l " ? A: Thos e i ndi vi dua l s w ho w e r e c a r i ng f or t h e i nf a nt , t he nur s i ng s t a f f a nd D r . C unni ngha m

. * * *9

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

i n t e r m s of w ha t you' ve s e e n i n t h e c h a r t t h a t evi

- de nceds i gns of r e s pi r a t or y di s t r e s s a nd you' ve i n di c a t e dw

he n t he r e c or ds s how e a c h pa r t i c ul a r si g n wa s c ha r t e d w

hi c h you c ons i de r t o be c l i ni c a l l y s i g ni f i c a nt . Le t ' s t a ke t ha t i nf or m a t i on a nd ge t your opi ni onas t ow h e nt h e s e co n s t e l l a t i o nor a c c um ul 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 w he r e you b e lie v e D

r . C unni ngha m

s houl d ha ve i nt e r ve n e dan d t he nw e cant a l k a bout t he i nt e r ve nt i on a f t e r we d o t h a t . A: We ll, I be l i e ve t ha t by f our A . M . on t he m

or ni ng f o llo w i n gbi r t h, w

hi c h i s a bout f i v e a nd a ha l f hour s of a g e , t h e i nf a nt w a s be i ng gi ve n bl ow s of oxyge ni n or de r tor e lie v e c ya nos i s a nd ha d ha d s om e 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 h a t a n dina dditionha d t h e el e v a t e dt e m p e r a t ur e s . By t h a t ti m

e , by f our A

. M . , s om e t hi ng m

or 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: No w, is it c or r e c t tos a yth a t y o u be l i e ve t ha t by f our o' c l oc k i n t he m or ni ng t he r e c or d r e f l e c t s t ha t t he r e w

e r e e nough s i gns a nd s ym pt om s o f re s p i r a t or y di s t r e s s th a t D

r . C unni ngha m

s houl d ha ve t a ke n s om e act i o n ? I s t h a t cor r ect ? A: Ye s . * * * Q: Wh a t tr e a t m

e nt w o u l d you be l i e ve s houl d ha ve be e n i n s titut e da t th a t p o i nt ? A: The pr i nc i pa l t r e a t m e nt pr oba bl y w

oul d ha ve be e n t he a dm i ni s t r a t i on of s uppl e m e nt a l oxyge n. Q: O ka y. H

ow a bout f l ui ds ? A: As w

e l l as t h e p l acem e nt of a n i nt r a ve nous l i ne an d a dm i 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 dt h a t o ccur r e dat or a bout 5: 30 A . M . , do you ha ve a nopi ni on ba s e d upon r e a s ona bl e m e di cal pr oba bi l i t y t h a t thi s i nf a nt w oul d not ha ve s uf f e r e d pe r m a ne nt ne ur ol ogi c a l i nj ur y ?10

A: I thi nkth a t is c or r e c t . ( A l l e m pha 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 w e r e a llo w

e d t oa dm i ni s t e r b l o w

s of oxyge n on a n e m e r ge nc y ba s i s , t he y w e 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 dm

i ni s t r a - tio nof s uppl e m

e nt a l oxyge n" a s D r . Phi l i ps opi ne d s houl d ha ve be e n done . D

r . Phi l i ps ' t e s t i m ony s uppor t s t he de f e nda nt nur s e s ' a r gum e nt t ha t i t w

a s D r . C unni ngha m

, a nd not t he nur s i ngs t a ff, w h o w a s r e s pons i bl e f or t he di a gnos i s a nd t r e a t m e nt w hi c h D r . Phi l i ps s a y s s houl d ha ve oc c ur r e d a ndt 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 w a s not t he c a us e of ha r m t o Tyl e r . D

r . Phi l i ps f ur t he r de pos e d a s f ol l ow s : Q: W i t h r e ga r d t o your opi ni on t ha t t he r e w a s a f a i l

- ur e t o di a gnos e a nd t r e a t Tyl e r D a vi s w hi c h c a us e d t he s e r i ous ne ur ol og i c a l inj ur y , is it a c or r e c t s t a t e m e nt t ha t D

r . C unni ngha m

w a s t he m

e di c a l pe r s onw

ho w a s c ha r ge d w

i t h t h e r e s p o n s i b ilityto 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 m e nt ? M R. W A I TE: O bj e c tio n . TH EW I TN ES S : I w

a nt t oh ear t h a t ag a i n , p l eas e . ( R e que s t e d por t i on of r e c or d r e a d) . A: H e w a s t h e m

e di cal p e r s o n , y e s . * * * Q: Ca nyou s e t your ow n pa r a m

e t e r s a s t o how

you w oul d f e e l c om

f or t a bl e a ns w

e r i ng t ha t que s t i on? A: No w, l e t m

e m a ke s ur e I know

w ha t you' r e a s ki ng m e . Y ou' r e a s ki ng m

e c a n nur s e s r e nde r di a gnos e s a nd pr e s c r i b e t r eat m

e nt s .11

Q: R i ght . A: I n ne w

bor n i nt e ns i ve c a r e or i n ne w bor ns . Q: R i ght. A: S o m

e c a n , th o s e w

iths p e c i a l tr a i ni n g . Q: O ka y. A: M os t f l oor nur s e s , s hi f t nur s e s a r e not .
Ms . D a 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 h a d"s p eci a l t r a i ni n g " or a ut hor i z a t i on t o r e nde r di a g n o s e s or pr e s c r i b e t r eat m e nt s . Si g ni f i c a ntly , t he r e c or d s how s t ha t Dr . C

unni ngha m

w a s pr e s e nt a nd obs e r vi ng Tyl e r ' s m e di c a l s i t ua t i on a t 3: 55 A M . H i s onl yor de r tothe nur s e s a t th a t tim e w a s to" j u s t w

a t c hinf a nt c l o s e l y . " D

r . C unni 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 m e d hi m t ha t t he y ha d a dm i ni s t e r e d bl ow

s of oxyge n i nt e r m i t - t e ntly , a nd t ha t he w a s not i f i e d e ve r ytim e Tyl e r w

a s gi ve n oxyge n. The f ol l ow

i ng por t i ons of D

r . C unni ngha m

' s de pos i t i on t e s t i m ony a r e s i g ni f i c a nt w

i t h r e ga r d t o t he c om m uni c a t i on be t w

e e n hi m

s e l f a nd t he de f e nda nt nur s e s : Q: An ddur i n gthi s e ntir e tim e f r a m e f r o m th e tim

e o f e l e v e no' c l oc k—

or c a nw

e a c t ua l l ys t ar t i t, I gue s s , 10: 55 w

he nyou f i r s t s a w

t he c hi l d; ba s e don t hi s l a t e e nt r y i n your t e s t i m ony, ha d t he nur s e s c o m m uni cat e di n your opi ni on t he i nf or m a t i on t o you t h a t w a s n ecess a r yf or you t o m a ke a pr ope r di a gnos i s of w

ha t w a s oc c ur r i ng w

i t h Tyl e r D

a vi s ? A: Ye s .12 * * * A: I w

a s ke pt a c ut e l y a w a r e of t he ba by' s c ondi t i on- - Q: O ka y. A: —b yt he nur s e s . The nur s e s w e r e al l v e r ya tte ntiv e a nd ve r y c onc e r ne d t he w hol e t i m

e . * * * Q: O ka y. W

e 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 w e r e t ha t hi gh? A: I don' t know , but I w

a s a dvi s e d m

ul t i pl e t i m

e s dur i ngth a t ni ght th a t the r e s p i r a t i o n s w e r e ch a n g i ng up a nd dow

n f r om t i m e t o t i m

e . Q: O ka y. A: An dt he , quot e , nor m a l pa r a m

e t e r s of r e s pi r a t i ons va r yb e t w

een65 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 n ga t th a t tim

e . Q: A ll r i ght . A: But I w

a s a w a r e of t he c ondi t i on of t he ba by a l m os t m i nut e by m

i nut e . D r . C unni ngha m

' s t e s t i m

ony t ha t t he nur s e s pr ovi de d hi m w i t h a l l t he e s s e nt i a l i nf or m a t i on he ne e de d t o m a 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 h o s p i t a l ... I w a s a l w a y s im m e di a t e l ya v a i l a b l e . "

Fr o m t he f or e goi ng t e s t i m ony, an d our r e vi e w of t he e nt i r e r ecor dinthi s c a s e , w e f i n dth a t, ta ki n gint oc o n s i de r a tio na l l t he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ght m os t f a vor a bl e t o t he pl a i nt i f f a nd dr a w i ngal l r eas o n a b l e i nf e r e nces i nh e r f a v or , w e co n c ur w

i t ht h e j udgm e 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 r13

we r e pr oxi m

a t e l y c a us e d byD r . C unni ngha m

' s de vi a t i on f r om t he accept e ds 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 m e 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 udgm e nt i s a f f i r m

e d a nd t h e cas e r e m

a n de d f or s uc h ot he r a nd f ur t he r a c t i on a s m a y be ne c e s - s a r y . C

o s t s o napp eal ar e t a x e dan das s e s s e dt ot h e app e l l a nt .

___________________________ D on T. M

c M ur r a y, J udge

___________________________________ H ous t on M

. G odda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge

___________________________________ H e r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J udgeI N THECOUR TOFAPPEALS

R EBA V. DAVI Sa n dTYLER W AYNE ) RO

A N ECI RCU

I T D A V I Sby ne xt f r i e nd, R EBA V . ) C. A

. N O . 03A 01- 9701- C

V

- 00016 DAVI S , ) ) Pl a i ntif f s - A pp e lla nt s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. R US SELLE. SI M

M ONS , J R. ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) HAR R I M AN C I TY HOSPI TAL, THE) C I TY OFHAR

R I M AN, J EAN ANGELO, ) BR ENDA R UTHER FOR D, BETTY ) SAM PS ON, R

HONDA M

AR TI N, M ELI NDA ) AFFI R

M ED AND R

EM ANDED LATHAM , SHAR ON UNDER

W OOD a n d) VI CKI EKLI NNER

T, ) ) D

e f e n d a nt s - A

pp e l l ees )

JUDG M E NT Thi s a ppe a l c a m

e on t o be he a r d upo n t he r e c or d f r om t he C i r c ui t C

our t of R

oa ne C ount y, br i e f s a nd a r gum e nt of c ouns e l . U ponc ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s C our t i s of t he opi ni on t ha t t he r e w a 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 . Th e t r i a l cour t ' s j u dg m e nt i s af f i r m

e dan dt h e case r e m a n de d f or s uc h ot he r a nd f ur t he r a c t i on a s m a y be ne c e s s a r y. C os t s on a pp eal ar e t a x e dan das s e s s e dt ot h e app e l l a nt .15

PER CU RI A M