FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 31, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 27 0 . THE STATE v . ALM ANZA.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Th i s ap peal ari s es o ut of A n t o n i o T ap i a Al m an za’ s i n d i ct m en t i n Co bb Co u n t y

fo r ch i ld m ol es t at i o n, i nces t

, ag grav at ed s ex u al b at tery

, s t a tutor y r a pe

, a nd a ggr a va ted

ch i l d m o l es t at io n. Fo l l o w i n g t h at i n d i ct m en t

, Al m an za’ s al l eg ed v i ct i m (Al m an za’ s

s t ep d au g h t er) an d her m o th er (Al m an za’ s wi fe) l eft Co b b Co u n t y

, an d t h e Di s t ri ct

At t o rn ey ’ s s ub s eq u en t effo rt s t o l o cat e th es e wi t n es s es h av e b een un s ucces s fu l

. Th e

St at e t h erefo re fi l ed a m o t i o n i n l i m i n e s eek i ng an o rd er t h at wo u l d al l o w p ro s ecu t o rs

t o in t ro d u ce i n t o ev i d en ce t h e t es t i m o ny o f t wo of th e ch i l d ’ s t reat i n g p h y s i ci an s as

t o s t a t e m e n t s m ad e to t h e do ct o rs b y t h e ch i l d ’ s m o t h er an d i n wh i ch t h e m o t h er

rel at ed bo t h t h e ch i l d ’ s al l eg at i o n s o f ab u s e an d t h e fact th at t h e ch i l d h ad i d en t i fi ed

A l m an za as h er ab u s er. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g at wh i ch b o t h p h y s i ci an s t es t ifi ed

, t h et r i a l co urt g ran t ed th at m o ti o n i n p art an d den ied i t i n p art

. Th e St at e n ow ap p e a l s

,

as s ert i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en it fo u nd t h at t ho s e p o rt io n s o f t h e m o t h er’ s

s t at em en t s t h at i d en t i fi ed Al m an za as t h e p erp et rat o r o f th e al l eg ed cri m es di d n o t fal l

wi t h i n t h e h ears ay ex cep t i o n fo u n d i n OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 03 (4 ). Fo r reas o n s ex p l ai n ed

m o re fu ll y

b el o w, we affi rm

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g as to t h e ad m i s si b i l i t y o f hears ay ev i d en ce o n l y

fo r an ab u s e o f di scret i o n. See Ta n n er v. S t a te

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ (8 04 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 0 1 7 );

Al l en v. S t a t e

, 2 4 7 G a

. A p p

. 1 0

, 1 2 (1 ) (5 4 3 SE2 d 4 5 ) (2 0 00 ). Su ch an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n “ o ccu rs wh ere t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g i s u n s u p p o rt ed b y a n y ev i d en ce o f

reco rd o r wh ere t h at r u l i n g m i s s tat es o r m i s ap pl ies t h e rel ev an t l aw.” Ch u a v.

Jo h ns o n

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 8

, 2 9 9 (7 8 4 SE2 d 4 4 9 ) (2 0 16 ) (ci t at i o n a n d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

T h e r e l ev an t fact s are un d i s p u t ed an d s h o w t h at i n o r ab ou t M ay 2 0 1 4

,

Al m an za’ s s t ep d au g h t er rep o rt ed t o h er m ot h er th at ap p ro x i m at el y o n e ye a r earl i er

Al m an za h ad m o l es t ed h er o n two o ccas io ns

. Th e m o th er rep o rt ed t h es e accu s at i on s

t o law en fo rcem en t

, w h o arres t ed Al m an za o n M ay 2 8

, 2 0 1 4

. Po l i ce al so i n s t ru ct ed

t h e m o th er t o t ak e t he ch i l d fo r a p h y s i cal ex am at Ch il d ren ’ s Heal t h care of At l an t a

(“ CHOA”), wh i ch t h e m o t h er d i d o n M ay 2 9 , 2 0 14

.

2Aft er g ran ti n g t h e S t a t e s ev eral co nt i n u an ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt s et t ri al fo r

M o n day

, M ay 2 3

, 2 01 6

. On Fri d ay

, M ay 2 0

, t h e St at e fi l ed b o t h a m o t i o n fo r a

co n ti n u an ce an d th e m o ti o n i n l i m i n e t h at g av e ri s e t o t h i s ap p eal

. A t t he Oct o b er

2 0 1 6 h eari n g o n i t s m o t io n i n l i m i n e, t h e St at e p res en ted t he tes t im on y o f Dr.

Ly n ward Barret t

, t h e p ed i at ri c em erg en cy ro o m p h y s i ci an wh o ex am i n ed t h e ch i l d at

CHOA i n M ay 2 0 1 4

. Dr. Barret t t es t i fi ed t h at t h e m o t h er rep o rt ed th at h er d au g h t er

h ad t o l d h er t hat Al m an za h ad m o l es t ed h er o n two o ccas i on s b y t o u ch in g th e ch i l d ’ s

v ag in a an d b y p l aci n g h i s p en i s “ i n s i d e o f h er.” Th e m o t h er fu rt h er rel at ed t h at

,

acco rd i n g t o t h e ch i l d

, t h es e act s h ad t ak en p lace ap pro x i m at el y o n e y ear earl i er. Dr.

Barret t p erfo rm ed a p hy s ic a l e x am of t h e ch i l d

, co n s u l t ed wi th a s o ci al wo rk er to

m ak e s ure t h at l aw en fo rcem en t was i n v o l v ed an d t hat t h e al l eg ed ab u ser n o l o n g er

h ad a c c e s s t o t h e ch i l d

, an d referred t he ch i l d fo r p sy ch o lo g i cal co u n s el i n g.

Acco rd in g t o Dr. Barret t

, h e o b t ai n ed al l h i s i nfo rm at i o n fro m t h e m o t h er, he as k ed

q u es ti o n s o n l y t o t h e m o t h er, an d he d i d n ot rec a l l t h e ch i ld s ay i n g an y t hi n g ei t h er

b efo re, d u ri n g , o r aft er t he ex am

. 1

1 D r. Barret t s t at ed th at wh en a ch i l d i s bro u g h t i n fo r an ex a m b a s e d o n a

rep o rt o f p h y s i cal o r s ex u al ab u s e, hi s u s ual p ract ice i s t o refrai n fro m q u es t i o n i n g t h e

ch i l d d i rect l y

an d i ns t ead t o as k q ues t i o n s o f t h e “ acco m p an y i n g ad u lt .”

3Th e v i ct i m ’ s reg u l ar p ed i at ri ci an

, Ch arl es Ri ch ard s

, a l s o t es ti fi ed an d s t at ed

t h at h e had s een t h e ch i l d an d h er m o t h er i n h i s o ffi ce o n J u n e 6, 20 1 4

, fo r t reat m en t

o f t h e ch il d ’ s vi ral s y m

pt om s

, i n cl u d in g a fev er, h ead ach es , an d m u scl e ach es

. 2 Dr.

Ri ch ard s fu rt h er t es t i fi ed th at as he was fi n is hi n g h i s ex am o f t h e ch i l d

, t he m o t h er

b ecam e em o t i o n al an d s t at ed t h at t he ch i l d h ad recen t l y rep o rt ed t h at ap p ro x i m at el y

o n e y ear earl i er Al m an za h ad rap ed h er o n t wo d ifferen t o ccas io n s

. 3 Ri ch ard s t es t i fi ed

t h at al l o f t h e i n fo rm at i o n h e recei v ed reg ard i n g th e al l eg at i o n s o f sex u al m o l es t at i o n

cam e fro m

t h e m o t h er an d t h at t h e ch i l d d i d n o t s ay an y th i n g d u ri n g t h i s v i s i t

.

Fo l l owi n g th e h eari n g

, t he t ri al co urt en tered an o rd er ru l i n g t h at t h e d o ct o rs

wo u l d b e al l o wed t o t es t i fy at t ri al as t o an y fi n d i n g s t h ey m ad e d u ri n g t h e p h y s i cal

ex am o f t h e ch i l d an d t o th e m ot h er’ s s t at em en t s reg ard i n g t he fact t h at t h e ch i l d h ad

rep o rt ed bei n g s ex u al l y ab u s ed

. Th e co urt fu rt h er ru l ed

, h o w ev er, t h at t h e ph y s i ci an s

2 Dr. Ri ch ard s ex p l ai ned t h at t h e m o t h er h ad tak en t he ch i l d t o t h e em erg en cy

ro o m fo r t reat m en t of th e sy m p to m s o n t h e ev en i n g o f J u ne 5 an d t h at t he em erg en cy

ro o m p h y s ici an h ad t reat ed th e ch i l d an d h ad ad v i s ed t h e m o t h er t o t ak e t h e ch i l d fo r

a fo l l ow-u p ap p oi n t m en t wi t h h er reg u lar p ed iat ri ci an t h e n ex t d ay

.

3 Ap p ro x i m at el y t wo week s aft er t h i s v i s i t

, Dr. Ri ch ard s s po k e wi t h th e m o t h er

b y p h o n e an d th e m o t h er s t at ed t h at t h e ch i l d “ h ad k i n d o f b ack ed o ff h er st o ry a l i t t l e

b i t ,” t h at s h e di d n ot real ly u nd ers t an d th e wo rd “ rap e,” an d th at s h e was n ot cl ai m i n g

t h at Al m an za h ad “ p en et rat ed h er.”

4co u ld n o t t es t i f y a s t o “ [a] n y i d en t i fi cat i o n o f [Al m an za] as th e ab u s er.” Th e St at e

n o w ap p eal s t h at ru l i ng

.

T h e St at e s o u g h t t o i n t ro d u ce t h e o ut -o f-co u rt st at em en t s at i s s ue u n d e r

s u b s ect i o n 8 0 3 (4 ) o f G eo rg ia’ s cu rren t ev id en ce co de

, w hic h wen t i n t o effect J an u ary

1

, 20 1 3

. Th at ev i d en t i ary ru le, wh i ch i s s u b s tan t i al l y si m i lar t o Fed

. Ru l e o f Ev i d

. 8 0 3

5(4 ), 4 p ro v i d es t h at h ears ay s t at e m en t s are ad m i s s i b l e “ ev en t ho u gh th e d ecl aran t i s

4 W h e n a d o p t e d i n 2 0 11

, OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (4 ) was i d en t ical to t h e ex i s t i n g

v ers i on o f Fed . Ru l e o f Ev i d. 8 0 3 (4 ). Sp eci fi cal ly , i n 2 0 1 1

, Fed

. Ru l e o f Ev i d . 8 0 3

(4 ) p ro v i d ed : “ [s ] tat em en t s m ad e fo r p u rp o s es o f m ed i cal d i ag n o s is or treat m en t an d

d es cri b i ng m ed i cal h i s t o r y, o r p as t o r p res en t s y m p t o m s, p ai n, o r s en sat i on s

, o r t h e

i n cep t i o n o r g en eral ch aract er o f t h e cau s e o r ex t ern al s o urce t h ereo f i n s o far as

r e a sona b l y p ert i nen t t o d i ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t .” In 2 01 1

, h o wev er, Co n g res s am e nde d

t h at ru l e, an d t h e cu rren t v ers i o n o f Fed

. Ru l e o f Ev i d

. 8 0 3 (4 ) p ro vi d es t hat a h ears ay

s t at em en t i s a d m i s si b le i f i t “ (A) i s m ad e fo r

– an d i s reas on ab l y p ert i n en t t o

–

m ed i cal d i ag no s i s o r t reat m en t ; a n d (B) d es cri b es m ed ical h i s t o ry ; p as t o r p res en t

s y m p to m s o r s en s at i o n s; t h ei r i n cep t i on ; o r t h ei r gen eral cau se.” Th e ad v i s o ry

co m m i t t ee’ s n o t e t o t h e 2 0 1 1 am en d m en t s t at es t hat th e am en d m en t o ccu rred “ as p art

o f t h e res t y l i n g o f t h e Ev i den ce Ru l es t o m ak e th em m ore eas i l y u n d ers to o d a n d to

m ak e s t y l e an d term i n o l o g y co n s i s t en t t h ro u gh o u t t h e ru l es

. Th es e ch an g es are

i n t en d ed t o b e st y li s t ic o n l y

. Th ere i s n o i n t en t t o ch an g e an y res u l t i n an y ru l i n g o n

ev i d en ce ad m i s s i b i l i t y

. ”

W e n o te t h at :

Un l i ke ord i n ary l eg i s l at i v e h i s t o ry

. . . a d v i s o ry co m m it t ee n o t es are

g en erat ed b y

a co m m i t t ee o f j u d g es

, p ro fes so rs

, an d p ract i t io n ers wh o

are ap p o i n t ed b y t h e Ch i ef J u s t i ce o f t h e Un i t ed St at es an d wh o en g ag e

i n a len g t h y p ro ces s o f d raft i n g an d rev i s i o n

, cu l m i n at i n g i n ap p ro v al b y

t h e Su p rem e Co u rt an d s u b m i s s i o n to Co n g res s

. See Th o m as E. Bak er,

An In t r o d u ct i o n t o Fed

er a l Co ur t Ru lema ki ng P r o ced u r e

, 2 2 Tex

. Tech

.

L. Rev

. 3 2 3

, 3 2 9 -3 3 1 (1 9 9 1 ); s ee al s o 2 8 U SC § 2 0 72 (“ Ru l es o f

p r o c e du re an d ev i den ce; p o w er to p res cri b e”). Al t h o u g h ad v i s o ry

co m m i t t ee n o t es can n o t ch an g e t he pl ai n m ean i ng o f t h e fed eral ru l es o f

ev i d en ce, t hey are “ as s u red l y p ers u as i v e s c h o larl y co m m en t ari es

–

o rd i nari l y t h e m o s t p ers u as i v e

– co n cern in g t h e m ean i n g o f t he [r] ul es .”

[ To me v. Un i t ed S t a t es

, 5 1 3 U.S. 15 0

, 1 6 7

, 11 5 S. Ct

. 6 9 6

, 7 0 6 , 1 3 0 L.

6av ai l ab l e as a wi t n es s” i f t h ey are

m ad e fo r p u rp o s es of m ed i cal d i ag n o s i s or t reat m en t an d d es cri b [e]

m ed i cal h i s t o ry

, o r p as t o r p res en t sy m p t o m s

, p ai n, o r s en sat i o n s

, o r th e

i n cep t i o n o r g en eral c h a r a ct er o f t h e cau s e o r ex t ern al s o urce t h ereo f

i n s o far as reas o n ab ly

p ert i n en t t o d i ag no s is o r t reat m en t

.

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (4 ). Th e l an g u ag e o f O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (4 ) i s v i rt u al l y i d en t i cal

t o t h e fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4

, wh i ch ex i s t ed as p art o f Geo rg i a’ s p rev i o u s ev i d en ce

co d e. 5 Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re rel i ed o n cas es deci d ed u n d er t h e fo rm er co d e s ect i o n

i n d eci d i n g t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n i n l im i n e.

Ed

. 2 d 5 7 4 (1 9 9 5 )] (Scal i a, J

., co ncu rri n g i n p art an d co n cu rri n g i n th e

ju d g m en t ) (em

p h as i s o ri g i n al ); s ee al s o Ho r en k a m p v. V a n W i n kl e &

Co

. , 4 0 2 F.3 d 1 1 2 9

, 1 1 32 (II) (1 1 t h Ci r.2 00 5 ) (ad vi s o ry co m m i t t ee n o t es

“ are n earl y u n i v ers al l y acco rd ed g reat w ei g h t i n i n t erp ret in g fed eral

ru l es ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

W a l ter s v. S t a t e , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 , 1 5, n . 3 (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

5 Fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4 p ro v id ed :

St at em en t s m ad e fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f m ed i cal d i ag n o si s o r t reat m en t an d

d es cri b in g m ed i cal hi s t o ry

, o r p as t o r p res en t s y m p t om s

, p ai n o r

s en s at i o n s, o r t h e i n cep t i o n o r g en eral ch aract er o f t h e cau s e o r ex t ern al

s o u rce t h ereo f i n s o far as reas o n ab l y p ert i nen t t o d i ag n o s is o r t reat m en t

s h al l b e ad m i s si b le i n ev i d en ce.

7Ci t i n g o ur Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Da vi s v. S t at e

, 2 9 9 Ga. 1 80 (7 8 7 SE2 d

2 2 1 ) (2 01 6 ), t h e St at e arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n rel y i ng o n p re-2 0 1 3

p reced en t t o d en y i n p art i t s m o t i o n i n l i m i n e. D a vi s i n v o l v ed t h e ap pl i cat i o n o f t h e

s eq u es t rat i o n ru le fo u nd i n OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 5

, wh i ch d i ffered i n s ev eral s i g n i fi can t

res p ect s fro m t h e s e q u e s t rat i o n p ro v i s i o n i n th e p re-2 0 1 3 ev id en ce co de (fo rm er

OCGA § 2 4 -9 -6 1

. ) Aft er ad dres s i n g t h e m eri t s o f t h e ap p e a l

, t h e Su prem e Co u rt

ex p res s ed it s fru st rat i o n at t h e p art i es ’ fai l u re t o ack n o wl ed g e t h e d i fferen ce b et ween

t h e t wo s eq u es t rat i on p ro v i si o n s an d t o ci te rel ev an t l aw i n t h ei r b ri efs , s t at i n g :

[T] h i s cas e was t ri ed u n d er o u r St at e’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e, an d t h e key

evi d en ce r u l es we mu s t ap

p l y

— OCGA § § 2 4 -6 -6 1 5 an d 2 4-4 -4 0 3

—

d i f f er f ro m t h e p er t i n en t p r o vi s i on s o f t h e o l d Evi d

en ce Co d e a n d

i n s t ea d t r a ck t h e a n al o g o u s f ed er al evi d en ce ru l es

, m ean i n g t h at w e wi l l

l o o k t o t ho s e fed eral ru l es an d t h e fed eral cas e l aw i n t erp ret i n g t hem fo r

g u i d an ce. Nev ert h el es s

, i n t h ei r b ri efs t o th is Co u rt

, Ap p el lan t ci ted

OCGA § 2 4 -6 -6 1 5 o n l y in p as s i n g an d fai led t o ci t e O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3 ;

t h e St at e ci t ed n ei t her n ew r u l e ; an d n ei t h er p art y ci t ed an y cas e l aw

i n t erp ret i ng t h es e p ro v i s i o n s o f th e n ew Ev id en ce Co de o r t h e p aral l el

p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev id en ce. It m ay b e t hat t he res ul t o f

t h i s cas e w o ul d b e t h e s am e i f we ap p l i ed th e o l d Ev i d e n c e Co d e an d

o u r d eci s i o n s i n t erp ret i n g i t

, b u t i f s o, t h at i s hap p en s t an ce, a t lea s t

wi t h ou t ca r ef

u l co mp a r i s o n o

f t h e o l d a n d n ew l a w

. Geo rg ia l awy ers d o

t h i s C o u rt n o fav o rs

— an d ri s k o b t ai n i n g rev ers i b l e ev i d en ce ru l i n g s

fro m t ri al co u rt s

— wh en t h ey fai l t o reco gn i ze t h at we are al l l i v i n g i n

8a n ew ev id en ce wo rl d an d are req u ired t o an al y ze an d ap p l y t he n e w

l aw. It m ay b e h a r d t o co m p reh en d t h at

, w h en i t co m es t o tri al s an d

h eari n g s h el d aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 0 13

, t h e m o s t p ert i n en t p reced en t t o ci t e

o n an ev i d en ti ary i s s u e ma y b e a d ecad es -o l d d eci s i o n of t h e El ev en t h

Ci rcu i t (o r ev en th e o l d Fi ft h Ci rcu i t ), i ns t ead o f a week -o l d u n an i m o u s

d e ci s i on o f th is Co u rt (i f we were d eci d i n g t h e ap p eal o f a cas e t ri ed

b efo re 2 0 1 3 an d g o v ern ed b y t h e o l d ru l es , as s ti l l freq u en t l y o ccu rs ).

Da vi s , 2 9 9 Ga. at 1 9 2 (3 ) (fo o tn o t es o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l ied ).

Rel y i n g o n t h i s l an gu ag e, t h e St at e arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred as a m at t er

o f l aw wh en i t rel i ed o n cas es d eci d ed u n d e r f o r m er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4 ; t h at Da vi s

m an d at es t h at i n t h e ab s en ce o f a Geo rg i a ap pel l a t e cas e ad d res s in g t h e po s t -2 0 1 3

ev i d e n t i a r y r u l e at i s s u e, t ri al co u rt s are req ui red t o l oo k at fed eral p reced en t wh en

i n t erp ret i n g an d ap p l y i n g su ch a ru l e; an d t h at u n d er rel ev an t fed eral p reced en t

, t h e

m o th er’ s s t at em e n t t h at t he ch i l d had i d en t i fi ed Al m an za as h er ab u s er was

ad m i s s i b l e. W e fi n d th es e arg um en t s t o b e wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Th e St at e’ s arg u m en t i s b as ed o n a m i si n t erp ret at i on o f D a v i s

. T h at cas e d id

n o t i nv al i d at e t he preced en t ial v al u e o f al l cas es d eci d ed u n der Geo rg i a’s f o rm er

ev i d en c e c o d e

. In s tead

, Da vi s ad dres s ed t ho s e si t uat i o n s wh ere t h e n ew ev i d en ce

co d e rep res en t s a s u b s t an t i v e ch an ge fro m th e p ri o r co de. In s u ch cas es

, “ t o t h e ex t en t

t h at t h e n ew [ev i d en t iary ] ru le[ ] [at i s s u e]

. . . bo rro w[s ] fro m t h e t ex t o f t h e fed eral

9ev i d en ce ru l es ,” co u rt s s h o u ld “ l o o k fo r gu i d an ce t o t h e deci s i o n s o f t h e fed eral

ap p el l at e co u rt s

, p art icu l arl y t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h e El ev en th

Ci rcu i t

, i n terp ret i n g th e fed eral r u l e [ ] i n qu es t io n .” Da vi s

, 2 9 9 Ga. at 1 8 5 (2 ) (a)

(ci t at i o n o m i t t e d )

. In cas es wh ere t h ere h as been n o s u b s t an t i ve ch an g e t o t h e

ev i d en t i ary ru l e i n q u es t i o n , h o wev er, co urt s “ m ay rel y o n Geo rg i a d eci s i o n s u n d er

t h e o l d [Ev i d en ce] Co d e.” S t at e v. Fr o st , 2 9 7 Ga. 2 9 6 , 2 9 9 (7 7 3 SE2 d 7 0 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

See al s o B r a ds h a w v. S t a t e

, 2 96 Ga. 6 50

, 6 5 4 (2 ) (7 69 SE2 d 8 9 2) (2 0 15 ) (n ot i n g “ t h e

Gen eral A s s e m

b l y’ s s t at em en t t h at [i n en act i n g t h e n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e] i t d i d n ot

i n t en d t o ch an g e t he s u b s t an ti v e l aw o f G eo rg i a as ex i s t i n g o n Decem b er 3 1 , 2 0 1 2,

u n l es s t h at l aw was d i s p l aced b y a p ro v i s i o n o f t h e n ew Ev i d en ce Co de”).

As n o t ed p rev i o u s l y

, t h e h ears ay ex cep t i o n at is s u e in t h i s cas e d o es n o t d i ffer

s u b s t an t i vel y fro m i t s p red eces s o r. See M i l i ch

, Geo r gi a R ul es o

f E v i d en ce

, § 1 9

. 6

(2 0 1 4) (o b s erv i n g th at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 03 (4 ) “ i s s im pl y a re-n u m

b e r e d v e r s i o n o f

p re-2 0 1 3 OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4 ”). In d eci d i n g t he ad m i s s ib il i ty o f t h e m o t h er’ s s t at em en t

,

t h erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y rel i ed o n cas es d eci d ed u n d er t h e fo rm er ev i d en ce

co d e. Th o s e cas es h o l d t hat s t at em en t s m a d e fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f o b t ai n i n g m ed i cal

t reat m en t are ad m i s s i b l e t o th e e x t en t t h at t h e s peak er i s rel at in g th e cau s e o f t h e

i n ju ry o r co n d i t io n req u iri n g t reat m en t

. See Gr een e v. S t at e

, 2 9 5 Ga. A p p

. 80 3

, 8 1 2

10(8 ) (d ) (6 73 SE2 d 29 2 ) (2 00 9 ); Th o ma s v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p. 6 0 2

, 6 09 -6 1 0 (4 ) (6 5 4

SE2 d 6 8 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ); P a

yn e v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p. 4 8 3

, 4 8 6 (4 ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 5 6 4) (2 0 0 5 ).

A m ed i cal p ro fes s i o n al m ay t h erefo re t es t i fy

, fo r ex am p l e, t h at t h e v i ct i m rep o rt ed

b ei n g rap ed o r as s au l t ed

. See Gr een e

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 1 2 (8 ) (d ); Th o m a s

, 2 8 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 6 0 9 (4 ); Op i o v. St a t e

, 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 4

, 8 9 9 (1 ) (d ) (i i ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 9 0 6 )

(2 0 0 7); Mi l l er v. S t a t e

, 1 9 4 Ga. Ap p. 5 3 3

, 5 3 4 (2 ) (a) ( 3 90 SE2 d 9 01 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, m ed i cal p ers o n nel m ay t es t i fy as to s t at em en t s m ad e t o t h em d es cri b i n g

t h e t y p e o f weap o n u s ed ag ai n s t t h e v i ct i m o r t h e d es cri p t io n o f t h e act s t h at res u l t ed

i n t h e v i ct i m ’ s i nju ri es

. See B r y a n t v. S ta t e

, 30 4 Ga. A p p

. 4 5 6

, 4 6 2 (4 ) (6 9 6 SE2 d

4 3 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (n u rs e co u l d t es t i fy t h at v i ct i m rep o rt ed “ h er as s ai lan t h ad ‘ p u s h ed h er

i n t o t h e fu rn i t ure’ ” as t h e v ict i m was ex p l ai n in g “ b ot h t h e n at u re an d o ri g in o f s o m e

o f h er in ju ri es ”); G r een e

, 2 95 G a. A p p

. at 8 1 2 (8 ) (d ) (p h y s i ci an wh o t reat ed v i ct i m

fo r b ru is i n g aro u nd her neck co u l d t es t i f y t h at v i ct i m rep ort ed b ei n g s tran g l ed );

Pa yn e

, 2 7 3 G a. Ap p. at 4 8 6 (4 ) (p h y s i c i a n w h o t reat ed v i ct i m fo r ch em i cal b u rn s

co u ld tes t i fy “ t h at h e recei v e d a r e p o rt t hat ” a m i x t u re of l i q u i d s

, i n cl u d i n g b l each

,

“ h ad b een t h ro wn i n t o [t h e v i ct im ’ s ] face”). Si m il arl y

, t reat i ng p ract i t i o n ers m ay al s o

t es t i fy as t o al l eg ed act s o f m o l e s t at io n or p h y s i cal ab u s e rep o rt ed by a ch i l d

. See

Al l en v. St a t e

, 2 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0

, 1 2 (1 ) (5 4 3 SE2 d 4 5 ) (2 00 0 ) (co un s el or co u ld t es t i fy

11as t o ch i ld ’ s s t at em en t s d es cri b i n g sp eci fi c act s o f p hy s i cal ab u s e); Ro b er s o n v. S t a t e

,

1 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 5

, 4 8 6 (3 7 0 SE2 d 6 6 1 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (n u rs e co u l d t es ti fy as t o ch i l d ’ s

s t at em en t co n cern i n g th e s peci f i c act s o f m o l es t at i on co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t h i m )

(p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ); S p ar ks v. S t a t e

, 1 72 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 1

, 8 92 (2 ) (3 2 4 SE2 d 8 2 4 )

(1 9 8 4) (s am e).

Th e rat i o nal e fo r al l o wi n g s u ch t es t i m o n y u n d er t h e h ears ay e x c e p t i o n fo r

m ed i cal t reat m en t o r d i ag n o s is i s t h at a d ecl aran t s h o u ld b e aware th at a p ract i t i o n er’ s

u n d ers t an d i n g o f wh at h ap p en ed t o t h e p at i en t i s reas o n ab l y p ert i n en t t o t h e p at i en t ’ s

d i ag n o s is an d t reat m en t

. See Th o ma s

, 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 0 9 -6 10 (4 ); P a yn e

, 2 7 3 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 8 6 (4 ). Rel y i n g on t h e s am e rat i o n al e, h o w ev er, Geo rg i a’ s ap p el l at e co u rt s

ha ve c on s i s t en t l y h el d th at s t at em en t s i d en t i fy i n g t h e p ers o n al l eg ed l y res p o n s i b l e fo r

t h e v ict i m ’ s i n

j u ri es are n o t ad m i s s i b l e as st at em en ts m ad e fo r th e p u rp o s e o f m ed i cal

d i ag n o s is an d t reat m en t. Sp eci fi cal l y

, we h av e h el d t hat a v i ct i m ’ s s t at em en t s to

m ed i ca l pers on n el reg ard i n g t h e i d en t i t y of an as sai l an t o r th e “ ci rcu m s t an ces an d

act i vi t y ” o ccu rri n g p ri o r t o t h e i nju ry d o n o t “ fal l wi t h i n t h e s t at u t o r y ex cep t i o n ”

b ecau s e t h ey are “ n ot reas o n ab ly p ert i n en t to [t h e v i ct i m ’ s ] di ag n o s i s o r treat m en t .”

H o wa r d v. S t a t e

, 2 6 1 G a. 2 5 1

, 2 5 2 (4 0 3 SE2 d 2 0 4) (1 9 9 1 ) (s ho o t i n g v i ct i m ’ s

s t at em en t t o p h y s i ci an i n wh i c h s h e d es cri b ed th e ci rcu m s tan ces l ead i n g t o t h e

12s h o o ti n g an d i d en t i fi ed defen d an t a s t h e sh o ot er d i d no t fal l wi t h i n “ t h e st at u t o ry

h ears ay ex cep t i o n of [fo rm er] OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4 ”). See al s o Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 2 7 3 Ga.

Ap p . 8 8

, 8 9 (6 1 4 SE2 d 1 8 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (as s au l t v i ct im ’ s s t at em en t t o n u rs e t h at h e h ad

b een at tack ed by h i s ro o m m at e n o t ad m is s i b l e u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 2 4-3 -4 ); Mi l l er

,

1 9 4 G a. A p p

. at 53 4 (2 ) (a) (rap e vi ct i m ’ s s t at em en t t o ER p h y s ici a n i d e n t i f y i n g

d efen d an t as her as s ai l an t co n s ti t u t ed i n ad m i s s i b l e hears ay as i t “ was u n neces s ary to

an y l eg i t im at e p u rp o s e ad dres s ed i n [fo rm er] OCGA § 2 4 -3 -4 ”).

M o reo v er, we hav e co n s i s t en t l y ap p l i ed t h i s l i m i t at i o n o n t h e ad m i ss i b i l i t y o f

h ears ay s t at em en t s u nd er t h e m ed i cal treat m en t o r di ag n os i s ex cep t i o n ev en i n cas es

i n v o l v i n g t h e ph y s i cal o r s ex u al ab u s e o f a ch il d

. Th u s

, we hav e h el d th at a ch i ld

v i ct i m ’ s i d en t i fi cat io n o f h er ab u ser w as no t reas o nab l y p ert i n en t t o t h e ch i l d ’ s

d i ag n o s is an d t reat m en t

. See Cu p e v. S t at e

, 2 5 3 G a

. Ap p

. 8 5 1

, 8 5 7 (4 ) (5 6 0 SE2 d

7 0 0 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (t ri al co u rt e r r ed by al l o wi n g a t reat i n g p h y s i ci an t o tes t i fy as t o t h e

fat h er’ s s t at em en t i n wh i ch t h e fat h er i d en t i fi ed t he d efen d an t as t h e p ers o n wh o h ad

“ i n fl ict ed t h e ch il d ’ s bru i s es ,” as t he i d en ti fi cat io n o f t h e defen d an t wa s n o t

“ reas o nab l y pert i n en t t o [t he ch i l d ’ s] d i ag n o si s o r t reat m en t ”); D ea n v. S t a te

, 1 9 8 Ga.

A p p

. 1 3 3

, 1 3 4 (1 ) (a) (4 0 1 SE2 d 4 0 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (v i ct i m ’ s s t at em en t t o ex a m i n i n g

p h y s i ci an i d en t i fy i n g h is fa t h er as h i s m ol es t er was n o t ad m i s s i b l e u n der fo rm er

13O C G A § 2 4 -3 -4 ); Ro ber s o n

, 18 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 48 6 (t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g

t es t i m o ny co n cern in g ch i l d m o l es t at i o n v i ct i m ’ s “ i d en t i fi cat i o n o f hi s fat h er t o t h e

n u rs e p ract i t i o ner as t h e p erp et rat o r”); Jo h n s on v. St a t e

, 1 4 9 G a. Ap p . 5 44 , 5 4 5 (5 )

(2 5 4 SE2 d 7 5 7 ) (1 9 7 9) (t ri al co u rt erred i n al l owi n g p h y s i ci an t o t es t i fy as t o al l eg ed

i n ces t v i ct i m ’ s s t at em en t th at s h e h ad i n t erco u rs e wi t h h er fat h er). See al so S t a t e v.

Bu t l er

, 2 56 Ga. 4 4 8

, 4 49

, n

. 1 ( 3 4 9 S E 2 d 6 8 4 ) (1 9 8 6 ) (n o t i n g i n d i ct a t h at wh i l e a

ch i l d m o les t at io n v ict i m ’ s s t at em en t s to p hy s i ci an s ab o u t “ wh at h ap p en ed ” t o h er

were ad m i s s i b l e, “ h er s t at em en t s ab o u t wh o d i d i t w ere [n o t] ad m i s s i b l e, as t h i s

i n fo rm at i o n wo u l d n o t b e p ert in en t t o t h e m ed i cal d i ag n o si s”); Al l en

, 2 47 Ga. Ap p.

at 1 2 (1 ) (affi rm i n g tri al co u rt ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f co u ns el o r’ s t es t i m o n y reg ard i ng ch i l d ’ s

s t at em en t s as t o t h e act s of ab u s e co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t h er, an d n ot i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t al l o w t h e co u n sel o r t o t es t i fy as to t h e ch il d ’ s i d en t i fi cat i o n of t h e d efen d an t

as h er ab u s er).

Fu rt herm o re, t o t h e ex t en t t h at we m i gh t b e req u i red t o l o o k t o fed eral l aw to

i n t erp ret OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 (4 ), t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e C o u r t h as d ecreed t h at we

s h o u ld l o o k fi rs t t o cas es fro m t h e Un i t e d St at es Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h e El ev en th

Ci rcu i t . See Ol d

s v. S t a t e , 2 9 9 Ga. 6 5

, 6 9 (2 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 3 3) (2 0 1 6 ). N ei t her p art y

h as d i rect ed u s t o an y rel ev an t p reced en t fro m th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt

, an d

14we are aware o f n o n e. 6 An d o u r d eci s io n s h ol d i n g th at t h e p red eces s o r t o O CGA §

2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (4 ) d i d n o t ap p l y t o s t at em en t s id en t i fy in g t h e d efen dan t as t h e cau s e o f t h e

v i ct i m ’ s i n

ju ri es are co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e d eci si o n s o f t h e E l e v e n th Ci rcu it ap p l y i n g

Fed

. R. Ev i d . 8 0 3 (4 ).

6 Th e St at e co n t en ds t h at i t s p o s it i o n i n th i s cas e i s s u p p o rt ed by t h e Un i t ed

St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n W h i t e v. Il l i n o i s

, 5 0 2 U. S. 3 4 6 (1 1 2 SCt 7 3 6

, 1 1 6

LEd 2 d 8 4 8 ) (1 99 2 ). Sp eci fi cal ly

, t h e St at e arg ues t h at W h i t e h el d t hat “ an u n av ai l ab l e

ch i l d ’ s id en t i fi cat i o n o f h er s ex u al ab u s er i s p ro p erl y ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 8 0 3 (4 ).”

W e di s ag ree. In W

h i te

, t h e t ri al co u rt al lo wed t h e ch i l d’ s m o t h er an d b ab y s i t t er, t h e

res p o n d in g o ffi cer, an d em erg en cy ro o m pers o n n el t o t e s t i f y as t o th e ch i l d ’ s

“ s t at em en t s des cri b i n g th e as s au l t ,” an d it ap p ears t h at t h i s t es ti m o n y i n cl u d ed t h e

ch i l d ’ s s t at em en t s i den t i fy i n g t h e d efen d an t as th e p erp et rat o r. 5 0 2 U. S. at 3 4 9 -3 5 0.

On ap p eal

, t h e d efen dan t co n t en d ed t hat b ecau s e th e t ri al co u rt h ad m ad e n o s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng t h at t h e ch il d w as u n av ai l ab l e t o t es ti fy

, t h i s t es t im o n y vi o l at ed hi s ri g h t s

u n d er t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e. Id

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt reject ed t h i s arg u m en t

, h o l d i n g t h at t h e Co nfro n t at i o n Cl au s e do es n ot req ui re a t ri al co u rt t o m ak e a s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng reg ard in g a d ecl aran t ’ s av ai l ab i l i t y b efo re al l o wi n g h ears ay t es ti m o n y t h at i s

o t h erwi s e ad m is s i b l e u n der on e o f t h e “ fi rm ly ro o t ed ex cep t i o n s to t h e h ears ay ru l e.”

Id

. at 35 5 -3 5 6

. Th e Co u rt n o ted t h at t h e ch i l d ’ s s t at em en t s t o t h e m o t h er, b ab y s i t t er,

an d res p o n di n g o ffi cer were m ad e wi th i n 4 5 m i n u t es o f t h e as s au l t an d w ere t h erefo re

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h e “ ex ci t ed u t t eran ce” ex cep t i o n t o th e h ears ay ru l e. Id

. at 3 5 1.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e ch i l d ’ s s t at em en t s t o t he em erg en cy ro o m p h y s i ci an an d n u rs e,

wh i ch were m ad e wi t h i n h o urs of t he i nci d en t

, were ad m i s s ib l e u n d er b ot h t h e ex ci t ed

u t t era n ce ex cep t i on an d t h e ex cep t i o n fo r st at em en t s m ad e fo r p u rp o s es o f m ed i cal

d i ag n o s is an d t reat m en t

. Id

. No t ab ly

, t h e ex ci t ed u t t e r a n ce ex cep t i on al lo ws t h e

i n t ro du ct i o n o f h ears ay st at em en t s i n wh i ch t h e d ecl aran t i d en ti fi es t h e p erp et rat o r.

See, e.g

., Un i t ed St at es v. D a vi s

, 3 3 0 Fed

. Ap p x

. 1 83

, 1 8 5 (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ); Ro b b i n s

v. St a t e

, 3 0 0 G a. 3 8 7

, 3 8 9 (2 ) (7 9 3 SE2 d 6 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ); W i l s o n v. S t at e

, 2 9 5 G a. 8 4

, 8 7

(7 5 7 SE2 d 8 2 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Th u s

, W h i t e d i d n o t ad d res s wh et h er s u ch i d en t i fi cat i o n

s t at em en t s were ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Ru l e 8 03 (4 ).

15Rel y i n g o n th e ad vi s ory co m m i t t ee’ s no t e to Fed

. R

. E v i d

. 80 3 (4 ), 7 t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu i t h a s h e l d t h at t h e ru l e al lo ws s t at em en t s rel at ed t o t h e cau s e o f t h e

v i ct i m ’ s i n

j u ri es

, b u t n o t s t at em en t s t h at “ as s i g n an y fau l t ” fo r th e i n ju ri es

. Un i t ed

S t a t es v. Bel

f a st

, 61 1 F. 3 d 7 8 3

, 8 1 8 -8 1 9 (VI) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 0 ). See al s o Un i t ed

S t a t es v. W

i l l i a ms

, 5 7 8 Fed

. Ap p x

. 8 7 2

, 8 7 6-8 7 7 (III) (1 1 t h Ci r. 20 1 4 ). T h u s

, t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu it h a s fo u n d ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Fed

. R. E v id

. 80 3 (4 ) a v i ct i m ’ s

s t at em en t s t h at h i s in

ju ri es res ul t ed fro m “ ab u s e an d t o rt u re, ” B e l f a st

, 6 1 1 F.3 d at

8 1 8 -8 1 9 (VI) (B); a v i ct i m ’ s st at em en t s t h at h i s in j u r i e s o ccu rred wh en h e “ was

b e a t en ,” Un i t ed S t a t es v. D ar d en

, 1 8 6 Fed

. A p p x. 8 8 7

, 8 8 9 (1 1 t h Ci r. 20 0 6 ); a n d a

v i ct i m ’ s st at em en t t hat s he was rap ed

. W i l l i a ms

, 5 7 8 Fed

. Ap p x

. at 8 7 6-8 7 7 (III). T h at

Co u rt h as fu rt h er h el d

, h owev er, t h at s t at em en t s id en t i fy in g t h e p art y res p o n s i b l e fo r

t h e v i ct i m ’ s in

ju ri es wo u l d b e i n ad m i s s i b le un d er Fed

. R. Ev id

. 8 0 3 (4 ). See Da r d en

,

1 8 6 Fed

. Ap p x

. at 8 90 (n o ti n g t h at t h e p art o f t h e vi ct i m ’ s s t at em en t i n wh i ch h e

i d en t i fi ed “ t h e co p s ” as h i s as sai l an t s wo u l d n ot b e ad m i ss i bl e, as i t wen t “ t o t h e fau l t

7 Th e ad v i s o ry co m

m i tt ee’ s n o t e p ro v i d es , i n rel ev an t p art , t h at Fed

. R. Ev i d.

8 0 3 (4 ) al l o w s “ s t at em en t s a s t o c a u s at i o n

, reas o nab l y p ert i n en t t o ” p u rp o s es o f

d i ag n o s es an d t reat m en t

, b u t t h at i t d o es n ot p erm i t “ [s ] t at em en ts as to fau l t

. . . . Th u s[,] a p at i en t ’ s s t at em en t th at h e was s t ru ck b y an au to m o b i l e wo ul d q u al i fy [fo r

ad m i s s i o n un d er Fed

. R. Ev i d. 8 0 3 (4 )] b u t n o t hi s s t at em en t t h at t h e car was d ri v en

t h ro u g h a red l i g h t.”

16[fo r] hi s in

ju ri es ”). See al so B el

f a s t

, 6 1 1 F.3 d at 81 9 (VI) ( B ) ( f i n d i n g t h e v i ct i m s ’

s t at em en t s t h at t hei r wo u n d s an d b urn s res u l ted fro m ab u s e or t ort u re were ad m i s s i b l e

g i v en t h at t h ey

d i d “ no t as s i g n an y

fau l t fo r t he ab u s e o r t o rt u re”).

Des p i t e t he fact t h at t h e cas e l aw fro m b o t h Geo rg i a’ s ap p el l at e co u rt s an d t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu i t s u p p o rt s t he t ri al co u r t ’ s ru l i ng i n t h is cas e, t h e St at e arg u es t h at

b ecau s e t h ere is n o El ev en t h Ci rcu i t cas e ad d res si n g t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f Fed

. R. Ev i d.

8 0 3 (4 ) i n t h e co n t ex t o f ch i l d m o l es t at i o n, we sh o u l d ad o pt t h e ap p ro ach em p l o y ed

b y t he Ei g ht h

, Ni nt h

, an d Ten t h Ci rcu i t s 8 t o f i n d t h a t t h e s t at em en t s at i s s u e fal l

wi t h i n t h e h ears ay ex cep t i on s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 (4 ). W e decl i n e to d o s o

. 9

8 Th e St at e al s o ci t es t wo ci v i l cas es fro m t h e Fi rs t an d Fo u rt h Ci rcu i t s wh ere

t h e co u rt fo u nd a ch i l d ’ s o ut -o f-co u rt s t ate m e nts, m ad e t o a m en t al h eal t h p ro fes s i o n al

an d i n wh i ch t h e ch i ld i d en t ifi ed h er ab u s er

, a d m i s s i b l e u n d er Fed

. R. o f E v i d

. 8 0 3

(4 ). See D a n ai

p o u r v. M

cLa r ey

, 3 8 6 F3 d 2 8 9

, 2 9 8 -2 9 9 (1 st C i r. 2 0 0 4 ); Mo r g a n v.

F o r et ich

, 8 4 6 F2 d 9 41

, 9 4 9 -9 5 0 (V) (4 t h Ci r 1 9 8 8 ). Gi v en t h at ci v i l cas es d o n o t

p res en t t h e s am e Co n fro nt at i o n Cl au s e co n cern s as cri m in al cas es h o wev er, we d o n ot

co n si d er t h es e cas es i ns t ru ct i ve as t o t h e qu es t io n b efo re u s

, wh i ch i s wh et h er h ears ay

s t at em en t s i n wh i ch a ch i l d i d e n t i f ies t h e d efen d an t as her ab u s er are ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er Ru l e 8 0 3 (4 ). See Id a ho v. W r i g h t

, 4 9 7 U

. S. 8 0 5

, 8 14 (1 1 0 SCt 3 1 3 9

, 1 1 1

LEd 2 d 6 38 ) (1 99 0 ) (n o t i n g t h at b ecau s e o f rel i ab i l i t y co n cern s

, “ [t ] he Co n fro n t at i o n

Cl au se

. . . b a rs t h e ad m i ss i o n o f s o m e ev i d en ce [i n cri m i n al cas es ] t h at wo u ld

o t h erwi s e b e ad m i s s i b l e u n der an ex cep ti o n t o t he h ears ay ru l e”); Da n a i p ou r

, 3 8 6

F3 d at 2 9 8 (n o ti n g t h at g i v en t h e ci v i l n at u re o f t h e cas e, Co n fro n t at i on Cl au s e

co n cern s were n o t p res en t ).

9 Ev en as s u m i n g t h at

, as t h e St at e i n s i st s

, we are req u i red t o ap p l y o n l y fed eral

p reced en t

, t h e St at e o ffers n o arg u m en t o r au t h o ri t y t o s u p p o rt i t s co nt en t i o n t h at we

are o b li g at ed t o fo l l o w t h e l i m i t ed l i n e o f cas es o n wh i ch i t rel i es

— a l i n e o f cas es

t h at i s n ot wi t h o u t cri t i cs

.

17In Un i t ed S t a t es v. Ren vi l l e

, 7 7 9 F2 d 4 3 0 (8 th Ci r. 1 9 8 5 ), t h e Ei g h t h C i r c u i t

co n cl u d ed t h at “ [s ] t at em en t s b y a ch i l d a b u s e v i ct im t o a ph y s i ci an d u ri n g an

ex am i n at i o n t h at t h e ab u s e r i s a m em b er o f t h e vi ct i m ’ s i m

m ed iat e h o u s eh o l d are

reas on ab l y

p ert i nen t t o t reat m en t .” Id

. at 4 3 6 (II). Th e co urt ex p l ai n ed t h e rat i o n al e

u n d erl y i n g t hi s co n cl u s i o n as fo l l o ws :

Fi rs t

, ch i l d ab u s e i n v o l ves m o re t h an p h y s i cal i n ju ry ; t h e p hy si ci an m

u s t

b e at t en ti v e t o t reat in g t h e em o ti o n al an d p s y ch o l o g i cal i nju ri es wh ich

acco m p an y t h i s cri m e

. . . Th e ex act n a t u r e an d ex t en t o f th e

p s y ch o l o g i cal pro b lem s wh i ch en s u e fro m ch il d ab us e o ft en d ep en d o n

t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e ab u s er.

. . . Fu rt h erm o re, i n [m os t cas es n o t i nv o l v i n g

ch i l d ab u s e] th e st at e m e n t o f fau l t i s no t rel ev an t t o p rev en t io n o f

r e c u r ren ce o f t h e i n

ju ry

. Sex u al ab u s e o f ch i l d ren at h o m e p res en t s a

wh o ll y d i fferen t s i t uat i o n

. . . . Seco nd

, p hy s i ci an s hav e an o b l i g at i o n

,

i m p o s ed b y s t at e l aw, t o p rev en t an ab u sed ch i l d fro m b ei n g ret urn ed t o

an en v i ro n m en t i n w h i ch h e o r sh e can n o t b e ad eq u at el y pro t ect ed fro m

recu rren t ab u s e. Th i s o b l i g at i o n i s m o s t im m ed i at e wh ere t h e ab u s er i s

a m em b er o f t h e v i ct i m ’ s h o u s eh o l d

. . . . In fo rm at i o n t h at th e ab u s er i s

a m e m b e r o f t h e h o u s eh o l d i s t h erefo re “ reas on ab l y pert i n en t ” t o a

co u rs e o f t reat m en t wh i ch i n cl u d es rem o v i n g t he ch il d fro m t h e h o m e.

Id

. at 4 3 7

- 4 3 8 (II) (ci t at i o ns an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed ). Ren vi l l e t h en co n cl u d ed t h at

s t at em en t s o f i d en t i t y i n ch i l d ab u s e cas es wo u l d b e ad m is s ib l e u n d er Fed

. R. Ev i d.

8 0 3 (4 ) p ro v i d ed “ th e p h y s i ci an m ak es cl ear t o t h e v i ct i m t h a t t h e i n q u iry i n t o t h e

18i d en t i t y of t h e ab us er is i m p o rt an t t o d iag n o s i s a n d t reat m en t

, an d t h e v i ct i m

m an i fes t s s u ch an u n d ers tan d i n g .” Id . at 4 3 8 (II).

Rel y i n g t o a l arg e ex t en t o n Ren vi l l e ’ s l o g i c, t h e Ni n th Ci rcu i t h el d t h at

s t at em en t s o f i d en ti t y are reas o n ab l y p ert in en t t o t he t reat m en t o f v i ct i m s i n al l s ex u al

as s au l t cas es

, ex p l ai n i n g : “ Sex u al ab u s e i n v o l v es m o re t h an p h y s i c a l i n ju ry ; t h e

p h y s i ci an m

u s t b e at t e n t iv e t o t reat i n g t he v i ct i m ’ s em o t i o n al an d p sy ch o l o g i cal

i n ju ri es

, th e ex act n at ure an d ex t en t of wh i ch o ft en d ep e n d o n t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e

ab u ser.” Un i t ed S ta t es v. G eo r g e

, 9 6 0 F2 d 9 7

, 9 9 (II) (A) (9 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 2 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). An d i n Un i t ed S ta t es v. Jo e

, 8 F3 d 1 4 88 (1 0t h Ci r. 1 9 9 3 ), t he Ten t h Ci rcu i t

al s o rel i ed o n R en vi l le t o fi n d t h at s t at em en t s m ad e b y v i c t i m s o f do m es t ic s ex u al

as s au l t t o t h ei r t reat i ng p hy s i ci an s an d in wh i ch t he v i ct i m s i d en t i fy th ei r ab u s ers are

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Fed . R. Ev i d . 8 0 3 (4 ), reas on i n g :

t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e ab u s er i s reas o n ab l y p ert i nen t t o t reat m en t i n v i rt u al l y

ev ery d o m es ti c s ex u al as s au l t cas e, ev en t h o se n o t i nv o l v i n g ch i ld ren

.

Al l v i ct i m s o f dom e s t ic s ex u al ab u s e s u ffer em o t i o n al an d p sy ch o l o g i cal

i n ju ri es

, t h e ex act n at u re an d ex t en t of wh i ch d ep en d o n t he i d en t i t y o f

t h e ab u s er. T h e p h ys i ci an g en eral l y m u st k n o w wh o t he ab u s er was i n

o rd er t o ren d er p ro per treat m en t b ecau s e t he p h y s i ci an ’ s t reat m en t wi l l

n eces s ari l y d iffer w h en t h e ab u ser i s a m em b er o f th e v i ct i m ’ s fam i l y o r

h o u s eh o l d

.

198 F3 d at 1 4 9 4 -1 4 95 (II) (B) (1 ) (a).

No t ab l y , i n arg u in g fo r th e ex p an s i o n o f t h e m ed i cal t reat m en t an d d i ag n o s i s

ex cep t i o n t o al l o w s t at em en t s i d en t i fy i n g t he perp et rat o r i n cas es o f ch i l d ab u s e, t h e

St at e fai l s t o ad dres s t h e fact t h at

, u n l i k e th e Fed e r al Ru l es o f E v i den ce, G eo rg i a’ s

Ev i d en ce Co de has a p ro v i s i o n o t h er t h an Ru l e 8 0 3 (4 ) t h at al lo ws th e ad m i s s i o n o f

i d en t i fi cat i o n s t at em en t s s u ch as t h e o ne at is s u e. Geo rg i a’ s Ch i l d H ears ay St at u t e

p ro v id es :

A s t at em en t m ad e b y a ch i l d y o u n g er t h an 1 6 y ears of ag e d es cri b i n g

an y a c t o f s e x u al co n t act o r p h y s i cal ab u s e p erfo rm ed wi t h o r o n s u ch

ch i l d b y an o t h er o r wi t h o r o n an o t h er i n t h e pres en ce o f s u ch ch il d sh al l

b e ad m i s s ib l e in ev id en ce b y t h e tes t im on y o f t h e p ers on t o wh o m m ad e

i f t h e p ro p o n en t o f s u ch s t at em en t p ro v i d es n o t i ce t o t h e ad v ers e p art y

p ri o r t o tri al o f t he i n t en t io n t o u s e s uch ou t -o f-co u rt s tat em en t an d s u ch

ch i l d t e s t ifi es o f t h e t ri al

, u n l es s t h e ad v ers e p art y fo rfei t s o r wai v es

s u ch ch i l d ’ s t es t i m o n y

. . . an d, at t h e t i m e o f t h e tes t im o n y reg ard i n g th e

o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s

, t h e p ers o n t o wh o m t h e ch il d m ad e s u ch

s t at em en t i s s u b

ject t o cro s s -ex am i nat i on reg ard i n g t h e o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s

.

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

.

Si n ce i t s e n a c t m en t

, th e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u te h as b een ap p l ied t o al l o w t h e

i n t ro du ct i o n o f ou t -o f-co urt s t at em en t s i n wh i ch th e v i c t i m i d en t i fi ed h i s o r h er

20as s ai lan t t o t h i rd p art i es

, i n cl u d i n g m ed ical p ro fes s i o n al s. See R o ma n i v. S t a t e , 3 0 3

Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 9

, 8 2 9 -8 3 0 (1 ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 3 0 3 ) (2 0 10 ) (fi n d i n g ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h e

Ch i ld Hears ay St at u t e s tat em en t s m ad e b y fo u r-y ear-o l d v i ct i m t o t h e ex am i n i n g

n u rs e p ract i t io n er t h at i d en t i fi ed h er fat h er as h er ab u s er); Bel l v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p.

7 7 9

, 7 8 1 (4 ) ( 6 7 0 S.E.2 d 4 7 6) (2 0 0 8 ) (s t at em en t v ict i m m ad e t o n u rs e d u ri ng a

m ed i cal ex am i n at i o n a n d i n wh i ch s h e i d en t ifi ed d efen d an t as her rap i s t were

ad m i s s i b l e u n der t h e Ch i l d Hears ay St at ut e); Fl o wer s v. St a te

, 2 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 0

, 6 6 2

(3 ) (5 6 6 S.E.2 d 3 3 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (u n d er t h e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e, n u rs e p ract i t i o n er wh o

ex am i n ed t h e v i ct i m co u l d t es t i fy as t o t he v i ct i m ’ s st at em en ts i n w h i ch v i ct i m

i d en t i fi ed d efen d an t as h er as s ai l an t ). See al s o G u z ma n v. S t at e

, 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 9,

8 2 1 (2 ) (6 1 6 SE2 d 1 4 2 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (Ch i l d Hears ay St at ut e al l o wed t h erap i s t ’ s t es t i m o ny

as t o ch i l d ’ s s t at em en t s i d en t i fy i n g d efen d an t as t h e p ers on wh o m o l es t ed h er).

Th e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e i s Geo rg i a’ s res p o ns e t o t he fact t h at o u t -o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s o f ch i ld ren are freq u en t l y rel ev an t i n ch i l d ab u s e cas es a l t h o u g h m an y

s u ch s t at em en t s do n o t fal l wi t hi n an y o f t h e t rad it i o n a l h e a rs ay ex cep t i o n s

.

M o reo v er, t h is p art icu l ar h ears ay ex cep t i o n was carefu l l y d rawn s o as t o p ro t ect an d

accu s ed ’s r i g h t s u n d er t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au se. See H a t l ey v. S ta t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. 4 8 0,

4 8 2 -4 8 4 (II) (7 2 2 SE2 d 6 7 ) (2 0 12 ) (ad d res s i ng t h e co ns t i t u ti o n al i t y o f fo rm er OCGA

21§ 2 4-3 -1 6 ). Acco rd i n gl y

, th e ad m i s s i o n o f a ch i l d ’ s ou t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s i n wh i ch

h e or s h e i d en ti fi es h er ab u s er i s co n t ro l l ed b y O CGA § 2 4 -8 -8 2 0

, ev en w h en t h o s e

s t at em en t s are m ad e to a m e di cal pro fes s i o n al t reat i n g o r o t h erwi s e d i ag n o s i n g t h e

v i ct i m

. 1 0 See St a t e v. Jo n es

, 6 2 5 S 2 d 8 2 1

, 8 2 6 (Fl a. 1 9 9 3) (fi n d i n g t h at a ch i ld

v i ct i m ’ s s t at em en t s to m ed i cal p ers o n n el id en t i fy in g t h e ch i ld ’ s a b u s e r w ere n ot

ad m i s s i b l e un d er th e m ed i cal d i ag n o s i s an d treat m en t ex c e p t i o n b u t co u l d b e

ad m i t t ed u n d er Fl o ri d a’ s ch i l d h ears ay s t at u t e, F. S. A. § 9 0 .8 0 3 (2 3)).

To t h e ex t en t th at t h e St at e i s arg ui n g t h at we sh o u l d em p l o y t he reas o n i n g o f

Ren vi l l e an d i t s p ro g en y t o fi n d t h at a ch i l d ab u s e v i ct i m ’ s o u t -o f-co u rt i d en t i fi cat i o n

o f h er ab u s er t o m ed i cal p ers o n n el i s ad m is s i b l e u n der b o th t h e Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e

a n d t he m ed i cal t reat m en t o r d i ag no s i s ex cep t io n

, we d i s ag ree. Th e an al y s i s

em pl o y ed in Ren vi l l e

, Geo r

g e

, an d Jo e fai l s t o fo cu s o n t h e m ot iv es an d / or s t at e o f

m i n d o f t h e d ecl aran t an d i n so d o i n g

, i t es sen t i al l y d i s reg ard s t h e co m m o n -l aw

1 0 Th e St at e w o u l d h av e us t reat t he Ch i l d Hears ay St at u t e as i rrel ev an t t o t h i s

ap p eal

, as s ert i n g t h at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -2 0 ap p li es o nl y i n cas es wh ere t h e d ecl aran t i s

av a i l a b l e. T h i s as s ert i o n fai l s t o co n s i d er t h e p os s ib i li t y th at u n d er Geo rg i a l aw,

i d en t i fi cat i o n s t at em en t s m ad e u n d er ci rcu m s t a n ces s uch as t h o s e p res en t h ere are

ad m i s s i b l e o n l

y i f t h e d ecl aran t i s av ai l ab l e.

22rat i o nal e u n d erl y i n g al l es tab l i s h ed h ears ay ex cep t i o n s

. 1 1 In s h ort

, t h e an al y s i s in

t h o s e cas es fai l s t o co n s i d er wh et h er o u t -o f-co urt s t at em en t s rel at i n g t o t h e i d en t i t y

o f an as s ai l an t carry t h e s am e i n h eren t g u aran t ee o f t ru s t w o rt h i n es s as o t h er

s t at em en t s m ad e fo r t h e p urp o se o f recei v i ng m ed i cal d i ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t

.

Hears ay i s d efi n ed as “ a s t at em en t o t h er t h an o n e m ad e b y t h e d ecl aran t wh i l e

t es t i fy i ng at t h e t ri al o r h eari n g , o ffered i n ev i d en ce t o p ro v e t h e t ru t h o f th e m at t er

as s ert ed

. ” OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 1 (c); Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 8 0 1

. Becau s e hears ay s t at em en t s are

o ffered fo r t h e t ru t h o f t h e m at ter as sert ed

, th ei r ev i d en t i ary v al u e dep en d s up o n t h e

rel i ab i l i ty o f t he d ecl aran t at t h e t i m e t h e st at em en t was m ad e

. S e e Bo i vi n v. S t a t e

,

2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 1

, 4 1 4 (2 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 4 15 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ [e] v i d en ce i s h ears ay wh en t h e

p ro p on en t ’ s u se o f t h e ev id en ce es s en t i al l y as k s t h e ju ry to as s um e t h at t h e o u t -o fco u rt d ec l aran t was n o t ly i n g o r m i s tak en w h en t h e s t at em en t w as m ad e”)

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ) (ap p l y i n g fo r m er OCGA § 2 4 -3 -1 (a)). Th u s

,

h ears ay ex cep t i o n s are p rem i s ed o n t h e i d ea th at th e ci rcu m s t an ces s urro u n d i n g t h e

o u t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t m ak e “ t h e d ecl aran t ’ s t ru t h fu l n es s

. . . s o cl ear

. . . t h at t h e tes t

1 1 “ I t i s w el l es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h e b od y o f co m m on l aw k no wl ed g e m

u s t b e a

s o u rce o f g u id an ce i n o u r i n t erp ret at io n o f t h e Ru l es [o f Ev id en ce] .” To me

, 5 1 3 U.S.

at 1 6 8 (Scal i a, J

. , co ncu rri n g i n p art an d co ncu rri n g i n t h e ju d g m en t ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

23o f cro s s -ex am i n at i o n wo u ld b e o f m arg in al u t i l i t y .” Id a h o v. W r ig ht

, 4 97 U. S. 8 0 5,

8 2 0 (II) (1 1 0 SCt 3 13 9

, 1 11 L Ed 2 d 6 38 ) (1 9 9 0 ), ci t i n g 5 J

. W i g m o re, Ev i d en ce

§ 1 4 2 0 , p . 2 5 1 (J . Ch ad b ou rn rev . 1 9 7 4).

Ou t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t s fo r pu rp o ses o f m ed i cal t reat m en t or d i a g n o s i s are

p res u m ed rel i ab l e (an d are t h erefo re ex cep t ed fro m t h e He a r s a y Ru l e) b ecau se a

p a ti en t s eek i n g m ed i cal t reat m en t h as a “ s t ro n g m o t i v at io n to b e tru t h fu l ,” F e d

. R

.

Ev i d

. 8 0 3 (4 ), ad v i s o ry co m m i t t ee’ s n o t e. Th i s h ears ay ex cep t io n t h erefo re p res u m es

a cert ai n s t at e o f m i n d b y t h e d ecl aran t

, s peci fi cal l y th at t h e p at i en t (o r h i s

rep res en t at i v e) i s aware t hat wh en p ro vi d i n g i n fo rm at i o n fo r p u rp os es o f m ed i cal

d i ag n o s is o r t reat m en t

, i t i s i n t h e p at i en t ’ s s el f-i n t eres t t o t el l t he t ru t h

. In o t h er

wo rd s

, t h e ex cep ti o n i s bas ed o n t h e p rem i s e t h at s t at em en t s “ m ad e i n t he co u rs e o f

p ro cu ri n g m ed i cal s erv i ces

, w here t h e d ecl aran t kn o ws t h at a fal s e st at em en t m ay

cau s e m is d i ag n o s is o r m i s t reat m en t

, carr[y ] s p eci al g u aran t ees o f cred i b i li t y .” W h i t e

v. Il li n o is , 5 0 2 U. S. 3 4 6, 3 5 6 (1 1 2 SCt 7 3 6 , 1 1 6 LE2 d 8 4 8 ) (1 9 92 ). Th u s

, as W h i t e

m ak es cl ear, h ears ay s t at em en t s u n d er Ru le 8 0 3 (4 ) carry a s uffi ci en t g u aran t ee o f

t ru s t wo rt h in es s u n d er t rad i t i o n al h ears ay an al y s i s

.

Gi v en t h a t t h e t ru s two rt h i n es s o f s t at em en t s m ad e fo r p urp o s es o f m ed i cal

t reat m en t an d d i ag n o s is d ep en d s o n t h e d ecl aran t ’ s m o t i ve, co u rt s h av e t rad i t i o n al l y

24l o o k ed t o t h e s t at e o f m i n d o f t h e d ecl aran t t o d et erm i n e w h et h er a s t a t e m e n t was

r e a s o n ab l y p ert i n en t t o m ed i cal d i ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t,

– i .e., “ t h e co u rt [wo ul d ]

d et erm i n e wh et her t h e s t a t e m e n t s were reas o n ab l y co ns i d ered b y t h e d ecl a r a n t as

b ei n g p ert i nen t t o t h e d i ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t so u gh t .” Ro ck v. Hu ff co Ga s & Oi l Co

. ,

9 2 2 F 2 d 2 7 2

, 2 7 7 (II) (A) (1 ) (5 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 1 ) (em p has i s s u p pl ied ). See al s o W h i t e

,

5 0 2 U. S. at 3 5 6

.

In co n cl u d i ng t h at i d en t ifi cat i o n s t at em en t s m ad e b y v ict i m s of ch i l d ab u s e o r

s ex u al as s au l t were ad m i s s i bl e un d er Fed

. R. Ev i d. 80 3 (4 ), ho wev er, Ren vi l l e

,

Geo rg e , an d Jo e fo cu s ed o n t h e p ers p ect i v e o f t h e t reat i n g p h y s i ci an rat h er t h an o n

t h e st at e o f m i nd o f t h e decl aran t

. Th es e cas es ex am i n ed w h et h er t h e p h y s i ci an

v i ewed t h e i n fo rm at i on rel ay ed b y t h e p at i en t as p ert in en t t o d i ag n o s i s an d t reat m en t

,

n o t w h et h er t h e d ecl aran t b el i ev ed t h at i n fo rm at i o n was n eces s ary t o h i s o r h er p ro p er

t reat m en t

. See Ren vi l l e

, 7 7 9 F2 d at 4 3 8 (II) (“ [w] e t h erefo re b el i ev e t h at st at em en t s

o f i den t i t y to a p hy s i ci an b y a ch i l d s ex u al l y ab u s ed b y a fam i l y m em b er are o f a t y

p e

p h y s i ci an s reas o n ab l y r e l y o n i n co m p o s i n g a d i ag no s is an d co urs e o f t reat m en t ”);

Geo rg e

, 9 6 0 F2 d at 99 (II) (A) (fi n d i n g t hat t h e ch i l d ’ s s t at e m e n t i d en t i fy i n g h er

ab u ser w a s m ad e fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f m ed ical di ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t an d was

reas on ab l y p ert i n en t t o t h e sam e b as ed o n t he t reat i ng p h y s i ci an ’ s t es t i m o n y “ t h at s h e

25as k ed ab o u t t h e as s ai l an t ’ s i d en t i t y fo r th e p urp o s e o f d i ag n o s i n g an d t reat i n g t h e

v i ct i m ”); Jo e

, 8 F3 d at 1 4 9 5 (II) (B) (fi n di n g p at i en t ’ s i d en t i fi cat i o n o f her h u s b an d

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Fed

. R. E v i d

. 8 0 3 (4 ) b as ed on t h e t reat i n g p h y s i ci an ’ s t es t i m o ny

“ t h at t h e i d en t i ty o f t h e s ex u al as s ai l an t was i m p o rt an t fo r h i s r eco m

m en d at i o n

reg ard i n g [t h e pat i en t’ s ] aft er-care, i n cl ud i n g ap pro p ri at e co u n sel i n g ”). A s o n e co u rt

h as o b s erv ed

, t h e “ b i zarre co ns eq u en ce” of t h is an al y s i s i s t h at “ t h e s t at e o f m i n d o f

t h e h ears ay d ecl aran t i s effect iv el y i g n ored .” Ca s s i d y v. St a t e

, 5 3 6 A 2d 6 6 6

, 6 8 7 (M d.

Ap p

. 1 9 8 8 ) (d ecl i n i n g t o ex ten d M ary l an d ’ s v ers io n o f t h e m ed ical t reat m en t h ears ay

ex cep t i o n t o co v er i d en t i fi cat i on s t at em en t s m ad e b y a ch i l d m ol es t at i o n v i ct i m ).

M o reo v er, th es e cas es fai l t o ack no wl ed g e t h at a m ed i cal p ro fes s i o n al ’ s b el i ef

t h at cert ai n i nfo rm at i o n i s reas o n ab l y p ert i n en t t o t reat m en t an d d i ag no s i s i s n ot

n eces s ari l y rel at ed t o t h e m o t i v es o f t h e d ecl aran t i n i d en ti fy i n g t h e p art y res p o n s i b l e

fo r h i s o r h er in

ju ri es

. Acco rd i n g l y

, an al y zi n g w h et h er a m ed i c a l p r o fes s i o n al

co n si d ers cert ai n i n fo rm at i o n rel ev an t t o a p at ien t ’ s t reat m en t o ffers no g uaran t ee as

t o t he in h eren t t ru s t wo rt h i n es s o f t h e i d en t i fi cat i o n i n fo rm at i o n b ei n g p ro v i d ed b y t h e

d ecl aran t

. In o th er wo rd s

, in t h e ab s en ce o f s o m e s h owi n g th at a s t at em en t aro s e fro m

t h e d ecl aran t ’ s des i re fo r effect i v e m ed i cal t reat m en t

, t h ere i s n o i n h eren t

t ru s t wo rt h in es s in a hears ay s tat em e n t i d e n t ify i n g t h e p erp et rat o r. See Co l va r d v.

26Co mmo n wea l t h

, 3 0 9 SW 2 d 2 3 9

, 2 4 5-2 4 6 (I) (D) (Ky

. 20 1 0 ) (reject i n g t h e rat i o n al e

o f Ren vi ll e an d h ol di n g t h a t K e n t u ck y Ru l e o f E vi d en ce 8 0 3 (4 ) d id n o t p erm i t t h e

i n t ro du ct i o n o f i d en t ifi cat i o n s t at em en t s i n ch i ld m o l es tat i o n cas es ) (o v erru l i n g t h e

co u rt ’ s p rev i o u s d eci s i o n i n Ed wa r d s v. Co mmo n wea l th

, 8 3 3 SW 2 d 8 4 2 (Ky

. 1 9 9 2 )).

An d w e fi n d t h at t h i s reas o ni ng ap pl i es ev en t h o ug h t h e ou t -o f-co u rt s t at em en t m ay

i m p o s e o n m ed i ca l p e r s o n n el cert ai n l eg al rep o rt i ng req u i rem en t s

, m ay i m p act a

ch i l d ’ s l i vi n g s i t u at i on

, or m ay res u l t i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b ei n g referred fo r p sy ch o l o g i cal

co u ns el i n g

. As t h e M ary l an d Co u rt o f Ap p eal s ex pl ai ned wh en decl i ni n g t o fo l l o w

t h e Ren vi l l e rat i on al e,

Th e s t at e of m i n d of a d ecl aran t v i s -à-v i s an t i ci p at ed p h y s i cal t reat m en t

i s q u i t e d ifferen t fro m t h e s t at e o f m i n d o f a decl aran t vi s -à-v i s

an t i ci p at ed s o ci al d i s p o si t i o n

. Th e s i t u a t i o n s m ay b e t h e s am e t o th e

d o ct or; t h ey a r e n o t th e s am e t o t h e p at i en t

. Ph y s i cal s el f-s u rv i val

d i ct at es rev eal i n g ev en em b arras s i n g t ru t h t o av o i d t h e ri s k o f t h e wro n g

m ed i ci n e or t he n eed les s o p erat i o n

. Pres up p os i n g a d ecl aran t co n sci o u s

o f t h e p ro bab l e co n s eq u en ces o f h is as s ert i o n s

, t h e i m p erat iv e to s p eak

t ru t h fu l l y i s n ot n earl y s o s t ro ng wh en t h e an t ici p at ed res u l t i s a s o ci al

d i s p o s i t i o n

. Th e t em

p t at i o n t o i n fl u en ce t h e res u l t m ay

, i n d eed

, ru n i n

q u i t e t h e o p p os i te d i rect i o n

.

Ca s s id y

, 5 36 A2 d at 6 8 4

.

27M o reo v er, t h e t ru s t wo rt h i n es s o f i den t i fi cat i on s t at em en t s i s ev en m o re

q u es ti o n ab l e wh ere, as i n th i s cas e, t h e ch i ld i s n o t t h e decl aran t an d t h e i n fo rm at i o n

t h at a fam i l y m em

b er i s ab u s i n g t h e ch i l d i s p ro vi d ed b y an o t h er ad u l t i n t h e s am e

h o u s eh o l d

. Pu t an o t her w a y

, i n cas es i n v o l v i n g fam i l y d i s p u t es

, a paren t o r gu ard i an ’ s

m o t i v e f o r cas t i n g b l am e fo r a ch i l d ’ s ab u s e m ay or m ay n o t b e i n th e ch i l d ’ s bes t

i n t eres t o r fo r t h e p urp os e o f m ed i cal d iag n o s i s

.

G i v en t h at ou t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s id en t i fy in g t h e p art y res p o ns i b l e fo r a

v i ct i m ’ s i n

ju ri es d o n ot carry wi t h th em th e s am e g u aran t ee o f t ru s t w o rt h i n es s as

o t h er st at em en t s m ad e fo r p u rp o s es of m ed i cal d i ag n o s i s an d t reat m en t

, we co n cl u d e

t h at s u ch s t at em en t s do no t fal l wi t h i n t h e h ears ay ex cep t i o n at i s s u e. Acco rd i n g l y

,

we fi n d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e t h o s e

p o rt i on s o f t h e m o th er’ s st at em en t s i n wh i ch s h e cl ai m ed t h at h er ch i l d h ad i d en t i fi ed

Al m an za as t h e ch i ld ’ s ab u ser are n o t ad m i s s i b le u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (4 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . McFa d

d en , P. J., a n d

Bet hel , J., co n cu r

.

28