Opinion ID: 2349505
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Factual dispute as to position during treatment

Text: Ms. Fryar's final argument is that summary judgment was inappropriate because questions of material fact existed as to Ms. Fryar's position during treatment and the amount of force used by Mr. Teston in treatment. However, these questions of fact will not withstand summary judgment without some explanation of their significance by an expert witness. As noted above, while expert testimony from third party medical witnesses is not essential or even necessary in every medical malpractice case, such testimony is needed when the asserted negligence does not lie within the comprehension of a jury of laymen. Pry v. Jones, supra . This court has held that in any action for medical injury, the plaintiff must prove the applicable standard of care; that the medical provider failed to act in accordance with that standard; and that such failure was a proximate cause of the alleged damages. Williamson v. Elrod, supra . Here, even if the jury were to resolve the question of whether Ms. Fryar was in a seated or supine position, it would not be able to answer the critical questions concerning the applicable standard of care and proximate cause without some guidance on the significance of the treatment position. Thus, the mere fact that some disagreement exists as to her exact position during treatment is not enough to create a genuine issue of material fact sufficient to overcome summary judgment. Affirmed.