Opinion ID: 2194743
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Recommend CT Scan or Obtain Consultation January 11th or 12th

Text: As with her claim of Dr. Townsend's failure to properly inspect the bowel, Ms. Donaldson relies on Dr. Bechamp's testimony to provide the causation evidence for her theories that Dr. Townsend's failure to recommend a CT scan or obtain a consultation proximately caused her injuries. Still assuming arguendo that counsel's blanket statement regarding medical certainty was insufficient to expertize all of Dr. Bechamp's testimony, his causation testimony on this point was sufficient to allow the issue to go to the jury. After establishing that Dr. Bechamp's opinion was that Dr. Townsend should have obtained a CT scan or consulted with another doctor on January 11th, counsel then asked Dr. Bechamp whether he had an opinion as to how that would have influenced Dr. Townsend's medical course. Dr. Bechamp answered that if they could have intervened sooner on this lady [they could have] perhaps diminished her postoperative course. At that point, the Hospital sought to clarify that Dr. Bechamp was giving a proper expert opinion. When you say could [have], counsel asked, are you saying that you're just guessing about that, or do you have an opinion. Dr. Bechamp interrupted the attorney and responded, My experience would be that you would certainly the patient would do better if you intervened earlier. That's what I'm saying. When you evaluate a patient with an acute distended abdomen, if you can make a diagnoses of an abscess, with CAT scan, ultra sound, whatever way you make it, you want to intervene as soon as possible. (Emphasis added). Dr. Bechamp's use of the term certainly makes clear that he understood the applicable standard and was utilizing it in his answers, as instructed, without regard to whether the question explicitly asked him whether the causal relationship was to a medical certainty or medical probability. Thus, there was sufficient evidence of causation to send the theories of failing to obtain a CT scan or to seek a consultation to a jury. [26]