Opinion ID: 1179315
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Lay Testimony as to Negligence

Text: It is not mandatory in every case that negligence of the doctor be proved by expert testimony which shows a departure from reasonable standards of care. Negligence of a doctor in a procedure which is peculiarly within the knowledge of doctors, and in which a layman would be presumed to be uninformed, would demand medical testimony as to the standard of care. However, if negligence can be determined by resort to common knowledge ordinarily possessed by an average person, expert testimony as to standards of care is not essential. Cervantes v. Forbis, supra; Williams v. Vandenhoven, 82 N.M. 352, 482 P.2d 55 (1971); Mascarenas v. Gonzales, 83 N.M. 749, 497 P.2d 751 (Ct.App. 1972). Such evidence includes lay testimony regarding non-technical mechanical acts by the physician, as we have here. Goffe, in raising the issue of improper judgment in the Court of Appeals, did not specifically point to the existence of evidence adduced by lay testimony as further support for his contention that a genuine issue of material fact had been raised. In deciding whether the summary judgment was proper, however, we must look to the whole record and take note of any evidence therein which puts a material fact in issue. N.M.R.Civ.P. 56(c) [§ 21-1-1(56)(c), N.M.S.A. 1953]. In the present case both expert testimony from a qualified doctor in the same field, practicing under similar circumstances, as to the standard of care of physicians and lay testimony regarding matters within the ken of lay persons generally (regarding the violent extraction of the tube by Dr. Burress and the beating on plaintiff's back for several hours by Presbyterian's employees) were adduced. We do not hold nor do we imply that such evidence was conclusive or even sufficient to prove negligence. Resolving all reasonable doubts in favor of plaintiff, however, such evidence was sufficient to raise a genuine factual issue as to negligence of both Burress and Presbyterian. The evidence was also sufficient, therefore, to raise a factual issue as to Presbyterian's negligence, on the theory of vicarious liability for the physician's negligence and that of the other employees of Presbyterian. See Stake v. Woman's Division of Christian Service of Bd. of Missions, 73 N.M. 303, 387 P.2d 871 (1963). Plaintiff Goffe should have been allowed to submit these issues to the fact-finder. Summary judgment was improper as to both Dr. Burress and Presbyterian. Since summary judgment was improper in this case for the foregoing reasons, we do not reach the plaintiff's second assertion: the question of whether the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur would have also rendered the judgment improper. We note that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur can be employed in an appropriate case. Cervantes v. Forbis, supra; Buchanan v. Downing, 74 N.M. 423, 394 P.2d 269 (1964).