Opinion ID: 1887807
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court erred in finding patricia n. dubard unqualified to testify as an expert.

Text: ¶ 6. Absent error so obvious that a layman could easily determine fault, expert testimony is generally required to survive summary judgment and establish the negligence of a physician. Coleman v. Rice, 706 So.2d 696, 698-99 (Miss.1997); Travis, 680 So.2d at 218; Palmer v. Anderson Infirmary Benevolent Ass'n, 656 So.2d 790, 795 (Miss.1995). A trial judge's determination as to whether a witness is qualified to testify as an expert is given the widest possible discretion and that decision will only be disturbed when there has been a clear abuse of discretion. Palmer v. Biloxi Reg'l Med. Ctr., Inc., 564 So.2d 1346, 1357 (Miss.1990). Such discretion deserves equal respect at the summary judgment stage and the trial stage. Id. ¶ 7. Sheffield contends that Patricia N. DuBard's affidavit should not have been stricken and that she is qualified as an expert regarding Sheffield's infection and Dr. Goodwin's standard of care. Sheffield claims DuBard is competent to testify as to diagnosis of infection, treatment of infection, and damages as a result of failure to timely diagnose and treat infection. Sheffield notes that DuBard is a nurse practitioner and as such has the ability to prescribe and dispense antibiotics for infections. DuBard is also a registered nurse. The practices of a registered nurses are defined by statute: The practice of nursing by a registered nurse means the performance for compensation of services which require substantial knowledge of the biological, physical, behavioral, psychological and sociological sciences and of nursing theory as the basis for assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation in the promotion and maintenance of health; management of individuals' responses to illness, injury or infirmity; the restoration of optimum function; or the achievement of a dignified death. Nursing practice includes, but is not limited to, administration, teaching, counseling, delegation and supervision of nursing, and execution of the medical regimen, including the administration of medications and treatments prescribed by any licensed or legally authorized physician or dentist. The foregoing shall not be deemed to include acts of medical diagnosis or prescriptions of medical, therapeutic or corrective measures, except as may be set forth by rules and regulations promulgated jointly by the state board of medical licensure and the Mississippi Board of Nursing and implemented by the Mississippi Board of Nursing. Miss.Code Ann. § 73-15-5(2)(1995). ¶ 8. Though registered nurses and nurse practitioners possess broad skills, we find insufficient authority in nurse DuBard's experience and education to give an expert opinion as to the quality of care in this case. Her curriculum vitae fails to establish her qualification to render a medical opinion regarding the practice of dentistry or oral surgery. ¶ 9. The trial judge granted the motion to strike DuBard's affidavit finding: She has extensive experience in emergency practice, as well as experience in surgery and family nursing. However, Ms. DuBard is not an oral surgeon nor a dentist, and she does not apparently claim any professional experience or training in dentistry, oral surgery or any related area. Nothing in her curriculum vitae or her affidavit indicates any special knowledge of the standard of care that would be applicable to Dr. Goodwin in his treatment of the plaintiff. ¶ 10. This Court has allowed one qualified as a pharmacologist and toxicologist to give expert testimony as to causation and the standard of care for physicians in prescribing a particular drug. Thompson v. Carter, 518 So.2d 609, 615 (Miss.1987). We recognized that qualification of an expert is not necessarily based on a particular degree. Id. at 614. We have often reiterated the general rule that a specialist in a particular branch within a profession will not be required. See West v. Sanders Clinic for Women, P.A., 661 So.2d 714, 718 (Miss.1995)( quoting Brown v. Mladineo, 504 So.2d 1201, 1202 (Miss. 1987)). However, in Thompson, we clarified this point: This is not to say that every pharmacologist or toxicologist is qualified to testify as an expert to establish the physicians' standard of care. Only if the witness possesses scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge on a particular topic will he qualify as an expert on that topic.... 518 So.2d at 615. ¶ 11. While it is evident that Patricia DuBard has medical experience, it also evident that she does not possess specialized knowledge in dentistry, oral surgery, or in the treatment of dental infection. Nurse practitioners should not automatically be excluded from testifying. However, in this case we find the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in striking DuBard's affidavit, and we therefore must allow his decision to stand. ¶ 12. Sheffield alternatively contends that DuBard's testimony should be allowed to establish negligence by the nurses and staff of Ken Goodwin, DMD, P.A. However, neither Sheffield's complaint nor the affidavit entered by DuBard allege any negligence by Dr. Goodwin's staff.