Opinion ID: 1903499
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony as to Pain and Suffering

Text: ¶ 7. Richardson argues that summary judgment should not have been granted because there was a genuine issue of fact concerning Wheeless's pain, suffering, and death, established through the expert testimony of Keller. In support, Richardson offers Keller's education and sixteen years experience as a registered nurse and six years work as a legal consultant. Richardson believes that Keller's expert opinion is admissible as it is helpful to the trier of fact, which is the relevant inquiry to be made pursuant to Mississippi Rule of Evidence 702. ¶ 8. We set the standard for expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases in Hall v. Hilbun, 466 So.2d 856 (Miss.1985), where we said expert opinion testimony should be allowed where the witness is qualified and independent, and the testimony will assist the trier of fact. We find the trial court's ruling was overly restrictive in not allowing Keller to testify concerning the appropriate standard of nursing care and the deviations from that standard. There is sufficient proffered evidence from Keller for a jury to consider whether the inadequate nursing care resulted in worsening Wheeless's physical pain and suffering. ¶ 9. Wheeless's treating physician provided further support to the deficiencies outlined by Keller. Steven Farrell, M.D., treated Wheeless while she was hospitalized at Wesley and was deposed concerning his treatment and observations of Wheeless. Dr. Farrell expressed concern over the standard of nursing care that Wheeless received, stating that he believed the nurses were deficient in failing to timely notify him and the other treating physician concerning melenic (bloody) stools that were observed after Wheeless's admittance to the hospital. Even though Dr. Farrell did not opine that the gastrointestinal bleeding was in any way associated with the stroke that ultimately caused Wheeless's death, he did testify that the unreported bleeding could have negatively affected her condition. Dr. Farrell explained that the melenic stools would indicate either continued or repeat gastrointestinal bleeding and that there were also notations in the treatment records of low hemoglobin counts which could be indicative of significant hemorrhaging. Dr. Farrell stated the loss of blood contributed to angina that she had, the chest pain that she had, and reflected poor blood flow to her heart. He went on to say that the continued bleeding could have led to heart problems and may have led to Wheeless's confusion because of poor blood flow to the brain. ¶ 10. In Drummond v. Buckley, 627 So.2d 264 (Miss.1993), the plaintiff filed a medical malpractice action after suffering pain and swelling in his lower back following surgery for a herniated disc. In Drummond, the plaintiff did not have an expert witness to show proximate causation; however, we ruled summary judgment was precluded. The facts of Drummond reflect there was a dispute over a conversation between the physician and patient over the doctor's recommendation that the patient enter the hospital for treatment of his back infection. We noted that Clayton v. Thompson, 475 So.2d 439, 445 (Miss.1985), stated proximate cause arises when omission of a duty contributes to cause an injury. Drummond, 627 So.2d at 270. Here there is substantial evidence documenting deficient nursing care that may have contributed to Wheeless's suffering. ¶ 11. The fact that Keller is not a physician does not bar her right to testify concerning the standard of care for the nursing staff, but more appropriately may affect the weight of her testimony, which is an issue for the trier of fact. Considering all of the evidence in the light most favorable to Richardson, we find there is a genuine issue of fact concerning whether Wheeless suffered more physically and incurred more expense from the failures of the nursing staff documented by Wheeless's expert and that the circuit court improperly granted summary judgment as to pain and suffering. ¶ 12. Wesley argues that the claim for the pain and suffering as an element of the wrongful death action should likewise be denied pursuant to Wilks v. American Tobacco Co., 680 So.2d 839 (Miss.1996). In Wilks, the jury found that cigarette smoking did not proximately cause the decedent's death. The heirs contended on appeal they were at least entitled to the decedent's lifetime damages that the heirs believed were overwhelmingly proven to be caused by cigarette smoking. The heirs' cause of action was exclusively under Mississippi's wrongful death statute. We held the personal injury action could not be maintained where it was not alternatively claimed under Mississippi's survival statute. Id. at 843. ¶ 13. The facts in Richardson's case reflect that the nurses' negligent actions exacerbated Wheeless's condition and caused pain and suffering, even if that negligence was not determined to be the ultimate cause of death. Though the survival statute is not specifically cited in the complaint, the pleadings in this case delineate two specific causes of action and are sufficient under our system of notice pleadings. We hold that Richardson demonstrated a genuine issue of material fact requiring a trial on her separate cause of action for Wheeless's pain and suffering. Therefore, the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment as to that claim.