Opinion ID: 2459975
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Buraczynski-Parker

Text: Beverly Buraczynski and Stanley Parker are the children of Helen R. Parker, who, for a number of years, was a patient of Eyring. On December 3, 1990, Parker entered into a Physician-Patient Arbitration Agreement with Eyring. On February 26, 1991, Eyring performed a left total knee replacement surgery on Parker, again with Phillips' assistance. Numerous complications arose following surgery, including a wound infection. Helen Parker died near the end of June 1991, four months after surgery and six months after signing the arbitration agreement. Thereafter, Parker's surviving children, Beverly Buraczynski and Stanley Parker, filed suit for her wrongful death alleging medical malpractice. The agreements [1] signed by Bridges and Parker were presented to them on a take it or leave it basis. Had the patients refused to sign, Eyring would not have continued to treat them. The agreements are identical in all respects and require arbitration of any and all medical malpractice claims by the patient against the doctor. The provisions bind all potential parties, including the patient's spouse and heirs, on all claims for medical negligence. In return, the physician is bound by the arbitrators' malpractice decision, including any fee claims involved in the disputed treatment. Finally, the patient has an unconditional right to revoke the agreement by providing written notice to the physician within thirty (30) days of signing. Eyring and Phillips filed motions to compel arbitration in both the Parker and Bridges malpractice actions based on the arbitration agreement. After a joint hearing, the trial court denied the motions on the grounds that the agreement was not of a type contemplated by the arbitration statute, and that it was not enforceable because it lacked sufficient consideration. On appeal, the cases were consolidated, and the Court of Appeals reversed the judgment of the trial court. Although agreeing with the plaintiffs that the nature of the physician-patient relationship is unique and not a typical contractual relationship, the Court of Appeals concluded that the Tennessee Arbitration Act applies to arbitration agreements between physicians and patients. The Court of Appeals also found sufficient consideration to support the agreements in question. We granted this appeal to consider an important question of first impression  the enforceability of arbitration agreements between physicians and patients.