Opinion ID: 2575425
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the district court err in granting St. Alphonsus's motion for summary judgment?

Text: Since Dr. Hollander's second affidavit was admissible, the next issue becomes whether his affidavit created a genuine issue of material fact sufficient to survive summary judgment. The Edmunds argue that Dr. Hollander's second affidavit did so. Conversely, St. Alphonsus contends that even if Dr. Hollander's second affidavit is admissible, it does not lay an adequate foundation for his opinions because it fails to specify the applicable standard of care and, furthermore, it fails to establish that St. Alphonsus breached the local standard of care. In order to survive summary judgment in a medical malpractice case, a plaintiff must offer expert testimony indicating that the defendant health care provider negligently failed to meet the applicable standard of health care practice. Dulaney, 137 Idaho at 164, 45 P.3d at 820. In order for such expert testimony to be admissible, the plaintiff must lay the foundation required by Idaho Code § 6-1013, showing: (a) that such opinion is actually held by the expert witness; (b) that the expert witness can testify to the opinion with a reasonable degree of medical certainty; (c) that the expert witness possesses professional knowledge and expertise; and (d) that the expert witness has actual knowledge of the applicable community standard of care to which his expert opinion testimony is addressed. Id. (citing Morris ex rel. Morris v. Thomson, 130 Idaho 138, 937 P.2d 1212 (1997)). The applicable community standard of care is defined in Idaho Code § 6-1012. It is: (a) the standard of care for the class of health care provider to which the defendant belonged and was functioning, taking into account the defendant's training, experience, and fields of medical specialization, if any; (b) as such standard existed at the time of the defendant's alleged negligence; and (c) as such standard existed at the place of the defendant's alleged negligence. Id. (internal citations omitted). Moreover, an affidavit under Rule 56(e) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure must be made on personal knowledge, set forth facts that would be admissible in evidence, and affirmatively show that the affiant is competent to testify as to the matters contained in the affidavit. I.R.C.P. 56(e). When an affidavit is presented by a party opposing a motion for summary judgment, the affidavit must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. Also, the party opposing summary judgment must show that the affidavit is based upon the witness's personal knowledge and that it sets forth facts as would be admissible in evidence. Kolln, 130 Idaho at 331, 940 P.2d at 1150. The party offering the evidence must also affirmatively show that the witness is competent to testify about the matters stated in his testimony. Dulaney, 137 Idaho at 164, 45 P.3d at 820. An expert testifying as to the standard of care in medical malpractice actions must show that he is familiar with the standard of care for the particular health care profession for the relevant community and time. Perry, 134 Idaho at 51, 995 P.2d at 821. The expert must also state how he or she became familiar with that standard of care; this can include an out-of-area expert obtaining knowledge of the local standard of care by inquiring of a local specialist. Dulaney, 137 Idaho at 164, 45 P.3d at 820. Dr. Hollander attempted to become familiar with the local standard of care in this way. Contrary to St. Alphonsus's assertion, Dr. Hollander's supplemental affidavit contains an adequate foundation for his opinions. Dr. Hollander states: I was advised that the standard of care and the protocols, procedures and methods for such dosing and monitoring are the same for all major hospitals in Boise including St. Alphonsus and St. Lukes; the standard of care and protocols with respect to dosing and monitoring were the same as those discussed in my original affidavit as well as the supplementation of my testimony herein filed. Said standards with respect to once a day dosing or ODA regime are based upon a patient's weight, trough levels and renal function. That the standard of care and the protocols and procedures for such dosing and monitoring were no different in 2000-2001 in Boise, Idaho, as in any other hospital or [sic] the same or similar size in the United States and that there is therefore a national standard of care with respect to the administration, dosage and monitoring of Gentamicin. I can state with medical certainty that the standards applicable in Boise and the remainder of the United States as verified and confirmed by myself and my discussions with the Pharmacy Department at St. Lukes Hospital in Boise, Idaho, did not allow peak concentrations and trough levels which would result in Mr. Edmunds developing ototoxicity. Statements indicating that Dr. Hollander familiarized himself with the local standard of care by contacting a local pharmacist and statements that there is a national standard of care are sufficient to lay the foundation for Dr. Hollander's testimony. See Dulaney, 137 Idaho at 164, 45 P.3d at 820; Perry, 134 Idaho at 51, 995 P.2d at 821 (An expert's review of a deposition stating that the local standard does not vary from the national standard, coupled with the expert's personal knowledge of the national standard, is sufficient to lay a foundation for the expert's opinion.). Additionally, St. Alphonsus's expert witness affidavits filed in support of the motion for summary judgment show that there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding the local standard of care. St. Alphonsus's expert, Karl Madaras-Kelly, Pharm.D., states: Many of the statements made by Plaintiff's experts regarding the local standard of care for gentamicin use in 2000 for patients such as Mr. Edmunds are incorrect. This statement alone shows that there was a genuine issue of material fact regarding the standard of care for St. Alphonsus in 2000. As such, granting summary judgment was inappropriate. Therefore, this Court reverses the district court's decision granting summary judgment.