Opinion ID: 2283405
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Lost Chance of Survival

Text: The Kivlands' claim for lost chance of survival could be resolved on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim by not considering the evidentiary material a court examines in converting a motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment. Rule 55.27(a). [6] The Kivlands' claim for lost chance of survival alleges nearly the same facts as their wrongful death claim. There are only two minor differences between the allegations. The lost chance of survival claim is filed on behalf of Jana Kivland, as plaintiff ad litem and personal representative of the estate of Gerald Kivland, whereas the wrongful death claim is on behalf of Jana Kivland and Kristin Bold, as claimants under the wrongful death statute, section 537.080. The lost chance of survival claim contains one additional allegation that is not contained within the wrongful death claimthat [a]s a direct and proximate result of the negligence and carelessness of defendants ... Gerald Kivland lost a substantial chance of recovery, and as such, plaintiff Jana Kivland is entitled to damages for said loss under [section] 537.021. The purpose of a lost chance of recovery or survival claim is to address the harm that a patient suffers when the doctor fails to diagnose or adequately treat a serious injury or disease. Wollen, 828 S.W.2d at 686. In Wollen, the decedent went to the defendant doctors for medical treatment. The doctors failed to diagnose him with anything, and he subsequently died. If the doctors had performed appropriate tests or had interpreted correctly the tests they did conduct, they would have diagnosed the decedent with gastric cancer. If he had received this diagnosis and had been given appropriate treatment, he would have had a 30 percent chance of survival. Id. at 681-82. In Wollen, the Court recognized a lost chance of survival or recovery claim. The Court said that the claim should be used when it is impossible for a medical expert to state with `reasonable medical certainty' the effect of the failure to diagnose [or treat] on a specific patient, other than the fact that the failure to diagnose eliminated whatever chance the patient would have had. Id. at 682. The Court recognized that this claim was necessary, given that the plaintiff had no claim for wrongful death, because it [was] impossible to prove that decedent's death resulted from the failure to properly diagnose and treat. Id. at 686. The causation requirements for wrongful death and lost chance of survival are different: In wrongful death actions, plaintiffs must establish that, but for the defendant's actions or inactions, the patient would not have died. Sundermeyer v. SSM Reg'l Health Servs., 271 S.W.3d 552, 554 (Mo. banc 2008). For a lost chance of recovery or survival claim, however, it is impossible to establish the patient would have recovered or survived but for the defendant's alleged failure to properly diagnose or treat. Markham v. Fajatin, 325 S.W.3d 455, 460 (Mo.App.2010) (citing Wollen, 828 S.W.2d at 685). In this case, the Kivlands' lost chance of survival claim is simply a reassertion of their wrongful death claim. No facts were alleged that show it is impossible to establish that Kivland died as a result of the defendants' negligence; instead, the lost chance of survival claim simply reasserts that, but for Dr. Gaines' negligence, Gerald Kivland would not have died. This is the same thing as claiming that Dr. Gaines' negligence caused Kivland's death. The claim for lost chance of survival does not survive Gerald Kivland's death. Whether on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim or a motion for summary judgment, the claim was disposed of correctly.