Opinion ID: 2310313
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Medical Malpractice Act Expert Testimony and Exceptions

Text: This Court has previously reviewed the legislative history of the Delaware Medical Malpractice Act (the Act). See Ewing v. Beck, Del.Supr., 520 A.2d 653 (1987); Dunn v. St. Francis Hosp., Del.Supr., 401 A.2d 77 (1979). Prior to the enactment of the Act, the need for expert medical testimony to support a plaintiff's claim in a medical malpractice action had been generally recognized. See Robinson v. Mroz, Del.Super., 433 A.2d 1051, 1056 (1981) (citing Christian v. Wilmington Gen. Hosp. Ass'n., Del.Supr., 135 A.2d 727 (1957); Peters v. Gelb, Del.Supr., 314 A.2d 901 (1973)). However, [t]he Act particularized the need for expert medical testimony and defined those cases in which a rebuttable inference of negligence could arise without it. Id. at 1057. According to the general mandate of the Act, No liability shall be based upon asserted negligence unless expert medical testimony is presented as to [both] the alleged deviation from the applicable standard of care in the specific circumstances of the case [negligence] and as to the causation of the alleged personal injury.... 18 Del.C. § 6853. See Wahle v. Medical Ctr. of Del., Del.Supr., 559 A.2d 1228, 1231 (1989). Notwithstanding its general mandate, however, the Delaware Medical Malpractice Act provides that such expert medical testimony shall not be required if a malpractice review panel has found negligence to have occurred and to have caused the alleged personal injury or death and the opinion of such panel is admitted into evidence. 18 Del.C. § 6853. See Russell v. Kanaga, Del.Supr., 571 A.2d 724 (1990). The Act also includes several additional limited exceptions to its general mandate by providing: [A] rebuttable inference that personal injury or death was caused by negligence shall arise where evidence is presented that the personal injury or death occurred in any 1 or more of the following circumstances: (1) A foreign object was unintentionally left within the body of the patient following surgery; (2) an explosion or fire originating in a substance used in treatment occurred in the course of treatment; or (3) a surgical procedure was performed on the wrong patient or the wrong organ, limb or part of the patient's body. Except as otherwise provided herein, there shall be no inference or presumption of negligence on the part of a health care provider. 18 Del.C. § 6853. The proper construction of one of those statutory exceptions is the subject matter of this appeal. That exception relates to the situation when a foreign object is unintentionally left within a patient's body.