Opinion ID: 1095990
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Lower Court Erred in Refusing to Order the Plaintiff to Submit to an Independent Medical Examination

Text: On cross-appeal, the defendants claim that the trial court erred when it overruled their two motions for an independent medical examination of Swan. The defendants had asked the trial court to order Swan to make herself available for an independent medical examination by Dr. Herbert H. Schaumberg, an expert neurologist designated by the defendants as an expert witness. The defendants argue that since Swan alleges that she has suffered numerous injuries as a result of her exposure to the isocyanates and has been examined by several of her own medical experts, they should be allowed to protect their interests by having Swan examined by one of their experts. The defendants recognize that the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure do not provide for independent medical examinations. Mississippi specifically declined to adopt a rule similar to MRCP 35, which gives the court the authority to order a party whose physical or mental condition is in controversy to submit to an independent medical examination. The comment to the Omitted MRCP 35 refers to Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-63 and states that the subject of Rule 35 is beyond the scope of the legislation pursuant to which the Mississippi rules were adopted. Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-63 provides: Rules prescribed pursuant to sections 9-3-61 to 9-3-73 shall not abridge, enlarge or modify any substantive right of any litigant and shall preserve the right of trial by jury as at common law and as declared by Article 3, Section 31 of the Constitution of this state; and, as declared by Amendment VII to the Constitution of the United States. Rules of evidence prescribed hereunder shall not alter any statutory provision respecting privileged communications or competency of witnesses. The defendants cite numerous federal authorities and cases from other states which have held that courts have the inherent authority to require a plaintiff to submit to an independent medical examination. The defendants argue that other Mississippi rules and statutes have lessened the restrictions placed on medical evidence. They point out that under Mississippi Rules of Evidence 503(f), to the extent that any party places his or her physical, mental or emotional condition in issue, he or she thereby waives the physician/patient privilege. See also, Miss. Code Ann. § 13-1-21(4) (Supp. 1988). Swan contends that the issue is not whether courts have the inherent authority to order an independent medical examination. Swan argues that the language of the trial court's order denying the defendant's motion indicates that it recognized that it had the authority in the appropriate circumstances to order such an examination, but found that good cause did not exist in this case for the examination. The trial court's order reads as follows: THIS CAUSE coming this day to be heard on motion of Defendants for an independent medical examination of the Plaintiff and the Court having considered the Motion and having heard oral arguments of counsel, finds that Defendants have failed to establish good cause for an independent medical examination of Nancy Swan. It is therefore, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED That the Motion of the Defendants to compel an independent medical examination of the Plaintiff Nancy Swan, be and the same hereby is overruled. The trial court's ruling following oral argument on this motion is not a part of the record. According to Swan, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendants' motion since the defendants had access to all of her medical records and had listed at least seven expert witnesses who would purportedly testify that any injuries suffered by Swan were not caused by the defendants. Swan also contends that the defendants failed to inform the trial court of the extent of the proposed examination and exactly what tests and exams were necessary. The trial court did not commit error when it refused to order Swan to submit to an independent medical examination. The trial court clearly lacks the authority to order it under the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court has never construed M.R.E. 503(f) to authorize such an action by the trial judge even though the party may have placed his or her physical, mental or emotional condition at issue and thereby waive the physician/patient privilege. See also, Miss. Code Ann. § 13-1-21(4) (Supp. 1988). What and all we have interpreted M.R.E. 503(f) to allow is access to the physician and to the patient's records by the waiver of privilege. This Court has never interpreted our Rules of Evidence to allow a trial judge to order anything as intrusive as an actual physical examination. The judgment of the trial court in refusing to order the plaintiff to submit to an independent medical examination is affirmed. ON DIRECT APPEAL: REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. ON CROSS-APPEAL: AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. As to Part I and Part II-A: HAWKINS, C.J., DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, P.JJ., and SULLIVAN, PITTMAN, BANKS and McRAE, JJ., concur. As to Part II-B: HAWKINS, C.J., PRATHER, P.J., and SULLIVAN, PITTMAN and BANKS, JJ., concur. McRAE, J., specially concurs with separate written opinion joined by DAN M. LEE, P.J. As to Part II-C: SULLIVAN, J., DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, P.JJ., and BANKS and McRAE, JJ., concur. HAWKINS, C.J., dissents with separate written opinion joined by PITTMAN, J. ROBERTS and SMITH, JJ., not participating according to Supreme Court Rules.