Opinion ID: 2615088
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the proposed increased risk of harm instruction

Text: Beattie attempted to show at trial that MedaSonics, Inc. had not adequately communicated to the users of the Doppler the inability of the machine, when used without a pressure cuff, to determine whether blood flow is adequate to sustain tissue life. The requested instruction on the concept of increased risk of harm was an attempt by Beattie to lighten his burden of showing that MedaSonic's breach, if any, of its duty to warn was a proximate cause of the eventual high amputation of Beattie's leg. The requested instruction closely follows the language of Section 323 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. [2] This section by its terms relates only to the rendering of services, and the comment on the section makes the focus on services clear. Appellant cites no authority indicating that Section 323 applies to products as well. MedaSonics did not render any services in Beattie's case. In addition, most of the cases cited by appellant are concerned with the trial court's improper taking of the question of proximate cause from the jury. The district court left the question of proximate cause to the jury in the instant case, and gave several instructions that, taken together, correctly outlined the applicable law. Where the instructions given adequately cover the applicable law, it is not error to refuse further instructions on the same subject. Crown Controls Corp. v. Corella, 98 Nev. 35, 639 P.2d 555 (1982). See Village Development Co. v. Filice, 90 Nev. at 314, 526 P.2d at 88. Therefore, the district court did not err in refusing appellant's proposed instruction on increased risk of harm.