Opinion ID: 874409
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether Curt's death was proximately caused by ICRM's negligence.

Text: Proximate cause consists of actual cause and true proximate cause, which is also referred to as legal cause. Newberry v. Martens, 142 Idaho 284, 288, 127 P.3d 187, 191 (2005). In other words, proximate cause is composed of two elements: cause in fact and scope of legal responsibility. Sisters of the Holy Cross, 126 Idaho at 1039, 895 P.2d at 1232. Actual cause is the factual question of whether a particular event produced a particular consequence. Newberry, 142 Idaho at 288, 127 P.3d at 191. But true proximate cause focuses on whether legal policy supports responsibility being extended to the consequences of conduct. . . . [it] determines whether liability for that conduct attaches. Id. (internal citations omitted) (quoting Henderson v. Cominco American, Inc., 95 Idaho 690, 695, 518 P.2d 873, 878 (1973)). That is, whether it was reasonably foreseeable that such harm would flow from the negligent conduct. Sisters of the Holy Cross, 126 Idaho at 1040, 895 P.2d at 1233. This Court must decide whether the injury and manner of the occurrence are so highly unusual that we can say, as a matter of law that a reasonable [person], making an inventory of the possibilities of harm which his conduct might produce, would not have reasonably expected the injury to occur. Id. at 1041, 895 P.2d at 1234 (internal quotations and citations omitted) (quoting Alegria v. Payonk, 101 Idaho 617, 619-20, 619 P.2d 135, 137-38 (1980)). The question of proximate cause is one of fact and almost always for the jury. Id. at 1041, 895 P.2d at 1234. [P]roximate cause is one of fact to be submitted to the jury and not a question of law for the court; if, upon all the facts and circumstances, there is a reasonable chance or likelihood of the conclusions of reasonable [people] differing, the question is one for the jury. Id. (quoting Alegria, 101 Idaho at 619-20, 619 P.2d at 137-38). This Court finds that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether ICRM's negligence proximately caused Curt's suicide. Rebecca produced affidavits at the summary judgment phase which stated that suicidal ideations are reasonably foreseeable after a person is informed of their HIV positive status. It was this evidence that precluded summary judgment in favor of Dr. Swanson on the issue of whether his alleged negligence proximately caused Curt's death. In accordance with Restatement (Second) of Torts § 457, subsequent medical negligence is generally foreseeable, including instances where the injury complained of stems from an original negligent act failing to properly diagnose and treat. However, the district court's conclusion that no genuine issue of material fact existed was based on Rebecca's failure to produce any testimony as to whether a person would have suicidal ideations by being informed that s/he is HIV negative. Although this analysis is valid, it leaps over a few factual issues which create genuine issues of material fact. Rebecca's primary contention is that by negligently misinforming Curt that he is HIV negative and thereby not providing him with counseling and treatment, ICRM leaves open the possibility that Curt would later be negligently informed of his correct HIV status. Dr. Swanson's subsequent medical negligence [4] is foreseeable in accordance with the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 457. Therefore, this Court cannot say, as a matter of law, that Curt's suicidal ideations were unforeseeable when he was negligently misinformed by ICRM that he was HIV negative and subsequently subjected to the medical negligence of Dr. Swanson. Further, the district court failed to note the possibility that if a person is informed that s/he is HIV negative and subsequently informed that s/he is HIV positive that the person may conclude that s/he contracted HIV within the interim. The district court's analysis fails to take into account the incurable nature of HIV; an HIV positive person will eventually be informed that s/he is HIV positive. HIV is contracted through the transfer of bodily fluids and most commonly associated with unprotected sexual activity and intravenous drug use. In fact, Dr. Swanson's notes reflect that this information was indeed given to Curt when he was informed of his HIV positive status. [I] [d]iscussed with [Curt] [the] risk factors for HIV. He has been married for four years. He strongly states he has had no other sexual encounters following his marriage other than his wife and he feels his wife is the same. Just six months ago his wife underwent in vitro fertilization and he stated he underwent an infectious disease testing and at that time [he] was negative. He denies any other high risk factors including IV drug abuse and any recent blood transfusions are distant. Again, [Curt has engaged in] no sexual improprieties since prior to being married. (Emphasis added). This information, in and of itself, could reasonably lead a person to believe that the cause of the HIV is sexual impropriety; if Curt knew he had not engaged in any sexual encounters outside of the marriage only one logical conclusion remains. Reasonable minds could differ as to whether ICRM's negligence for the failure to correctly inform Curt that he was HIV positive could lead to his subsequent suicide. If a person is HIV positive s/he will retain that status for the foreseeable future. That is, if a person is negligently misinformed that s/he is HIV negative it is foreseeable that the person will eventually be correctly informed that s/he is HIV positive, so the question becomes whether it is foreseeable that the HIV positive person will have suicidal ideations when s/he is correctly informed and this is precisely the evidence Rebecca produced at the summary judgment phase. Merely analyzing the issue as to whether a person will have suicidal ideation when informed s/he is HIV negative fails to take into account any future conduct of other actors and the fact that the person will eventually be informed s/he is HIV positive. The district court correctly found that ICRM had a duty to inform Curt of his HIV positive status and that ICRM breached that duty. Further, ICRM negligently failed to recommend Curt to counseling and treatment for the disease, which would have reduced or eliminated any subsequent negligence by Dr. Swanson. ICRM was in a position to prevent the ultimate result in this case by properly diagnosing and treating Curt; ICRM breached its duty to Curt and should not be relieved of its responsibility for that breach merely because Dr. Swanson subsequently engaged in foreseeable negligent conduct. In accordance with Restatement (Second) of Torts § 457, subsequent medical negligence is generally foreseeable. Although ICRM's potential liability will be reduced by a determination of any comparative negligence of Dr. Swanson pursuant to I.C. § 6-801, the comparative negligence statute does not reduce the foreseeability of Curt's injury; it merely reduces the liability of ICRM if the jury determines that Curt's death was proximately caused by ICRM's breach. Whether ICRM's actions proximately caused Curt's death is a question of fact for the jury. This Court reverses the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of ICRM and holds that questions of fact exist as to whether ICRM proximately caused Curt's death.