Opinion ID: 2194743
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Hospitalize Before January 13th

Text: Finally, we conclude that there is also sufficient testimony to support the theory that the failure to hospitalize Ms. Townsend before January 13th was a proximate cause of her injuries. As we discussed in note 12, supra, Dr. Townsend has conceded that Dr. Bechamp supplied standard of care testimony stating that Dr. Townsend should have hospitalized Ms. Donaldson on January 11th. While Dr. Bechamp is never actually asked whether the failure to hospitalize was a cause of her injuries, this logically follows from his conclusion that further tests or a consultation likely would have prevented her injuries. Furthermore, Ms. Donaldson's expert, Dr. London, testified that, even if a surgeon had waited two days to conduct surgery on Ms. Donaldson, her injuries would have been greatly reduced if Dr. Townsend had hospitalized her on January 11th rather than waiting until January 13th. The testimony of Drs. Bechamp and London, read together, provides the requisite evidence of causation on this issue. For the reasons stated herein, we hold that the trial court did not err in allowing the jury to determine liability based on the testimony presented. Because we find no error regarding the other issues before us, [27] the insufficient jury form did not undermine the verdict rendered at trial. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is Affirmed.