Opinion ID: 791276
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Thermafiber Reasonably Relied on Dr. McCann's Opinion

Text: 10 Darnell contends that Dr. McCann failed to perform an individualized assessment of his diabetic condition and abilities that was supported by objective, medical evidence. Rather, he claims the assessment was based on stereotypes and insufficient data — the results of a single urine glucose test — which should have been supplemented by more reliable blood tests. Therefore, Darnell argues, it was unreasonable of Thermafiber to rely upon Dr. McCann's opinion when it rescinded the offer of employment. 11 We disagree with Darnell's position. First, his claim that the information he revealed during the interview does not constitute reliable, medical evidence is inaccurate. This court has recognized that testimonial evidence can provide sufficient support for a direct threat finding under the ADA. See Bekker, 229 F.3d at 668 (finding that employee and patient reports that a physician smelled of alcohol constituted sufficient evidence that she posed a direct threat to patients); see also Turco v. Hoechst Celanese Corp., 101 F.3d 1090, 1093-94 (5th Cir.1996) (finding that defendant's testimony confirmed that his diabetes made him a safety risk). During the interview, Dr. McCann asked Darnell about his physical complaints, his health as it related to his diabetes, and whether he experienced episodes of low blood sugar. McCann Dep. at 11. Darnell related a history of poor compliance and failure to seek medical attention; he admitted his blood sugar levels were too high, he hadn't checked in with a doctor in a number of months . . . [and] last anyone seen it was not good. Id. at 32. These admissions were corroborated by the results from his urine glucose test. When Dr. McCann suggested that he better control his diabetes, Darnell angrily responded that his sugar levels were good enough. Id. at 33. Dr. McCann was shocked by Darnell's disinterest in regulating his condition. Id. at 49. Under these circumstances, additional testing was unnecessary because the results could not have refuted the fact that Darnell was unmotivated to control his diabetes. 12 Darnell argues that, at a minimum, Dr. McCann should have consulted his medical chart before drawing his conclusion. Generally speaking, familiarity with a patient's medical history is highly important, but here the information could not have controverted Darnell's admitted noncompliance. Moreover, had Dr. McCann checked Darnell's medical charts, the information would have more or less borne out that, historically, his glucose levels were unpredictable as a result of his failure to regulate his condition. 13 Both parties' experts also agreed that Dr. McCann's opinion that Darnell's diabetes was uncontrolled was reasonable and supported by the evidence. Thermafiber's expert, Dr. John Cavanaugh, a board-certified endocrinologist and diabetes specialist, testified that the information Dr. McCann considered supported the reasonable medical conclusion that Darnell had failed to control his disease. Cavanaugh Dep. at 80. In his view, if an insulin-dependent diabetic tells a physician he is not complying with proper diabetes treatment, the physician does not need to have that written somewhere—in other words, does not need to have test results confirming high blood sugar or glucose fluctuations—to determine the patient is noncompliant. Id. at 82. When Darnell's expert and treating physician, Dr. John Levine, was asked at his deposition whether Darnell's diabetes was uncontrolled, he conceded: That would be a fair statement. Levine Dep. at 50. That Dr. Levine appears to have used the term in that context as being synonymous with poorly compliant changes nothing. With both experts in accord on this issue, we believe that Dr. McCann's assessment was a reasonable medical judgment supported by the evidence. Therefore, Thermafiber reasonably relied upon that assessment. 14