Opinion ID: 1887807
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court erred in failing to allow the matter to proceed based on the layman exception.

Text: ¶ 13. In certain instances, a layman asked to evaluate a physician's negligence can observe and understand the negligence as a matter of common sense and practical experience. Palmer, 656 So.2d at 795. For instance, a layman can understand without expert testimony that the unauthorized and unexplained leaving of an object inside a patient during surgery is negligence. Coleman, 706 So.2d at 698. However, Lay testimony is sufficient to establish only those things that are purely factual in nature or thought to be in the common knowledge of laymen. Id. ¶ 14. We have upheld a decision that allowed only lay testimony as to whether an anesthetic was administered and whether an incision was made to establish a physician's negligence. See Kelley v. Frederic, 573 So.2d 1385, 1388 (Miss.1990). However, we have refused to allow only a father's testimony as to whether a circumcision was incorrectly performed as a basis for a physician's negligence. Walker v. Skiwski, 529 So.2d 184, 187 (Miss.1988). ¶ 15. Sheffield contends that since Dr. Goodwin did nothing when she returned to his office complaining of pain and swelling, it is obvious that he was negligent. Sheffield cites Dr. Goodwin's testimony concerning the date in question. However, Dr. Goodwin testified: ... in those kind of situations, when you've done everything that you can do to make sure that the inside of the tooth is clean, then you must assume that there is an area of infection still present in the bony area surrounding the end of the tooth root. And that's what I assumed at this point. And we treated her again with the broad spectrum antibiotic and Mepergan Fortis, which is an oral form of Demerol. Sheffield's assertion that Dr. Goodwin did nothing is disputed by the passage on which she relies. She received additional treatment. Diagnosing symptoms and prescribing antibiotics is beyond the common knowledge of laymen. The layman exception does not apply in this case.