Opinion ID: 2625980
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: parties' allegations and contentions

Text: ¶ 6 The plaintiffs alleged in the petition filed in Oklahoma County District Court that Shelby was born on November 21, 2003. Drs. Badgett and Schlinke negligently caused Shelby to be delivered prematurely resulting in respiratory distress syndrome and in hospitalization in Integris Baptist Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit. While in the intensive care unit, the hospital's employees negligently caused Shelby to develop vertebral osteomyelitis. Because of the vertebral osteomoyelitis, Shelby has required numerous surgeries and suffers severe, permanent spinal deformity. ¶ 7 The plaintiffs contend that Dr. Badgett contacted Dr. Schlinke for an opinion concerning Crawford's care. Based on Dr. Schlinke's opinion, Dr. Badgett caused Shelby to be delivered prematurely and, but for Dr. Schlinke's opinion, Shelby would not have been prematurely delivered. Dr. Schlinke knew or should have known that Dr. Badgett would rely on his opinion. Dr. Schlinke's negligence caused or contributed to Shelby' injuries and, thus, Dr. Schlinke is also liable for the injuries. ¶ 8 Dr. Schlinke's position is that in order to maintain a medical malpractice action against a physician, there must be a physician-patient relationship. He contends that under the facts no physician-patient relationship was formed. Thus, he had no duty to the plaintiffs and cannot be held liable for Shelby's injuries.