Opinion ID: 76805
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. Rabih Darouiche

Text: 57 Like Dr. Merinkangas, Dr. Darouiche concluded that McDowell would have suffered less injury had he been treated earlier. Also like Dr. Merinkangas, Dr. Dariouche's theory specifically related to the delay in surgery rather than the delay at the Jail. Dr. Darouiche based his theory on his past experience and training with spinal patients and on his observation that a more rapid progression of neurological damage indicated that earlier treatment would be successful. Dr. Darouiche frequently explained that his causation theory lacked empirical evidence or scientific support, and he acknowledged an absence of studies which assess surgery at the four, eight, twelve, eighteen, or twenty-four hour time intervals. Instead, and in accord with Dr. Merinkangas, Dr. Darouiche relied upon medical logic to suggest that early treatments effects an improved condition. 58 Dr. Darouiche also admitted that his logic theory lacked proof, and he could not quantify what McDowell's condition would have been had surgery occurred at an earlier point. Additionally, Dr. Darouiche made no attempt to refute, test, or falsify his theory, and did not identify whether the actions of one or many caused McDowell's injury. Instead, Dr. Darouiche pointed out the condition's rarity and that it lacked observable patients. Complicating this expert's theory further is the fact that it has never been published or subjected to peer review. Dr. Darouiche further testified that McDowell may very well have suffered the same injuries had he been treated within six hours. We agree with the district court that Dr. Darouiche's proffered testimony was more of a guess than a scientific theory. Daubert would permit an expert to draw conclusions from existing data, but in this case the expert drew conclusions where there was no existing data. See Joiner, 522 U.S. at 146, 118 S.Ct. 512. A mere guess that earlier treatment would either have improved McDowell's condition or rendered it the same simply fails the tests for expert opinion. Without a theory that meets the requirements of Rule 702, the district court properly excluded Dr. Darouiche's testimony.