Opinion ID: 777261
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of Eighth Amendment standard to defendants

Text: 33 In the instant case, there are several issues of fact as to whether some defendants were deliberately indifferent to the decedent's serious medical needs. Each defendant is addressed below. A. Dr. Said 34 Although we find that plaintiff has failed to state a § 1983 claim as to all defendants, an analysis of this case under the grossly inadequate care standard raises a factual question regarding whether Dr. Said acted with a deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs. Dr. Said was aware of the numerous health risks confronting the decedent. He knew that the decedent was an obese diabetic suffering from hypertension and a heart condition with abnormal EKG readings. In addition, he was also aware that the decedent was on medication which placed him at an increased risk for heat stroke. Moreover, Dr. Said also knew that the weather on July 31, 1995 was extremely hot and humid. Despite this information and his knowledge of seven or eight prior non-fatal hyperthermia cases at NRPH, as well as the decedent's susceptibility to heat stroke, Dr. Said failed to follow NRPH's protocol and write an order restricting the decedent to stay within a cool area on the day of his collapse and subsequent demise. As a result of Dr. Said's failure to follow hospital protocol, the decedent went outdoors, over-exerted himself, and collapsed due to the extreme weather conditions. 35 Dr. Said's conduct regarding the decedent's serious medical needs is not, however, limited to his knowledge and inaction regarding the decedent's medical conditions. Despite being paged STAT by the medical staff at 1:30 p.m. and despite his knowledge of the decedent's numerous health risks, Dr. Said did not arrive at the hospital until approximately one hour after being paged by the NRPH staff, without providing any explanation of his whereabouts. Dr. Said's delayed response cost the decedent precious time, during which he could have received medical treatment which may have saved his life. Taken in the aggregate, Dr. Said's actions could constitute a finding of deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs because a jury could possibly decide that a reasonable doctor, in Dr. Said's position, would have concluded that a substantial risk of serious harm to the decedent existed. B. Dr. Lee 36 Additionally, an analysis of this case under the grossly inadequate care standard raises a factual question regarding whether Dr. Lee acted with a deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs. Like Dr. Said, Dr. Lee was also aware of the numerous health risks confronting the decedent, and knew that the decedent was an obese diabetic suffering from hypertension and a heart condition with abnormal EKG readings. Moreover, Dr. Lee was aware that the ward on which the decedent was located was unusually hot during the summer and knew that the heat became a health danger to patients. In addition, she was also aware that the decedent was on medication which placed him at an increased risk for heat stroke. Despite this information and the decedent's dehydration symptoms, Dr. Lee continued to prescribe increasing amounts of psychotropic drugs to the decedent, although she knew that the drugs caused drug-induced hyperthermia. 37 Furthermore, on July 31, 1995, Dr. Lee wanted all NRPH patients to stay indoors. Nevertheless, those patients with activity cards, including the decedent, were permitted to go outside that day. As a result of Dr. Lee's disregard of the decedent's susceptibility to extreme temperature conditions, the decedent was allowed to go outdoors, over-exert himself, and collapse as a result of his exposure to the abnormally hot environment. When Dr. Lee discovered the decedent stumbling down the hallway at 1:30 p.m., she immediately suspected hyperthermia but waited almost an hour for Dr. Said to arrive on the ward before providing the necessary medical treatment. As such, although she knew about the decedent's serious medical condition, Dr. Lee chose to wait for Dr. Said instead of immediately contacting another physician or the emergency team. Dr. Lee's delayed action also cost the decedent invaluable time, during which he could have received medical care which may have saved his life. Collectively, Dr. Lee's actions could constitute a finding of deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs because a jury could possibly decide that a reasonable doctor, in Dr. Lee's position, would have concluded that a substantial risk of serious harm to the decedent existed. C. Dr. Sadasivan 38 Similar to Drs. Said and Lee, an analysis of this case under the grossly inadequate care standard raises a factual question regarding whether Dr. Sadasivan acted with a deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs. Dr. Sadasivan was aware of the risk of the decedent's escape. Dr. Sadasivan knew that the decedent had wandered off from CAT, was apprehended and returned by security, and was subsequently put on escape alert. Despite his knowledge of the decedent's escape risk, Dr. Sadasivan discontinued the escape alert just four days later based upon the decedent's statement that he did not feel like escaping. As a result of Dr. Sadasivan's discontinuance of the escape alert, the decedent did not receive the close supervision that he needed, was permitted to leave the ward, and was exposed to the extreme weather conditions. Dr. Sadasivan's inconsiderate action deprived the decedent of the close supervision that he needed to ensure his own safety and well-being, which may have prevented the decedent from going outdoors in the extreme heat. Collectively, Dr. Sadasivan's actions could constitute a finding of deliberate indifference to the decedent's serious medical needs as a jury could possibly decide that a reasonable doctor, in Dr. Sadasivan's position, would have concluded that a substantial risk of serious harm to the decedent existed.