Opinion ID: 1664462
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court erred when it allowed the introduction of documentary evidence containing information based upon inadmissible hearsay statements.

Text: ¶ 12. The father argues that Dr. Matherne's reports concerning the daughter and son were inadmissible hearsay. Dr. Matherne recorded that the daughter told him her father put his finger in her buttocks and that the son stated the father explained sex to him using Playboy magazines. The court found the statements from the children recorded in the reports were admissible pursuant to the medical records exception to the hearsay rule, M.R.E. 803(4). ¶ 13. The medical records exception to the hearsay rule allows statements made for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment to be introduced to be into evidence: (4) Statements for Purposes of Medical Diagnosis or Treatment. Statements made for purposes of medical diagnosis or treatment and describing medical history, or past or present symptoms, pain, or sensations, or the inception or general character of cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or treatment, regardless of to whom the statements are made, or when the statements are made, if the court, in its discretion, affirmatively finds that the proffered statements were made under circumstances substantially indicating their trustworthiness. For purposes of this rule, the term medical refers to emotional and mental health as well as physical health. M.R.E. 803(4). ¶ 14. There is a two-part test for admitting hearsay statements: (1) the declarant's motive in making the statement must be consistent with purposes of promoting treatment; and, (2) the content of the statement must be such as is reasonably relied on by the physician. United States v. Renville, 779 F.2d 430, 436 (8th Cir.1985), cited with approval in Jones v. State, 606 So.2d 1051 (Miss.1992); Mitchell v. State, 539 So.2d 1366 (Miss.1989). ¶ 15. Dr. Matherne's opinion was the daughter had been abused and the son neglected, and the children should only have supervised contact with the father. The statements taken by the doctor from the daughter and the son were used by the doctor in his diagnosis and treatment of the children as directed by the trial court. This meets the requirements under the first prong of the Renville test. As a result of interviewing the children, the doctor recommended the daughter and son be removed from the custody of the father. The doctor reasonably relied on those statements in determining a diagnosis and recommending treatment for the daughter and son, and providing the trial court with an independent assessment, satisfying the second prong of the Renville test. The children and doctor testified concerning the statements and were subject to cross-examination. We find these statements relate to diagnosis and treatment and were properly admitted by the youth court pursuant to M.R.E. 803(4).