Opinion ID: 2053179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the liability of riddle memorial hospital.

Text: Dr. Johnson, an employee of the hospital, assisted Dr. Clark in performing the hysterectomy. The evidence of improper pre-surgical identification of the ureter and the suturing thereof had equal application to Dr. Johnson. Indeed, the evidence was that he had done the suturing on the side where the kidney was lost. When we consider the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to Mr. & Mrs. Kearns, the verdict winners, it seems patently clear that there was sufficient evidence to show that Dr. Johnson was negligent and that the hospital was vicariously liable therefor. We reject the hospital's contention that it was unfairly surprised when, at trial, the plaintiffs attempted to premise hospital liability on the negligence of Dr. Johnson. The complaint had alleged negligent care by the agents, servants and employees of the hospital, and an answer to interrogatories included interns and residents. The fact that Dr. Johnson was a house doctor rather than a resident was an insignificant variance and not an adequate reason for excluding evidence of his negligence. His role was readily apparent from an examination of the hospital's records. It was also disclosed at the pre-trial conference. The trial court did not err in refusing to exclude his negligence as a basis for imputing negligence vicariously to the hospital. There was no surprise. [1] During cross-examination of Dr. Clark, counsel for the hospital read aloud various portions of the complaint which had been filed against Dr. Clark, apparently to show plaintiffs' averments that he believed Clark alone had been negligent. Plaintiffs' counsel thereafter read portions of the complaint filed against the hospital. When the hospital attempted to read its answer to these averments, an objection was sustained. The hospital contends that this was error. We disagree. The conduct of a trial is within the discretion of the trial judge, and his exercise of discretion will not be reversed in the absence of an abuse thereof. See: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. v. Johnson, 296 Pa.Super. 405, 433, 442 A.2d 1114, 1129 (1982); DeFulvio v. Holst, 239 Pa.Super. 66, 68, 362 A.2d 1098, 1099 (1976). The trial court specifically instructed the jurors about the nature of a complaint and cautioned them regarding its limited use and value. It was not an abuse of discretion to deny a request to read the answer to the jury. Similarly, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's refusal to read to the jury those points for charge submitted by the hospital which would have served only to remind the jury about pre-trial proceedings in which Dr. Clark had been alleged to be solely liable.