Opinion ID: 1789975
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: APPLICATION OF SECTION 6-5-482(b), CODE OF ALABAMA 1975

Text: The Alabama legislature enacted section 6-5-482 of the Code of Alabama during its 1975 general session. Paragraph (b) expressly provides that a minor could wait until his eighth birthday to commence a medical malpractice suit, if he was under four years of age when the complained-of negligence occurred. Appellant contends that the legislature surely intended to amend section 11-47-23 (notice of claims) so as to allow a minor the extra time given under the provisions of § 6-5-482(b) to file his notice of claim; in short, he argues that the medical malpractice statute of limitation and the notice of claims statute should be considered in pari materia. We disagree. The two statutes are unrelated and we feel that the pari materia doctrine has no bearing. 2A Sands, Statutes and Statutory Construction, § 51.01 et seq. (4th ed. 1973). What appellant would have us do is, in effect, graft the extended time period of the statute of limitations [§ 6-5-482(b)] onto the notice of claims statute, [§ 11-47-23]. We decline to do this. Based upon the foregoing reasons, we affirm the grant of summary judgment. AFFIRMED. TORBERT, C. J., and JONES, SHORES and BEATTY, JJ., concur.