Opinion ID: 1577849
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 245

Heading: Issues regarding negligence:

Text: [If you find that (claimant's or decedent's) [care] [treatment] was not being rendered under emergency circumstances,] the [next] issue for you to decide is whether (defendant) was negligent in (describe conduct in question); and, if so, whether that negligence was a legal cause of the [loss] [injury] [or] [damage] to (claimant, decedent or person for whose injury claim is made). Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care. Reasonable care on the part of a [hospital] [physician] is that level of care, skill and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by similar and reasonably careful [hospitals] [physicians]. Negligence on the part of a [hospital] [physician] is doing something that a reasonably careful [hospital] [physician] would not do under like circumstances or failing to do something that a reasonably careful [hospital] [physician] would do under like circumstances. If the greater weight of the evidence does not support this claim, then your verdict [on this claim] should be for (defendant). [However, if the greater weight of the evidence does support (claimant's) claim on these issues, then your verdict [on this claim] should be for (claimant) and against (defendant).] [However, if the greater weight of the evidence does support (claimant's) claim, then you should consider the defense(s) raised by (defendant).] (3). Issues regarding reckless disregard: [If you find that (claimant's or decedent's) [care] [treatment] was being rendered under emergency circumstances,] the [next] issue for you to decide is whether (defendant) acted with reckless disregard of the consequences in (describe conduct in question); and, if so, whether that reckless disregard was a legal cause of the [loss] [injury] [or] [damage] to (claimant, decedent or person for whose injury claim is made).] A [hospital] [physician] acts with reckless disregard for the consequences of [its] [his] [her] actions if [it] [he] [she] knew or should have known at the time [it] [he] [she] rendered emergency services that [its] [his] [her] conduct would likely result in injury or death, considering [the seriousness of the situation] [the lack of a prior patient-physician relationship] [time constraints due to other emergencies requiring [care] [treatment] at the same time] [the lack of time or ability to obtain appropriate medical consultation] [and] [the inability to obtain an appropriate medical history of the patient]. If emergency circumstances have not been established by the greater weight of the evidence but the greater weight of the evidence supports (claimant's) claim of negligence, then [your verdict [on this claim] should be for (claimant) and against (defendant) ] [you should consider the defense(s) raised by (defendant) ].