Opinion ID: 2601821
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Fieser

Text: Next, Nurse Deruy and Dr. Paoni raise a question about the interplay of Kansas law regarding foreseeability and comparative negligence. This question arises in the context of Nurse Deruy's and Dr. Paoni's argument that the Court of Appeals erred in relying on Fieser v. St. Francis Hospital & School of Nursing, Inc., 212 Kan. 35, 39, 510 P.2d 145 (1973), which they argue was legislatively overturned by the adoption of comparative negligence. The Court of Appeals relied on Fieser for the proposition that a tortfeasor who caused the initial injury is liable for any additional bodily harm resulting from normal efforts of third parties in rendering aid which the injury reasonably requires, irrespective of whether such acts are done in a proper or negligent manner. Puckett, slip op. at 10. The holding in Fieser reflects Restatement (Second) of Torts § 457 (1964), which states: If the negligent actor is liable for another's bodily injury, he is also subject to liability for any additional bodily harm resulting from normal efforts of third persons in rendering aid which the other's injury reasonably requires, irrespective of whether such acts are done in a proper or a negligent manner. The defendants argue this view cannot be reconciled with comparative negligence principles and, as they correctly observe, Fieser predates the 1974 adoption of Kansas' comparative negligence statute, K.S.A. 60-258a; L.1974, ch. 239 sec. 1. They further suggest that the more accurate statement under Kansas law, at least in comparative negligence cases, is reflected in PIK Civ. 4th 171.04, which reads: If plaintiff sustained personal injury as a result of defendant's negligence, then plaintiff may recover damages from defendant for any additional harm which resulted from the efforts of (other persons) (a treating physician) to render aid to plaintiff, so long as those efforts were not performed in a negligent manner. The PIK committee's Notes on Use indicate the pattern instruction was revised from the precomparative negligence version by removing any reference to negligent actions, making the original tortfeasor liable for damages by a subsequent treating physician only if the subsequent treatment was not negligent. The committee explained: Before the advent of comparative fault, a negligent party could be held liable for original injuries aggravated by subsequent medical treatment irrespective of whether that treatment was done in a proper manner. Fieser v. St. Francis Hospital & School of Nursing, Inc., 212 Kan. 35, 510 P.2d 145 (1973), and Keown v. Young, 129 Kan. 563, 283 P. 511 (1930). Under comparative fault, all parties to an occurrence must have their fault determined in one action. Brown v. Keill, 224 Kan. 195, 207, 580 P.2d 867 (1978). In Teepak, Inc. v. Learned, 237 Kan. 320, 699 P.2d 35 (1985), the Supreme Court applied the one-action rule to successive tortfeasors. Consequently it was necessary to limit this instruction to those situations wherein the additional harm was done in a non-negligent manner. PIK Civil 4th 171.04, Comment. See Dodge City Implement, Inc. v. Board of Barber County Comm'rs, 288 Kan. 619, 632-37, 205 P.3d 1265 (2009) (discussing one-action rule). We agree with the PIK committee's assessment that the adoption of comparative negligence requires a modification of the application of Restatement (Second) of Torts § 457 in cases where comparative negligence principles apply. But see State v. Mays, 277 Kan. 359, 378-81, 85 P.3d 1208 (2004) (although not citing Restatement § 457, applying same principles to hold it is not a defense to a charge of homicide that the alleged victim's death was contributed to or caused by negligence of attending physicians). As applied in a medical malpractice case, this means a negligent health care provider cannot be held solely liable for the negligent acts of subsequent treating health care providers whose negligence concurs in causing the injury. Rather, if the negligent actions of more than one health care provider combine to cause injury, the liability of the various health care providers must be allocated based on comparable fault. Any contrary language in Fieser, 212 Kan. 35, 510 P.2d 145, is disapproved and rejected.