Opinion ID: 1630837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The State's Interest and Involvement in Dr. Harkey's Function

Text: ¶ 10. Clayton argues that the State has no interest in this case because the surgery allegedly fell below the standard of care. To the contrary, the State has a keen interest in employing faculty-physicians to teach medical students as part of the State's continuing efforts to provide medical care to its citizens. The Legislature mandated that a teaching hospital, known as University Hospital, be built, equipped and operated to serve the people of Mississippi.... Miss.Code Ann. §§ 37-115-25 & 31(2001). This Court has previously pointed out the State's interest in cases of this nature, stating: It is very important that faculty physicians supervise the progress of interns and residents. This provides the training necessary to ensure that Mississippi has a ready pool of competent physicians. Likewise, the resident must be able to practice medicine under the guidance of a learned physician in order to master his or her profession. The State has a strong interest in maintaining such a practical and educational environment, meeting the needs of both the physicians and the patients. Concerning the patient, UMC is fulfilling its operational purpose under Miss.Code Ann. § 37-115-31 (1996) by providing care to Washington, a Medicaid patient. Sullivan v. Washington, 768 So.2d at 885 (footnote omitted). ¶ 11. It is unfortunate that the wrong disc was removed during the surgery. Nevertheless, the performance of disc removal surgery by a professor is part and parcel of the training contemplated by the above-referenced statute. The fact that the procedure was performed unsatisfactorily does not negate this fact.