Opinion ID: 1697057
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: issue for resolution

Text: [¶ 52.] The majority states that the issue for resolution is: Does the three-year wrongful death statute of limitations in SDCL 21-5-3 extend the two-year medical malpractice statute of limitations set forth in SDCL 15-2-14.1? As between the two statutes, this phraseology automatically determines that wrongful death actions based on medical malpractice fall within the two-year limitation. It puts those who rely on SDCL 21-5-3 on the defensive, requiring some showing that SDCL 21-5-3 is intended to affect (by extension) SDCL 15-2-14.1. I believe this to be an unfair way of setting forth the issue. [¶ 53.] I believe the issue for resolution is: In South Dakota if a wrongful death action is based on medical malpractice, does the two-year statute of limitation for medical malpractice apply or does the three-year statute of limitations for wrongful death apply? [¶ 54.] An annotation entitled, Medical Malpractice: Statute of Limitations in Wrongful Death Action Based on Medical Malpractice, found at 70 A.L.R.4th 535 sets forth the decisions from other jurisdictions. After review, some jurisdictions hold that the wrongful death statute applies and some hold that the medical malpractice statute applies. However, it is noteworthy that several of the jurisdictions which hold that a wrongful death based on medical malpractice is governed by the medical malpractice action, the term injury or death or its equivalent is specifically provided for in the statute. No such term is present in our medical malpractice statute. [¶ 55.] Examination of our statutes, the applicable rules of construction, and our legal precedent will also assist in resolving the issue. SDCL 21-5-3 provides that Every action for wrongful death shall be commenced within three years after the death of such deceased person. (emphasis supplied). This statute is plain, clear, and unambiguous. It provides no exception based on medical malpractice. [¶ 56.] SDCL 15-2-14.1 is the medical malpractice statute and does not specifically include wrongful death as a permissible cause of action thereunder. I believe if the legislature intended this they would have done so and made the appropriate exception in the wrongful death statute. The legislature had four separate opportunities to do so. [¶ 57.] Historically in South Dakota a cause of action growing out of wrongful death and a cause of action growing out of personal injury are two different subjects. The wrongful death statute (1909) created a new cause of action separate and distinct from, and not a continuation of, the common-law cause of action given a party for his own physical injury. Further, a cause of action for physical injury is personal and accrues on the occurrence of the wrong and during the lifetime of a person. A cause of action for wrongful death does not accrue until after the death and is in favor of the beneficiaries designated by statute. The rights under the wrongful death statute arise only by reason of death and the rights under the malpractice actions abate upon the death of a plaintiff. Simons v. Kidd, 73 S.D. 41, 38 N.W.2d 883 (1949); Pexa v. Clark, 85 S.D. 37, 176 N.W.2d 497 (S.D.1970). [¶ 58.] The majority applies the two-year medical malpractice statute of limitation from the date of the alleged malpractice, whether the action is for personal injury or death. All plaintiffs are allowed two years whether they live or die. Therefore, the majority decision allows the limitation time for a cause of action for wrongful death based on medical malpractice to start running before the person is dead. The majority allows an expiration before an accrual. This is contrary to our history and legal precedent. [¶ 59.] SDCL 15-2-14.1 is not now and never was intended to be a statute of repose. The majority has now held that the citizens of this state have no cause of action for medical malpractice after two years have passed from a specific event, which is unrelated to the date of an injury. The statute does not provide what the specific event is nor when the specific event occurs but two years thereafter there no longer exists a cause of action for medical malpractice no matter how flagrant the wrong nor how extensive the injury.