Opinion ID: 1058706
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: existence of physician-patient relationship as question for jury

Text: Because our holding results in the case being remanded for further proceedings, we deem it advisable to briefly discuss the question of how the existence of a physician-patient relationship is to be decided at trial. As stated earlier in this opinion, the issue of whether the defendants owed Mrs. Kelley a duty of care is a question of law to be determined by the court. However, in some cases the trial court's determination as to whether a duty exists (a question of law) is dependent upon a question of fact that must be decided by the jury. As the Supreme Court of Michigan has stated (in a non-medical malpractice context): It is commonplace to say that a particular defendant owes a duty to a particular plaintiff, but such a statement, although not incorrect, merges two distinct analytical steps. It is for the court to determine, as a matter of law, what characteristics must be present for a relationship to give rise to a duty the breach of which may result in tort liability. It is for the jury to determine whether the facts in evidence establish the elements of that relationship. Thus, the jury decides the question of duty only in the sense that it determines whether the proofs establish the elements of a relationship which the court has already concluded give rise to a duty as a matter of law. Smith v. Allendale Mut. Ins. Co., 410 Mich. 685, 303 N.W.2d 702, 710 (1981). In that regard, it is generally held in medical malpractice cases that the question of whether a physician-patient relationship exists is a question of fact to be decided by the jury. See, e.g., Irvin, 31 P.3d at 940-41 (stating that whether a physician-patient relationship exists is generally a question of fact for the jury.); Bienz v. Central Suffolk Hosp., 163 A.D.2d 269, 557 N.Y.S.2d 139, 139-40 (1990) (stating, Whether the physician's giving of advice furnishes a sufficient basis upon which to conclude that an implied physician-patient relationship had arisen is ordinarily a question of fact for the jury.). We agree with the foregoing authorities that the existence of a physician-patient relationship is dependent upon the particular facts of the case, and that the issue therefore should be decided by the jury. As a result, on remand the trial court shall instruct the jury (in accordance with the principles discussed in this opinion) that the jury must determine from the facts in evidence whether such a relationship arose between Dr. Cage and Mrs. Kelley. The trial court also shall instruct the jury that, if the jury finds a physician-patient relationship did exist between Dr. Cage and Mrs. Kelley, Dr. Cage thereby owed a duty of care to her as a matter of law.