Opinion ID: 1903499
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony as to the Cause of Death

Text: ¶ 14. While Keller is qualified to testify concerning deviations in nursing care and resultant pain and suffering, she is not qualified to testify concerning the causal nexus between these deviations and Wheeless's death. ¶ 15. Richardson has cited other cases involving personal injuries where medical testimony was not required for proof of causation, including our decision in Sonford Prods. Corp. v. Freels, 495 So.2d 468 (Miss.1986), overruled on other grounds, Bickham v. Department of Mental Health, 592 So.2d 96, 98 (Miss.1991). In Sonford, we held that a toxicologist should have been able to render expert testimony that prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals caused injury and death to a workers' compensation claimant. We further held that there need not be expert testimony from a medical doctor to establish causation. 495 So.2d at 474. ¶ 16. While we do not require expert testimony by a medical doctor in order to establish the cause of death, the plaintiff must show that there is causation in fact. Trapp v. Cayson, 471 So.2d 375, 383 (Miss.1985). It is not enough to show that there were deviations from the requisite standard of care for nursing. Here, Richardson has failed to make a required showing that the nurses' negligent failure to abide by the standard of care in fact caused or contributed to Wheeless's death. ¶ 17. The cause of a stroke or, in Wheeless's case, a second stroke, is a complex medical issue. Wheeless's doctors discussed the cause of death in detail, and none were supportive of Richardson's theory of wrongful death. ¶ 18. The trial court ruled that Richardson's designated expert witness, Keller, was not qualified by education or experience to render relevant testimony with regard to the mechanism of Ms. Wheeless's death and/or causal connection between these alleged deviations and Ms. Wheeless's multiple severe medical problems, and therefore would not be allowed to render medical opinions as to the multiple medical diseases and/or conditions suffered by the Plaintiff during this lengthy hospitalization at Wesley or the cause of these conditions and/or the cause of her death. ¶ 19. We agree with the circuit court that Keller lacks the requisite education and experience as an expert to testify concerning the causal link between Wheeless's death and the alleged deviations in nursing care and further that her proffered testimony does not specify such a link. Therefore, the circuit court did not err in granting summary judgment for Wesley on the charge of causing her wrongful death.