Opinion ID: 1869666
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: limitations for medical negligence claims

Text: Article 4590i section 10.01 measures the limitations period for medical negligence claims from one of three dates: (1) the occurrence of the breach or tort, (2) the last date of the relevant course of treatment, or (3) the last date of the relevant hospitalization. Tex.Rev.Civ. Stat. art. 4590i, § 10.01; Husain v. Khatib, 964 S.W.2d 918, 919 (Tex.1998). A plaintiff may not choose the most favorable date that falls within section 10.01's three categories. Husain, 964 S.W.2d at 919. Rather, if the date the alleged tort occurred is ascertainable, limitations must begin on that date. Earle, 998 S.W.2d at 886. And if the date is ascertainable, further inquiry into the second and third categories is unnecessary. Husain, 964 S.W.2d at 919; Kimball v. Brothers, 741 S.W.2d 370, 372 (Tex.1987). However, there may be instances when the exact date the alleged tort occurred cannot be ascertained. The second category in section 10.01 contemplates such a situation wherein the patient's injury occurs during a course of treatment for a particular condition and the only readily ascertainable date is the last day of treatment. Kimball, 741 S.W.2d at 372. But before the last treatment date becomes relevant to determining when limitations begins, the plaintiff must establish a course of treatment for the alleged injury. Rowntree v. Hunsucker, 833 S.W.2d 103, 105 (Tex.1992). Moreover, if the defendant committed the alleged tort on an ascertainable date, whether the plaintiff established a course of treatment is immaterial because limitations begins to run on the ascertainable date. Husain, 964 S.W.2d at 919-20.