Opinion ID: 1802098
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the Howards, as Administrator and Licensee, May Be Held Liable for Medical Malpractice.

Text: ¶ 18. The Howards argue that they cannot be held liable for medical malpractice. The Plaintiffs respond that the Howards are barred from asserting this issue on appeal because the Howards neither made this allegation in their motion to dismiss, nor made the allegation in their petition for interlocutory appeal. We disagree. In the Howards' motion to dismiss, they asserted the Plaintiffs failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted pursuant to Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). We find this assertion is sufficient to preserve the issue for appeal. [4] ¶ 19. The Howards argue the Plaintiffs cannot maintain an action against them for medical malpractice, because as a administrator and a licensee, they are not medical providers. Instead, they are responsible for administration concerns and regulatory compliance. In Hall v. Hilbun, 466 So.2d 856 (Miss.1985), this Court stated [m]edical malpractice is legal fault by a physician or surgeon. It arises from the failure of a physician to provide the quality of care required by law. Hilbun, 466 So.2d at 866 (footnote admitted). See Cheeks v. Bio-Medical Applications, Inc., 908 So.2d 117, 120 (Miss.2005) (in order to present a claim of medical malpractice, a plaintiff must show, inter alia, an doctor-patient relationship and its attendant duty). We agree with the Howards that, in their official capacity as licensee and administrator, they are not medical care providers. Their responsibilities are to the nursing home and the licensing authorities as stated in this Court's analysis of the Howards' second issue. As such, we find that the Plaintiffs cannot, as a matter of law, sustain an action of medical malpractice against the Howards.