Opinion ID: 1893290
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: weight and sufficiency

Text: The central factual dispute in the case at bar was whether or not Judy received Pitocin during labor. Medical records from the day of James' birth make reference to Pitocin at 11:15 a.m. The nurse who prepared the records, Janette Price, testified at trial. She stated that the 11:15 reference to Pitocin indicated that she had prepared the Pitocin for use in the delivery of the placenta. According to Price, if Pitocin had been administered during labor that fact would have been indicated in the medical records in some detail. She also testified that Dr. Hassell never ordered that Pitocin be given during labor. At trial, Dr. Hassell stated that he did not believe Judy had received Pitocin during labor, although he could not be one hundred percent certain. James contended that the medical records demonstrated that Judy had actually received Pitocin during labor at 11:15. In any event, the determination of this matter was a proper question for the jury, which certainly could have concluded that Pitocin was not administered during labor. See Johnson v. Black, 469 So.2d 88, 90 (Miss. 1985) (holding that Court has no authority to overturn findings supported by record). With respect to the standard of care and causation, there was also ample testimony supporting the jury's verdict. Drs. John Morrison and Charles Hollingshead both stated that they believed Judy had received quality medical care during labor. Interestingly, one of James' own experts, Dr. Quirk, even stated that he did not believe Dr. Hassell had performed below a level of minimal competency in the rendition of obstetrical care. Furthermore, Drs. Knight and Scher stated that James' physical condition was not the result of events which occurred on the day of his birth. Accordingly, there is no merit to James' claim that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. See Burnham v. Tabb, 508 So.2d 1072, 1077 (Miss. 1987) (holding that jury must determine value of testimony and credibility of witnesses; refusing to overturn verdict supported by record).