Opinion ID: 1577849
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 244

Heading: Preliminary issue on application of statute:

Text: The first issue for you to decide on (claimant's) claim against (defendant) is whether (claimant) was being [cared for] [treated] under emergency circumstances. [Care] [treatment] is rendered under emergency circumstances when a [hospital] [physician] renders medical [care] [treatment] required by a sudden, unexpected situation or event that resulted in a serious medical condition demanding immediate medical attention, for which (claimant or decedent) initially entered the hospital through its [emergency room] [trauma center], before (claimant or decedent) was medically stabilized and capable of receiving [care] [treatment] as a nonemergency patient. If the greater weight of the evidence does not support that (claimant's or decedent's) [care] [treatment] was being rendered under emergency circumstances then you shall proceed to decide whether (defendant) was negligent in [his] [her] [its] [care] [treatment] of (claimant or decedent). However, if the greater weight of the evidence supports that (claimant's or decedent's) [care] [treatment] was being rendered under emergency circumstances, then you shall proceed to decide whether (defendant) acted in reckless disregard of the consequences in [his] [her] [its] [care] [treatment] of (claimant or decedent).