Court Opinion

ID: 9766902
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:02:10.787111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:27.047473
License: Public Domain

HIGGINS, Judge,
dissenting.
Rule 84.17 provides for a rehearing when the Court’s decision has overlooked or mis*443interpreted material matters of law or fact as shown by its opinion.
The decision in this case is by a 4 to 3 majority opinion, and when subjected to rehearing scrutiny it matters not what the dissenters may have said. The test is whether the decisional opinion shows that it has overlooked or misinterpreted material matters of law or fact as called to the attention of the Court in the motion for rehearing.
The first ground in Ms. Cruzan's Motion for Rehearing is stated persuasively and, in my opinion, qualifies this case for rehearing under Rule 84.17:
I. THIS COURT OVERLOOKED OR MISINTERPRETED THE FACTUAL BASIS FOR THE FINDINGS OF THE TRIAL COURT AS TO THE INTENT OF NANCY CRUZAN
This Court recognized in Cruzan v. Harmon, No. 70813 (Mo. banc, November 16,1988) (hereinafter “Slip op.”), that incompetent people have certain rights. The Court expressly found that an incompetent person retains her Constitutional “right to life.” Slip op. at 426. The Court also found that an incompetent person can determine her own medical treatment if sufficient evidence of that intent is present. Slip op. at 415-416 (the Court cited with approval the tests set out in In re Conroy, 98 N.J. 321, 486 A.2d 1209 (1985), as “arguably the only [tests] adopted by a court which adequately consider the state’s interest in life in the context of life-sustaining treatment ... ”); see also slip op. at 423, 424 and 425 (“no person can assume [the right to privacy] choice for an incompetent in the absence of ... clear and convincing, inherently reliable evidence absent here_”).
After approving such a test, however, this Court inexplicably failed to apply the test to the express factual findings of Nancy’s intent made by the trial court. Instead, the Court made its own “factual findings” of Nancy’s intent, and it limited that finding to review of essentially one conversation that Nancy had with her friend, Athena Comer. See slip op. at 411 (Court believes that “based on this conversation, the trial court concluded that ‘she would not wish to continue with nutrition and hydration ...’”) (emphasis added); slip op. at 424 (Nancy’s “ ‘informally expressed reactions to other people’s medical condition and treatment do not constitute’ clear proof of her intent ...”); slip op. at 424 (Court holds that “statements attributable to Nancy in this case are similarly unreliable for the purpose of determining her intent ... ”); see also slip op. at 425, 426.
The Court thereby made a material mistake of fact in its interpretation of the factual basis for the trial judge’s decision. The trial court in no way limited its finding on Nancy’s intentions to the single conversation Nancy had with her friend Athena Comer. Athena Comer’s testimony took only a half hour of a three day trial. The court below heard much, much more evidence relevant to Nancy’s intent. It heard evidence of other important conversations Nancy had about medical treatment. And it heard witness after witness testify about the kind of person Nancy was, how she felt, and what she believed, told as only those who loved her and whom she loved could know. Tr.Ct.Op. 4 (L.F. 254). An important part of this evidence was the testimony from several different witnesses that Nancy would absolutely not want to subject her family to the torture they now endure. See, e.g., (TR 544) (Nancy’s sister, Christy, testified about Nancy’s wishes when viewed against the effect of her plight on her parents: “that’s an even stronger reason because she loved them so much. She loved her family. Family was very important to Nancy. If she could talk to them, she would say, ‘Hey, just a minute, take care of each other ...’”).
After three full days of evidence, the trial judge concluded that Nancy would choose to forego the ongoing intrusion of the gastrostomy tube. The trial judge based this conclusion not only on the conversation with Athena, but on “other statements to family and friends” and *444the overwhelming evidence of “[h]er lifestyle.” Tr.Ct.Op. 4, 6 (L.F. 254, 256). Similarly, the independent guardian ad litem, appointed by the trial court to protect Nancy’s interest, concluded that the trial court had received clear and convincing evidence that Nancy would want the gastrostomy tube removed. GAL Post-Trial Brief at 32 (L.F. 234, 236).
This Court, sitting in appellate review, is bound under its rules to follow the facts as found by the trial court unless it finds that the decision of the trial court has “no substantial evidence to support it” or that the ruling “is against the weight of the evidence.” Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo. banc 1976). This Court made absolutely no such ruling here. It reversed the decision of the trial judge on the basis “that the trial court erroneously declared the law.” Slip op. at 410 (emphasis added). But the law as found by the trial court and the Supreme Court is exactly the same — “life-sustaining treatment may be withheld or withdrawn from an incompetent patient when it is clear that the particular patient would have refused the treatment under the circumstances involved.” In re Conroy, 486 A.2d at 1229; see also slip op. at 415, 424, 425, 426.
Nancy Cruzan is not required to retry the facts of her case at the appellate level. The trial court, after a full and fair hearing, found clear evidence of Nancy’s intent in the testimony of many different witnesses. The State put on no evidence to the contrary. This testimony is exactly the type of evidence that the court in In re Conroy found appropriate to examine “in determining what course of treatment the patient would have wished to pursue.” 486 A.2d at 1230. This Court misinterpreted the factual finding of the trial court — evidence of Nancy’s intent was not limited to one conversation with Athena Comer. This material mistake of fact led the Court to commit a material mistake of law in reversing the trial court decision without determination that it was not supported by substantial evidence. Nancy Cruzan is entitled to a rehearing on this point.
I agree and would grant a rehearing. I dissent, respectfully, from the order denying a rehearing.