Court Opinion

ID: 7816788
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:39:18.748297+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:37.428320
License: Public Domain

Carleton Harris, Chief Justice (dissenting). I would reduce the amount of judgment to $25,000.00 for the reason that I do not feel that Linda Clark suffered permanent injury because of the error made by the surgeon. Dr. John H. Hundley testified that the major portion of disparagement in leg length could he corrected; i.e., there was no permanent damage. Dr. Joe F. Shuffield stated that he did not attribute any of the shortness as a result of the pinning, and did not think that the stapling of the left leg in any way produced a weakness. It was his opinion that Linda’s condition was due solely to the polio attack. Dr. Samuel B. Thompson likewise attributed her muscular weakness to poliomyelitis rather than the operation. Dr. Walter P. Blount of Milwaukeé, former President of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons,1 and present Vice-President of the International Orthopedic Society,2 testified that, in his opinion, the error committed had no ill effect on the limb, other than to produce scars. He also stated that the growth of the left thigh hone was temporarily accelerated. It was his opinion that Linda had not sustained any weakening of the left leg as a consequence of its having been stapled. Dr. Blount also testified that there was still time to correct the disability caused by the polio. The only doctor who disagreed at all with these findings was Dr. Bennett. However, even Dr. Bennett testified that he felt the condition which he found could be corrected: “I told her that we Avould probably have to wait until about summer before we would know. It looks like that approximately this summer that you can work on the good leg, then at that time correct the knock-knee on the bad leg. I think it Avill probably he this summer. It may be that she will wait a little longer. It depends on hoAv much she develops.” The testimony of the doctors referred to convinces me that even if the mistake made in operating on Linda’s left leg, instead of the right, caused any damage, there is (or was at the time of the trial) still plenty of time remaining in which to correct the condition. As stated, I would reduce the judgment to $25,000.00.   The stapling procedure used on the normal leg, and which was the purpose of the operation on Linda, is named after Dr. Blount, and is known as “Blount staple epiphyseal arrest.”    Dr. Blount has written several medical articles relating to this subject, and some have been translated into French and German. He has studied in clinics in Europe, South America, and Canada, in addition to numerous clinics in this country.