Court Opinion

ID: 9863831
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 05:54:55.058992+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:04:21.118866
License: Public Domain

WILLIAMS, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent to the majority opinion.
In this case, plaintiff’s expert witness had already testified that she complained of severe pain on raising the right arm; that there was crepitation in her right shoulder; that the right arm was approximately one-half inch smaller in the forearm and the arm than on a previous occasion when he had examined her; that movements of her body elicited pain in the lower part of her back; that movements of her head in any direction, especially to the extreme, elicited pain in the neck; that she was approximately 25% disabled.
Thereafter, defendant’s counsel objected “to any further testimony” on the part of the doctor as to his findings without the introduction of X-rays.
From these facts and others recited in the majority opinion, I believe the jury would have been warranted in finding for the plaintiff in the amount of the verdict in this case without being required to rely heavily on the testimony of such expert that in turn was based upon knowledge apparently obtained from examination of his X-ray pictures.
Further, it is noted that the majority relies upon Anderson & Prichard v. Pyle, 159 Okl. 188, 14 P.2d 938; Bartlesville Zinc Co. v. Fisher, 60 Okl. 139, 159 P. 476; Patrick & Tillman v. Matkin, 154 Okl. 232, 7 P.2d 414; Simon v. Hendricks, Okl., 330 P.2d 186; and Southwestern Cotton Oil Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 167 Okl. 294, 29 P.2d 122.
In Patrick & Tillman v. Matkin, supra, we stated, in the second paragraph of the syllabus thereof:
“The evidence of an expert is proper, if not essential, in explanation or interpretation of X-ray photographs when properly identified and offered in evidence; but it is error to permit an expert to testify over proper objections as to what is shown by an X-ray photograph which is neither produced for inspection nor offered in evidence.” (Emphasis added.)
However, in the body of our opinion, the rule was stated somewhat differently:
“ * * * But we think the better rule is, when proper objection is made, to reject such evidence or require the party relying upon the X-ray photograph to produce and offer same in evidence, or show its loss, destruction, or other proper reason why it cannot be produced.
“In fairness to both sides, the X-ray photograph should be produced and appear in evidence with full opportunity to both sides to offer expert testimony in explanation or interpretation thereof.” 7 P.2d 25 p. 416.
In the first paragraph of the syllabus of Simon v. Hendricks, supra, we reiterated the rule as set forth in the second syllabus of Patrick & Tillman v. Matkin, supra, but stated in the body of the opinion that “(W)e are of the opinion that the admission of the medical testimony as to what the X-ray photos showed without the introduction of the photos was reversible error.” 330 P.2d at 188.
The other authorities cited in the majority opinion herein, i. e., Bartlesville Zinc Co. v. Fisher, supra, (wherein the question was whether the X-rays were admissible without proper identification); Southwestern Cotton Oil Co. v. State Industrial Commission, supra, (wherein the question was whether medical testimony based upon an X-ray was admissible in the absence of a showing that the X-ray was authentic); and Anderson & Prichard v. Pyle, supra, (wherein the question was whether a proper *149objection had been made to testimony based upon X-rays), all present different questions and are distinguishable from the issue presented in this appeal.
In my opinion, the correct rule relative to opinion evidence based upon X-rays is that stated in the above quoted syllabus of Patrick & Tillman v. Matkin, supra, and reiterated in the syllabus of Simon v. Hendricks, supra, i. e., “ * * * it is error to permit an expert to testify over proper objections as to what is shown by an X-ray photograph which is neither produced for inspection nor offered in evidence.” To restate this rule in positive language, it is my view that an expert may testify as to what is shown by an X-ray photograph if such X-ray is either produced for inspection or offered in evidence.
From the record in this case, it appears that defendant, by objecting to the testimony of Dr. C. on the basis that the X-rays of plaintiff were not formally introduced in evidence, was not attempting to question the authenticity of such X-rays. Further, there is no indication in the record that defendant wished to use such X-rays either for the purposes of the cross examination of Dr. C. or of a study by his own medical witness, although it is clear that such X-rays were tendered to him by both plaintiff’s counsel and the trial judge.
From the facts and circumstances present in the instant case, it is my view that a reversal of the verdict below on the sole ground that the X-rays used by plaintiff’s medical witness to formulate his opinion of the extent of her injuries were not formally introduced in evidence, is not warranted. X-ray medical photographs are capable of being interpreted, except in the rarest of cases, only by a trained physician or technician, and by themselves, such X-rays arc of no aid to a jury, a trial judge, or to an appellate court in their determination of whether a party is suffering from an alleged injury. If the defendant herein questioned the authenticity of the X-rays or their interpretation, he had ample opportunity to inspect and use such X-rays during the course of the trial.
For these reasons, in my opinion, the judgment of the court below based upon the jury verdict should be affirmed.
I dissent.