Court Opinion

ID: 9574265
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:03:46.248887+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:17.923410
License: Public Domain

Dolliver, J.
(dissenting) — This is apparently a case of first impression. As is usually true in such instances, the court is called upon to make a policy decision. The issue before us is whether, when the chance of survival is less than a probability, i.e., less than 50 percent, proof that the *643chance of survival — not the probability of survival — is reduced is sufficient to take the case to the jury.
The majority answer in the affirmative cites several cases in support of this view and adopts the reasoning of Hamil v. Bashline, 481 Pa. 256, 392 A.2d 1280 (1978). I favor the opposing view and believe the reasoning in Cooper v. Sisters of Charity, Inc., 27 Ohio St. 2d 242, 272 N.E.2d 97 (1971), also cited by the majority, is more persuasive. In discussing the rule to be adopted the Ohio Supreme Court stated:
A rule, which would permit a plaintiff to establish a jury question on the issue of proximate cause upon a showing of a "substantial possibility" of survival, in our judgment, suffers the same infirmity as a rule which would permit proof of a "chance of recovery" to be sufficient. While the substantial possibility concept appears to connote a weightier burden than the chance of recovery idea, both derogate well-established and valuable proximate cause considerations. Traditional proximate cause standards require that the trier of the facts, at a minimum, must be provided with evidence that a result was more likely than not to have been caused by an act, in the absence of any intervening cause.
Lesser standards of proof are understandably attractive in malpractice cases where physical well being, and life itself, are the subject of litigation. The strong intuitive sense of humanity tends to emotionally direct us toward a conclusion that in an action for wrongful death an injured person should be compensated for the loss of any chance for survival, regardless of its remoteness. However, we have trepidations that such a rule would be so loose that it would produce more injustice than justice. Even though there exists authority for a rule allowing recovery based upon proof of causation by evidence not meeting the standard of probability, we are not persuaded by their logic. . . .
We consider the better rule to be that in order to comport with the standard of proof of proximate cause, plaintiff in a malpractice case must prove that defendant's negligence, in probability, proximately caused the death.
(Citations omitted.) Cooper, at 251-52. This, it seems to *644me, is a better rule.
The majority states the variations from 39 percent to 25 percent in the decedent's chance for survival are sufficient evidence to "consider the possibility" that the failure of the physician to diagnose the illness in a timely manner was the "proximate cause of his death." This reasoning is flawed. Whether the chances were 25 percent or 39 percent decedent would have survived for 5 years, in both cases, it was more probable than not he would have died. Therefore, I cannot conclude that the missed diagnosis was the proximate cause of death when a timely diagnosis could not have made it more probable the decedent would have survived. "'It is legally and logically impossible for it to be probable that a fact exists, and at the same time probable that it does not exist.'" Cooper, at 253 (quoting Davis v. Guarnieri, 45 Ohio St. 470, 490, 15 N.E. 350 (1887)). It would be pure speculation, given these figures, for an expert, a jury, or anyone else to conclude the decedent would live more or less time within the 5-year period with or without the proper diagnosis.
Two further comments: Factually, many of the cases cited by the majority, including Hamil v. Bashline, do not support its position. In McBride v. United States, 462 F.2d 72 (9th Cir. 1972), the mortality rate was 15 percent for coronary patients admitted to the hospital and 30 to 35 percent for those outside the hospital. Thus, in any circumstance, the probability of survival was over 50 percent and was measurably greater in rather than out of the hospital. In Hamil v. Bashline, supra at 272 n.9, the court stated the testimony observed "a 75% chance of recovery had prompt treatment been administered". In Hicks v. United States, 368 F.2d 626 (4th Cir. 1966), the court observed, "Both of plaintiff's experts testified categorically that if operated on promptly, Mrs. Greitens would have survived, and this is nowhere contradicted by the government expert." Hicks, at 632.
In Wooldridge v. Woolett, 96 Wn.2d 659, 638 P.2d 566 (1981), we held the value of a decedent's shortened life *645expectancy was not recoverable as a separate item of damages in a survival action under RCW 4.20.046. Yet, in the present case the majority is willing to grant recovery, not where there is a direct cause for the shortened life expectancy, but on the more ephemeral basis of a statistical probability entitled "probability of survival".
While these observations may not go to the heart of the majority position, they do make it a bit ragged around the edges.
I believe the position articulated in Cooper v. Sisters of Charity, Inc., supra, is preferable and thus I dissent.
Reconsideration denied July 21, 1983.