Court Opinion

ID: 2925098
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-11 21:14:47.546697+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:58.197287
License: Public Domain

NUMBER 13-07-00651-CV

COURT OF APPEALS

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG

 

LAWRENCE R. GELMAN, M.D. AND
RAYMOND BARRIE WALKER, C.R.N.A., 	Appellants,

v.

RICARDO CUELLAR, INDIVIDUALLY AND
AS HUSBAND AND NEXT FRIEND OF
ESMELDA CUELLAR, 	Appellees.
 

On appeal from the 275th District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas.

 

O P I N I O N

Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Benavides
Opinion by Chief Justice Valdez

	This is a health care liability lawsuit governed by chapter 74 of the Texas Civil
Practice and Remedies Code.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 74.001-.507
(Vernon 2005).  Appellants, Lawrence Gelman, M.D. and Raymond Walker, bring this
interlocutory appeal from the trial court's denial of their motions to dismiss, which was
based on the alleged inadequacy of expert reports prepared by Hector Herrera, M.D., John
Meyer, M.D., and Rikina Granger.  The health care liability claims and expert reports were
filed by appellee, Ricardo Cuellar, individually and as husband and next friend of Esmelda
Cuellar and their three minor children.  On appeal, Gelman and Walker contend that the
reports are inadequate because:  (1) Meyer and Granger are unqualified experts; and (2)
Herrera did not specify standards of care or corresponding breaches of the standard of
care as to each defendant, and does not provide proof of causation. (1)  We affirm.
I. Background
	On May 10, 2004, Esmelda Cuellar was admitted to Doctors Hospital at
Renaissance because of excessive vaginal bleeding.  Cuellar was administered general
anesthesia while Alejandro Tey, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist, performed a
hysteroscopy (examination of the uterine lining), dilation and curettage of the uterus, and
lower abdominal laparoscopy.  After the procedures, Cuellar remained unresponsive for
nineteen minutes from the effects of the anesthesia, but she eventually regained
consciousness.  Post-operative test results revealed uterine fibroid tumors, which required
surgery.
	On December 3, 2004, Tey preformed a total transvaginal hysterectomy while
Cuellar was under general anesthesia.  Gelman was the anesthesiologist during the
procedure, and he was assisted by Walker, a certified registered nurse anesthetist
("CRNA").  When the hysterectomy was preformed, Cuellar weighed two hundred and
seven pounds, stood four feet and eleven inches tall, and had a body mass index of 41.6;
therefore, she was classified as morbidly obese.  Moreover, Cuellar smoked about one
pack of cigarettes a day.  According to Tey's medical reports, the surgical procedure went
well, and Cuellar maintained steady blood pressure and pulse ratings throughout the
procedure.  After the procedure, Cuellar was transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit
(the "PACU"). 
	 While in the PACU, hospital staff noticed that Cuellar's blood sugar was high, and
the problem was treated with insulin.  Between 2:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., PACU nurses
recorded eleven instances of dyspnea and shallow breathing.  At 4:15 p.m., Melissa
Garcia, a PACU nurse, found that Cuellar had respiratory insufficiency and noted that
"patient placed on vent due to shallow breathing."  At 4:20 p.m., Cuellar began
experiencing seizures, which lasted throughout the afternoon and evening.  Later that day,
Cuellar was examined by Carlos Vela, M.D., an internal medicine specialist, and Angel
Gutierrez, M.D., a neurologist.  
	On December 4, 2004, a brain scan was performed, which revealed no intracranial
bleeding, infract, or mass effect.  The next day, Cuellar was transferred to McAllen Medical
Center.  She remained unresponsive throughout her hospital stay and was eventually sent
to a long-term care facility.  Vela's final diagnosis, as listed on the hospital's discharge
sheet, was ischemic hypoxic encephalopathy.
	On February 8, 2007, Ricardo Cuellar filed suit against Doctors Hospital at
Renaissance, Gelman, Walker, Garcia, and Tey alleging health care liability claims.  As
required by Chapter 74 of the civil practice and remedies code, Cuellar submitted expert
medical reports by Herrera, Meyer, and Granger.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann.
§ 74.351.  On June 20, 2007, Gelman and Walker each filed objections to the expert
reports and moved to dismiss Cuellar's petition.  Cuellar responded to the objections on
August 28, 2007.  On September 18, 2007, the trial court held a hearing and denied the
motions to dismiss.  Pursuant to section 51.014 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, Gelman and Walker filed this interlocutory appeal.    See id. § 51.014(a)(9).
II. Jurisdiction
	As a threshold matter, Cuellar argues that Gelman and Walker cannot bring an
interlocutory appeal from the trial court's denial of their motions to dismiss.  A person may
appeal from an interlocutory order issued pursuant to section 74.351 when the trial court: 
(1) denies the relief sought under section 74.351(b); or (2) grants the relief sought under
section 74.351(l).  See id. § 51.014(a)(9), (10) (Vernon Supp. 2007); Olgetree v. Matthews,
No. 06-0502, 2007 Tex. LEXIS 1028, at *8-10 (Tex. Nov. 30, 2007).  Cuellar argues that
appellants' interlocutory appeal would be proper only under section 51.014(a)(10), which
applies when an expert report is filed and the trial court grants the motion to dismiss on the
basis of an inadequate report.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(10). 
Since Cuellar filed his brief, the supreme court has held that a challenge to the sufficiency
of an expert report is a challenge pursuant to section 74.351(b) that no compliant report
has been served.  See Lewis v. Funderburk, No. 06-0518, 2008 Tex. LEXIS 312, at *8
(Tex. Apr. 11, 2008).  Therefore, we have jurisdiction to consider appellants' interlocutory
appeal.    See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 51.014(a)(9)
III. Standard of Review
	A plaintiff asserting a health care liability claim must submit an expert report to each
health care provider and defendant physician.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §
74.351(a).  A compliant expert report is defined as a written report providing a fair summary
of the expert's opinions regarding the standard of care, the manner in which the care
rendered by the health care provider failed to meet the standard of care, and the causal
relationship between that failure and the harm claimed.  Id. § 74.351(r)(6).  The trial court
shall grant a motion challenging the adequacy of an expert report only if it appears to the
court, after hearing, that the report does not represent an objective good faith effort to
comply with the definition of an expert report in subsection (r)(6).  Id. § 74.351(l). 
	We review a trial court's decision on a motion to dismiss under section 74.351 of the
civil practice and remedies code for abuse of discretion.  Estate of Regis ex rel.
McWashington v. Harris County Hosp. Dist., 208 S.W.3d 64, 67 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th
Dist.] 2006, no pet.).  To constitute a good faith effort, an expert's medical liability report
must establish the expert's qualifications, the applicable standard of care, how that
standard was breached by the particular actions of the defendant, and how the breach
caused the damages claimed by the plaintiff.  Am. Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v.
Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 878-79 (Tex. 2001).  Although an expert report need not marshal
and present all of the plaintiff's proof, a report that omits any of the elements required by
the statute does not constitute a good faith effort.  Id.
IV. Adequacy of Expert Report
A.	Qualifications of Meyer and Granger
	To provide a compliant report, the expert must establish that he or she is qualified
to do so.  Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 74.351(r)(5)(A).  An expert providing opinion
testimony regarding whether a health care provider departed from the accepted standards
of health care must satisfy the requirements set forth in section 74.402.  Id. §
74.351(r)(5)(B).  Section 74.402 provides:
(b) In a suit involving a health care liability claim against a health care
provider, a person may qualify as an expert witness on the issue of whether
the health care provider departed from accepted standards of care only if the
person:

	(1) is practicing health care in a field of practice that involves the
same type of care or treatment as that delivered by the defendant
health care provider, if the defendant health care provider is an
individual, at the time the testimony is given or was practicing that
type of health care at the time the claim arose;
 
	(2) has knowledge of accepted standards of care for health care
providers for the diagnosis, care, or treatment of the illness, injury, or
condition involved in the claim; and
 
	(3) is qualified on the basis of training or experience to offer an expert
opinion regarding those accepted standards of health care.

Id. § 74.402(b). 
	In their first subissue, Gelman and Walker contend that Granger and Meyer were
not qualified to render opinions in this case.  Specifically, appellants contend that Granger
is not competent to provide an opinion on the care provided by Gelman because she is a
nurse and cannot render an opinion as to a physician.  Cuellar notes that Granger's report
addresses only the quality of care provided by Garcia, a nurse, and that because Garcia
is not a party to the instant appeal, Granger's qualifications are not at issue.  We agree,
and we find appellants' objections to Granger's report meritless.  See Tex. Civ. Prac. &
Rem. Code Ann. § 74.351(I) (Vernon 2005) ("[A] claimant may satisfy any requirement of
this section. . . by serving reports of separate experts regarding different physicians or
health care providers or regarding different issues arising from the conduct of a physician
or health care provider, such as issues of liability and causation.") (emphasis added).
	Next, appellants assail Meyer's qualifications, claiming that because he is a
neurologist, he cannot opine on the care provided by an anesthesiologist.  Not every
physician automatically qualifies as an expert in every area of medicine.  See Broders v.
Heise, 924 S.W.2d 148, 153 (Tex. 1996).  However, a physician need not be a practitioner
in the same specialty as the defendant to be a qualified expert in a particular case.  See
id. at 153-54; see also Blan v. Ali, 7 S.W.3d 741, 745 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.]
1999, no pet.). Under the Texas Rules of Evidence, the test is whether the offering party
has established that the expert has knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education
regarding the specific issue before the court.  Tex. R. Evid. 702; see also Roberts v.
Williamson, 111 S.W.3d 113, 121 (Tex. 2003).  The issue before us is whether Meyer has
sufficient knowledge, skill, experience, training or education to provide an opinion as to the
care provided by Gelman.
	Meyer received a bachelor of science degree from Trinity College, a doctorate of
medicine from McGill University, spent a year as an intern at New Haven Hospital, and
completed a four-year residency at Boston City Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard
Medical School.  Meyer specializes in neurology, and he has published several papers
concerning the effects of blood flow to the brain.  In his report, Meyer agreed with Vela's
diagnosis of anoxic encephalopathy, and he stated that it "occurred in the PACU resulting
from respiratory arrest or hypoventilation as a complication of [Cuellar's] morbid obesity." 
According to Meyer, Cuellar's prognosis is bleak.  Meyer's notes that "Cuellar is
permanently and totally disabled and incapacitated and will remain so for the rest of her
life[,] requiring 24 hour institutional care and supervision with expert respiratory and
neurological care including medications for her seizure control." 
	Ricardo Cuellar contends that Gelman did not adequately monitor Esmelda Cuellar's
breathing after her procedure and that this omission resulted in decreased blood flow to
Esmelda's brain and her current condition.  We conclude that Meyer's neurology
experience and academic work in blood flow to the brain qualifies him as an expert in this
case under the theories alleged.  See Tex. R. Evid. 702.  Appellants' first subissue is
overruled.
B.	Defining the Standard of Care, Breaches of the Standard of Care, and
Causation

	By their second subissue, appellants contend that Herrera's report is deficient
because it does not set forth the specific standards of care as to each appellant, the
alleged breaches, and causation.  "[T]o avoid dismissal, a plaintiff need not present
evidence in the report as if it were actually litigating the merits. The report can be informal
in that the information in the report does not have to meet the same requirements as the
evidence offered in a summary-judgment proceeding or at trial."  Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at
879.  Omission of any of the statutory elements prevents the report from being a good-faith
effort.  Id.  A report that merely states the expert's conclusions about the standard of care,
breach, and causation does not meet the statutory requirements.  Id.  A fair summary sets
forth what care was expected but was not given.  Id. at 880.  Identifying whether the
standard of care has been breached cannot be determined absent specific information
about what should have been done differently.  Id.  An expert's report must contain
information on the standard of care; it is not enough for a report to contain conclusory
insights about the plaintiff's claims.  See Bowie Mem'l Hosp. v. Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 52
(Tex. 2002).
	In his report, Herrera states:
In order to minimize the risk of respiratory insufficiency post-operatively and
meet the standard for post-operative care, a patient should be observed and
monitored by methods (i.e., oxymeter, EKG, blood pressure) taking into
account the patient's medical condition.  Attention should be given to
monitoring oxygenation, ventilation, circulation, and the level of
consciousness.  Furthermore, when an obese patient is intubated and
breathing spontaneously as was Mrs. Cuellar, the patient's respiratory efforts
must be directly observed continuously.  Their abdominal girth and chest size
depress all repiratory efforts.  The patient is not able to expand [her] chest
as a normal person can.  Furthermore, the drives given intra-operatively can
accumulate in adipose tissue and result in prolonged awakening following an
operation.  These types of patients quickly develop respiratory insufficiency. 
A competent anesthesiologist easily recognizes these problems and
develops post-operat[ive] plans in conjunction with the CRNA and PACU
nurse so that the patient does not develop respiratory insufficiency. 
Examples include limiting intravenous drugs which can depress the
respiratory system and accumulate in adipose tissue, place the patient at 30
degrees upright while supine in order to use gravity to aid in lung expansion,
chest ausculation and secretion clearance.

The report does not note whether any of the "post-operative plans" were developed or
implemented.  It further states:
Ray Walker CRNA, provided general anesthesia for the hysterectomy.  He
took Mrs. Cuellar to the PACU intubated, unresponsive, and breathing
spontaneously.  Mrs. Cuellar was brought from the operating room still
asleep from anesthetic.  And because of Mrs. Cuellar['s] status, it was Mr.
Walker's responsibility to insure she maintained adequate oxygenation post-operatively until she had awoken from the anesthetic.  The PACU nurse had
the duty to continuously monitor Mrs. Cuellar moment to moment while in the
PACU, assist in her care, and communicate immediately all abnormalities
with Dr. Gilman [sic] and Mr. Walker regarding Mrs. Cuellar's status. . . . Dr.
Gilman, [sic] as the anesthesiologist who evaluated Mrs. Cuellar pre-operatively and supervising the PACU, had the ultimate responsibility for
Mrs. Cuellar's care while in the PACU.  Dr. Gilman's [sic] responsibilities
included providing general medical supervision and coordination of Mrs.
Cuellar's care throughout the PACU stay.  He should have continuously
remained close by Mrs. Cuellar attending to the following issues:

	1. Post-operative obese patient.
	2. Patient in PACU intubated.
	3. Patient unresponsive, breathing spontaneously and not awake from
the anesthetic.
	4. Documented respiratory insufficiency by PACU nurse.

	. . . . 

Had Mrs. Cuellar been properly monitored and timely treated post-operatively
with aggressive respiratory care, she would not have developed respiratory
insufficiency.  And this respiratory insufficiency was the cause of her anoxic
brain damage.

	Herrera's report represents an objective, good-faith effort to comply with the
definition of an expert report provided in subsection (r)(6). Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
Ann. § 74.351(r)(6).  The report discusses the standard of care, breach, and causation with
sufficient specificity to inform Gelman and Walker of the conduct Ricardo Cuellar has
alleged and to provide a basis for the trial court to conclude that the claims have merit. 
See Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 875.  The report offers more than conclusory statements about
the standard of care, as each sets forth what procedures were expected but were not
performed.  See id. at 879, 880.  The report explains the standard of care regarding
patients presenting similar respiratory problems after surgery and links Gelman's and
Walker's alleged failure to monitor and respond to Cuellar's condition.  Considering what
was within the four corners of Herrera's report, we conclude that the averments and
opinions are sufficient.  Appellants' second subissue is overruled.
V. Conclusion
	The trial court's order is affirmed.
								_______________________
								ROGELIO VALDEZ
								Chief Justice

Opinion delivered and filed 
this the14th day of August, 2008.
1.  Appellants raise a single issue, which advances two subissues.  See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(e) ("The
statement of an issue or point will be treated as covering every subsidiary question that is fairly included.").