Court Opinion

ID: 7077939
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 08:37:35.551999+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:12:51.595837
License: Public Domain

DAVID, J.,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the denial of transfer because fact issues remain as to the existence of a physician-patient relationship between the on-call hospitalist and Ruth Giles. As Giles’ condition rapidly deteriorated in the hospital’s Post Anesthesia Care Unit, her Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon requested a consultation with the on-call hospitalist. (App. at 58, 56.) The hospitalist then entered Giles’ room, reviewed her chart, and spoke with her. (App. at 191.) After reviewing her chart, the hospitalist informed Giles that her primary care physician did not enter into a contract with the Hospitalist Group that would allow him to treat her. (App. at 56, 191.) Hospital protocol thus pre*711vented the hospitalist from admitting Giles into the hospital and overseeing her inpatient care. (App. at 234.) Though Giles’ ENT surgeon admitted her into the hospital later that day, Giles passed away from respiratory failure and pneumonia three days later. (App. at 195,113-14.)
In a medical malpractice action, a plaintiff must prove: (1) the doctor owed the patient a duty; (2) the doctor breached the duty; and (3) the breach proximately caused the patient’s injury or death. Bader v. Johnson, 732 N.E.2d 1212, 1217 (Ind.2000). Our Court of Appeals has held that “where a doctor does not treat, see, or in any way participate in the care or diagnosis of the plaintiff-patient ... a doctor-patient relationship will not be found to exist.” Miller v. Martig, 754 N.E.2d 41, 46 (Ind.Ct.App.2001). Here, an on-call hospitalist consulted with a patient in trauma and reviewed her medical chart. In this summary judgment proceeding, where the facts are construed in a light most favorable to Giles as the non-moving party, I cannot unequivocally say that there are no genuine issues of material fact that the hospitalist did not see Giles or participate in her care, if only to consult with her and move her care forward.
Because summary judgment is appropriate only where the designated evidence shows “that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law,” Indiana Trial Rule 56(C), and because fact issues remain as to the existence of a physician-patient relationship between the on-call hospitalist and Giles, I respectfully dissent from the denial of transfer in this case.
DICKSON, J„ joins.