Court Opinion

ID: 9672336
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:52:56.578554+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:15.442322
License: Public Domain

M. J. Kelly, J.
(dissenting). It seems to me the issue of which act constitutes the malpractice — the injury or the improper storage of the catheter — is not the controlling issue here. Assuming arguendo that the improper storage of the catheter constitutes the malpractice, it is clear that plaintiff could have discovered it long before the taking of Dr. Gallagher’s deposition of January 15, 1974. Nearly five years had elapsed between the performing of the arteriogram and Dr. Gallagher’s deposition. From the time of filing suit in April of 1971 plaintiff had available the tools of discovery with which to learn the facts surrounding any misuse or abuse of the therapeutic device.
There was no allegation made by plaintiff on appeal that Dr. Gallagher had fraudulently concealed this information. Whether Dr. Gallagher’s actions amounted to, fraudulent concealment is a, question beyond the scope of this decision. I consider it doubtful that silence could be construed as fraudulent concealment under this definition:
"[M]ere silence on the part of defendant is not fraudulent concealment of the cause of action”. McNaughton v Rockford State Bank, 261 Mich 265, 268; 246 NW 84, 86 (1933).
*52"Fraudulent concealment means employment of artifice, planned to prevent inquiry or escape investigation, and mislead or hinder acquirement of the information disclosing a right of action. The acts relied on must be of an affirmative character and fraudulent.” DeHaan v Winter, 258 Mich 293; 241 NW 923 (1932).
Draws v Levin, 332 Mich 447; 52 NW2d 180 (1952), UAW v Wood, 337 Mich 8; 59 NW2d 60 (1953), DiGiovanni v Yacenick, 9 Mich App 590; 157 NW2d 785 (1968).
Furthermore, the Supreme Court held in UAW v Wood, supra, 337 Mich at 14, that "concealment by one other than the one sought to be charged is not within the prohibition of the statute.” In other words, even if Dr. Gallagher wrongfully concealed the information, his action will not serve to toll the statute of limitations against Harris-Birkhill & Associates and Dr. Cooper.
In Dyke v Richard, 390 Mich 739, 747; 213 NW2d 185 (1973), the Supreme Court set forth the applicable statute of limitations in malpractice cases:
"Accordingly we hold that an action based on malpractice by a state licensed person must be brought within two years of the time when such person discontinues treating or otherwise serving the plaintiff, or within two years of the time when the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the asserted malpractice, whichever is later.”
The rationale for this rule is that " * * * a cause of action accrues only when the plaintiff is put to inquiry relative to the treatment accorded him”. 390 Mich at 745; 213 NW2d 185.
In Dyke v Richard, supra, plaintiff had been *53involved in an automobile accident and was treated by defendant doctor at a hospital! Plaintiff alleged that defendant was negligent in failing to x-ray her pelvic area, and claimed that this negligence resulted in a failure to find that she had suffered a fractured acetabulum as a result of the accident. It was not until several months later that she learned of the existence of the injury.
In the case at bar, plaintiff was clearly put on inquiry as soon as the arteriogram was performed. There is no allegation that anyone attempted to conceal from him that the broken catheter was the cause of his injury. Certainly a doctor has a duty to inform his patient that he has injured him and the nature of the injury. But I do not believe we should go so far as to require an attending physician to first inform himself of the cause of failure of a therapeutic device and then convey that information to his patient.
This case is similar to Walerych v Isaac, 63 Mich App 478; 234 NW2d 573 (1975). There plaintiff’s decedent sought medical assistance at Pontiac General Hospital’s emergency room in January, 1970, complaining of headaches, dizziness and other problems. Several physicians saw him, the last being defendant, who diagnosed his condition as flu and sent him home. Later that month he died from an acute bacterial infection. In May, 1974, plaintiff brought an action against defendant, alleging malpractice in the diagnosis and treatment of decedent’s condition. Defendant’s motion for accelerated judgment, based on the malpractice statute of limitations, MCLA 600.5805(3); MSA 27A.5805(3), was granted. Plaintiff contended that two years had not elapsed since the discovery of defendant’s identity. Another panel of this Court rejected that contention, saying, "Discovery *54of the identity of an alleged tortfeasor is no more difficult when the-wrong alleged is malpractice.”
Here, plaintiff knew that the catheter broke during the operation. The question became — why? The answer to that question could have been brought to light by the use of proper investigative procedures before suit or discovery procedures after suit. I think that the cause of action accrued when the injury occurred and was instantly discovered.
I would affirm.