Court Opinion

ID: 3142467
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:56:27.316285+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:05:39.811953
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                        Appellate Court

       Estate of Kundert v. Illinois Valley Community Hospital, 2012 IL App (3d) 110007

Appellate Court            THE ESTATE OF KAMERYN L. KUNDERT, Deceased, by Dustin
Caption                    Kundert, Special Administrator, and DUSTIN KUNDERT and KRISTA
                           GRADY, Individually, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. ILLINOIS VALLEY
                           COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, its Agents, Servants and Employees,
                           Defendant-Appellee.

District & No.             Third District
                           Docket No. 3-11-0007

Filed                      January 12, 2012

Held                       The trial court properly dismissed plaintiffs’ medical malpractice action
(Note: This syllabus       against defendant hospital on behalf of their deceased child, who
constitutes no part of     succumbed to bacterial meningitis after the child was taken to defendant
the opinion of the court   hospital and was told that the hospital did not have the equipment or
but has been prepared      medical personnel to provide medical services to infants, since no
by the Reporter of         relationship existed between decedent, or his parents, and defendant
Decisions for the          sufficient to create a legal duty of care.
convenience of the
reader.)

Decision Under             Appeal from the Circuit Court of La Salle County, No. 09-L-54; the Hon.
Review                     James A. Lanuti, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Affirmed.
Counsel on                 Tracy A. Robb (argued) and Thomas W. Stewart, both of Curcio Law
Appeal                     Offices, of Chicago, for appellants.

                           Douglas A. Gift (argued), of Herbolsheimer, Lannon, Henson, Duncan &
                           Reagan, of La Salle, for appellee.

Panel                      PRESIDING JUSTICE SCHMIDT delivered the judgment of the court,
                           with opinion.
                           Justices Lytton and Wright concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                             OPINION

¶1          Plaintiffs, Dustin Kundert and Krista Grady, brought this medical malpractice suit on
        behalf of their deceased child, Kameryn Kundert, and his estate against defendant, Illinois
        Valley Community Hospital (Illinois Valley). The circuit court of La Salle County dismissed
        the action pursuant to section 2-615 of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure (the Code). 735
        ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2008). Plaintiffs appeal, claiming the court erred when holding, as a
        matter of law, no relationship existed between the decedent, or his parents, and defendant
        sufficient to create a legal duty of care. We affirm.

¶2                                              FACTS
¶3          Given the procedural history of this case, the facts we recite are derived from plaintiffs’
        second amended complaint.
¶4          On April 18, 2007, Krista Grady gave birth to Kameryn Kundert. Krista and Dustin
        Kundert are Kameryn’s parents. On April 27, 2007, April 29, 2007, May 11, 2007, and May
        22, 2007, Krista presented Kameryn to Illinois Valley for care pursuant to orders from Dr.
        Kara Fess.
¶5          On May 31, 2007, Kameryn exhibited signs and symptoms of a serious illness. Unable
        to reach Dr. Fess at Hygienic Institute Community Health Center, Krista called Illinois
        Valley at 7:29 p.m. that night. She informed the operator that she needed to speak to a
        medical professional for advice about Kameryn’s symptoms.
¶6          The operator transferred the call to an individual in the emergency room. Krista told this
        unknown individual that Dr. Fess, the child’s primary pediatrician, could not be reached.
        Krista then described Kameryn as a six-week-old newborn with a high temperature who was
        very fussy, unable to sleep and refusing to eat. The individual informed Krista that she was
        overreacting, which was typical for new mothers, to administer Tylenol and give Kameryn
        tepid baths. The individual was unsure of the proper dosage of Tylenol and, as such,

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       instructed Krista to contact a pharmacy. The individual noted that the symptoms described
       did not require immediate medical attention and to follow up with Dr. Fess in the morning.
       Finally, “the individual on the telephone advised [Krista] that Illinois Valley did not have the
       equipment or medical personnel to provide medical services to infants.” Krista called a
       pharmacy to determine the proper amount of Tylenol to give Kameryn.
¶7          Relying on the information received during the phone call, Krista postponed seeking
       medical treatment for Kameryn until Dr. Fess’s office opened at 8 a.m. on June 1, 2007.
       Following an examination in Dr. Fess’s office, Dr. Fess arranged for Kameryn to be
       transported via ambulance to Illinois Valley’s emergency room. Dr. Fess advised the
       emergency room personnel that a septic six-week-old would be arriving. Once there, medical
       personnel performed a lumbar puncture, took a chest X-ray and administered intravenous
       fluids and oxygen. Within an hour of arriving, Kameryn was transferred to St. Francis
       Medical Center to receive a “higher level of specialized medical treatment not available at
       Illinois Valley.” At St. Francis, Kameryn was treated for bacterial meningitis. He died on
       June 15, 2007.
¶8          Plaintiffs alleged that based on the medical advice given via telephone from Illinois
       Valley on May 31, 2007, “approximately 15 hours of valuable time was lost which resulted
       in a delay of medical treatment necessary to sustain life.” Plaintiffs’ second amended
       complaint identifies numerous allegedly negligent acts committed by Illinois Valley,
       including failing to recognize the signs and symptoms of meningitis, improperly diagnosing
       Kameryn and improperly refusing to instruct Krista. While the second amended complaint
       contains references to the Rights of Married Persons Act (750 ILCS 65/15 (West 2008)) and
       agency principles, all theories of recovery are based on the tort of negligence. Illinois Valley
       filed a section 2-615 (735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2008)) motion to dismiss this complaint,
       arguing, inter alia, that, as a matter of law, no relationship existed between decedent and
       defendant. Defendant asserted that without such a legal relationship, it owed decedent no
       duty. Therefore, defendant contended, it could not be negligent toward decedent. The trial
       court agreed and granted defendant’s motion to dismiss. The order granted plaintiffs leave
       to file a third amended complaint containing allegations “as to events occurring after the
       child was brought to the defendant emergency department on June 1, 2007.” Plaintiffs filed
       a motion to reconsider, which the trial court denied. In denying plaintiffs’ motion to
       reconsider, the trial court noted, “Plaintiff has chosen to stand on his second amended
       complaint. This order is final, and cause is dismissed with prejudice.” This appeal followed.

¶9                                         ANALYSIS
¶ 10       A motion brought pursuant to section 2-615 of the Code challenges the legal sufficiency
       of a complaint. 735 ILCS 5/2-615 (West 2008); Marshall v. Burger King Corp., 222 Ill. 2d
       422 (2006). As such, we review de novo an order granting a section 2-615 motion to dismiss,
       accepting all well-pleaded facts and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom as true. Tedrick
       v. Community Resource Center, Inc., 235 Ill. 2d 155 (2009). We must also construe the
       allegations contained within the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Id.
¶ 11       To be legally sufficient, a complaint for negligence must set out facts that establish the

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       existence of a duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, a breach of that duty and an injury
       proximately caused by that breach. Kirk v. Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center, 117
       Ill. 2d 507, 525 (1987); Teter v. Clemens, 112 Ill. 2d 252, 256 (1986). Plaintiffs acknowledge
       that, generally, the “determination of whether a duty exists–whether the defendant and the
       plaintiff stood in such a relationship to one another that the law imposed upon the defendant
       an obligation of reasonable conduct for the benefit of the plaintiff–is an issue of law to be
       determined by the court.” Kirk, 117 Ill. 2d at 525. Factors used to determine whether a duty
       exists include the reasonable foreseeability of injury, likelihood of injury, the magnitude of
       the burden of guarding against it and the consequences of placing that burden upon the
       defendant. Id. at 526. In the medical malpractice arena, a “physician’s duty arises only when
       a clear and direct physician-patient relationship has been established.” Siwa v. Koch, 388 Ill.
       App. 3d 444, 447 (2009), appeal denied, 232 Ill. 2d 597 (2009); see also Reynolds v. Decatur
       Memorial Hospital, 277 Ill. App. 3d 80 (1996).
¶ 12        Our supreme court discussed the physician-patient relationship in Kirk v. Michael Reese
       Hospital & Medical Center, 117 Ill. 2d 507 (1987). In Kirk, a plaintiff injured in an
       automobile accident brought suit against drug manufacturers, physicians and a hospital,
       alleging negligence and asserting strict product liability claims. Id. at 514. Plaintiff was
       injured while a passenger in a car driven by Daniel McCarthy when the car struck a tree. Id.
       McCarthy had been a psychiatric patient at the defendant hospital where he was treated by
       the defendant physicians. Id. Plaintiff alleged that defendants failed to adequately warn
       McCarthy that drugs prescribed would diminish his physical and mental abilities. Id. at 515.
       Plaintiff also sought relief based upon strict product liability theories against the drug
       manufacturers and hospital. Id. The Kirk court held that the “negligence count against the
       hospital failed to state a cause of action because it lacks the first essential element in a
       negligence claim: a recognized duty of care owed by the defendant to the particular plaintiff.
       The trial court properly dismissed this count.” Id. at 528. Similarly, the court found there “is
       no patient-doctor relationship here between the two defendant doctors and [the injured
       party].” Id. at 530.
¶ 13        Basing its opinion mainly on language derived from Kirk, the Reynolds v. Decatur
       Memorial Hospital, 277 Ill. App. 3d 80 (1996), court examined a case in which a minor
       patient presented at the emergency room with injuries sustained in a fall from jumping on a
       couch. Id. at 81. Dr. Balagna examined the minor, admitted him to the hospital then called
       Dr. Bonds, a pediatrician, requesting that Bonds examine the minor. Id. at 82. After
       examining the minor, Dr. Bonds noted that a “history of a two-foot fall with a normal
       2½-year-old child did not indicate to her the existence of a cervical cord injury from trauma.”
       Id.
¶ 14        Dr. Bonds then phoned Dr. Fulbright and advised Dr. Fulbright, a neurosurgeon, of the
       facts of the case. Id. Fulbright suggested a course of action for the minor, including
       performing a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. Id. Dr. Bonds performed the spinal tap and
       made an entry in the minor’s chart “to consult with Fulbright to see in early a.m.” (Internal
       quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 83. Fulbright never examined the minor, who ultimately was
       diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome resulting in quadriplegia. Id. The minor, by his
       mother and next friend, sued Fulbright and others for medical malpractice. The allegations

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       against Fulbright centered on the failure to examine the minor and his medical records before
       making a recommendation and failing to follow through after being consulted. Id. at 84. The
       trial court found Fulbright owed no duty to the minor and, therefore, granted Fulbright’s
       motion for summary judgment. Id. The Reynolds court affirmed, stating:
            “The determination of whether the parties stood in such a relationship to one another that
            the law would impose on defendant a duty of reasonable conduct for the benefit of the
            plaintiff is a question of law. That policy determination is based on consideration of the
            likelihood of injury, the magnitude of the burden of guarding against it, and the
            consequences of placing that burden on the defendant. [Citation.] A physician’s duty is
            limited to those situations in which a direct physician-patient relationship exists or there
            is a special relationship such as when an infant sues for prenatal injuries foreseeably
            caused by the physician’s negligent care of the mother prior to conception. [Citations.]
            In this case, there was no special relationship *** and there was no direct physician-
            patient relationship, and hence no duty owed to plaintiffs by Fulbright. This
            determination was properly made as a matter of law.
                The relationship of physician and patient is one of trust and confidence. It is a
            consensual relationship in which the patient knowingly seeks the physician’s assistance
            and the physician knowingly accepts the person as a patient.” Id. at 85.
¶ 15        While acknowledging that a relationship can exist “where other persons contact a
       physician on behalf of the patient,” the Reynolds court noted that Fulbright was not asked to
       provide a service for the child, conduct laboratory tests or view test results. Id. Further noting
       Fulbright was only contacted once and charged no fee, the Reynolds court held, “A doctor
       who gives an informal opinion at the request of a treating physician does not owe a duty of
       care to the patient whose case was discussed.” Id.
¶ 16        The court in Gathings v. Muscadin, 318 Ill. App. 3d 1091 (2001), reviewed a situation
       in which a 20-month-old infant was admitted to the hospital for fever, overall weakness and
       repeated vomiting. The treating physician attempted to obtain a consultation with defendant
       pediatrician, Dr. Jean-Wilson Muscadin. Id. at 1092. A nurse paged defendant, who
       eventually told the nurse he was out of town at a charity event, not “on call” and unavailable
       to accept the consultation. Id. at 1093. The following morning, the 20-month-old died. Id.
       Plaintiffs’ theory of negligence against Dr. Jean-Wilson Muscadin centered on his “failure
       to come to the hospital in response” to the treating physician’s request for consultation. Id.
       Following the close of evidence, the trial court directed a verdict for defendant and the
       appellate court affirmed. Id.
¶ 17        The Gathings court found it “undisputed” that defendant “declined the consultation” and,
       as such, the circuit court properly found no physician-patient relationship existed. Id. The
       court further noted defendant provided no service to decedent, conducted no laboratory tests
       and reviewed no test results. Id. at 1094. Noting the Bovara court found it was for the trier
       of fact to decide “whether a physician-patient relationship was formed between defendants
       and the decedent,” the Gathings court concluded that no similar question of fact existed since
       defendant “was not in any way involved with the medical decisions made” for decedent. Id.
       at 1095.

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¶ 18       The circuit court in Gillespie v. University of Chicago Hospitals, 387 Ill. App. 3d 540
       (2008), granted defendant doctor’s motion for a directed verdict following the close of
       plaintiffs’ case. Gillespie involves a 19-year-old patient who went to the emergency room
       complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain. Id. at 542. The emergency room
       physicians diagnosed the patient with musculoskeletal chest pain, instructed her to follow
       up with her treating physician or Dr. Vashi, the internist on call at the hospital, and
       discharged her the following day. Id. The hospital’s policy was to list the internist on call as
       the attending/admitting physician if a patient presents to the emergency room whose primary
       care physician is not on staff at the hospital. Id. As the patient’s primary care physician was
       not on staff at the hospital, Dr. Vashi was listed as the attending physician. Id. After the
       patient’s discharge, the results from her EKG, lung scan and laboratory tests were placed in
       Dr. Vashi’s “doctor’s box.” Id. He interpreted the EKG, authored a written report regarding
       the results and billed the patient’s insurer $69 for his services. Id.
¶ 19       Approximately six weeks later, the patient returned to the emergency room. Id. at 543.
       Eventually, she was transferred to the University of Chicago Hospitals in hope of receiving
       a heart transplant but died from cardiac failure before one could be performed. Id. It was
       ultimately determined that the patient suffered from a condition known as postpartum
       cardiomyopathy. Id. Reciting language from Reynolds and Kirk, the Gillespie court held no
       physician-patient relationship existed. Id. at 546. The court found it “significant that Dr.
       Vashi’s actions occurred after [the patient’s] discharge and in no way played a role in [the
       patient’s] treatment or care.” Id. The court noted that the “relationship of physician and
       patient is a consensual relationship in which the patient knowingly seeks the physician’s
       assistance and the physician knowingly accepts the person as a patient.” Id. at 544 (citing
       Reynolds, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 85).
¶ 20       The most recent Illinois case addressing the subject we have reviewed is Siwa v. Koch,
       388 Ill. App. 3d 444 (2009). Relying on language from Reynolds, the Siwa court similarly
       found no physician-patient relationship existed. Id. at 448. The Siwa plaintiff worked at a
       medical center that also employed defendant, Dr. Koch, a radiologist. Id. at 445-46. The
       medical center installed new software on a CT scanner it owned. Id. at 446. Plaintiff
       volunteered to undergo a scan as part of a testing and training program at the medical center.
       Id. Plaintiff’s scan, which Dr. Koch reviewed, revealed an abnormally high coronary artery
       calcification score, but Dr. Koch never completed a written report of the scan’s results. Id.
       Nevertheless, Dr. Koch spoke to the plaintiff twice about the findings and urged him to see
       a cardiologist. Id. Before seeing a cardiologist, the plaintiff suffered a fatal heart attack while
       playing basketball. Id. at 446-47. His estate sued Dr. Koch for medical malpractice. Id.
¶ 21       Again, relying on the aforementioned passages from Reynolds, the Siwa court found that
       “as a matter of law,” Dr. Koch “owed no duty of care to [the plaintiff].” Id. at 448. This was
       so even though Dr. Koch and the plaintiff twice discussed plaintiff’s condition and he
       advised the plaintiff to seek the advice of a specialist. Id. The Siwa court noted that, “A
       physician’s duty arises only when a clear and direct physician-patient relationship has been
       established.” Id. at 447. Citing to Reynolds, the court noted that to such a “relationship
       cannot be established where a patient does not seek that physician’s medical advice and the
       physician does not knowingly accept that person as a patient.” Id. at 447. The Siwa court

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       stressed that Dr. Koch “did not even know that [the plaintiff] was one of the volunteers who
       would participate in the test.” Id. While the court acknowledged that Dr. Koch gave the
       plaintiff advice, “twice urging him to see a cardiologist,” it held that no duty arose “from the
       giving of the advice.” Id. Although he interpreted the plaintiff’s tests and dispensed medical
       advice, the Siwa court held Dr. Koch never accepted the plaintiff as a patient. Id. at 447-48.
¶ 22        Returning to this case, we find the plaintiffs’ second amended complaint fails, as a matter
       of law, to state a cause of action.
¶ 23        To be clear, plaintiffs have not alleged, and make no argument to this court, that
       Kameryn’s previous trips to Illinois Valley created an on-going physician-patient relationship
       or any special relationship upon which a duty of care can be based. Plaintiffs’ reply brief
       makes clear that allegations regarding “earlier discharges *** serve only to illustrate the fact
       that plaintiffs, in addition to being members of the community served by the defendant
       hospital, had previous contact with the defendant hospital and that plaintiffs had developed
       a trust and confidence in the medical care and treatment rendered by the defendant hospital
       and its agents. Thus it was reasonable and likely that plaintiffs would turn to defendant
       hospital to service future medical needs, including the instance cited in the second amended
       complaint.” This all relates to issues not before us.
¶ 24        Plaintiffs argue that their complaint unequivocally establishes: (1) “a direct connection”
       between Krista and defendant; (2) the fact that Krista knowingly sought medical advice from
       defendant; (3) that defendant’s agent “consented to render medical advice,” which equated
       to “accept[ing] Kameryn as a patient”; and (4) Krista “relied on that advice.” We disagree
       with plaintiffs’ conclusion that the allegations in their complaint sufficiently show that
       defendant knowingly accepted Kameryn as a patient. Language used by the Siwa and
       Gillespie courts guides our finding.
¶ 25        Again, the Gillespie court stated that the “relationship of physician and patient is a
       consensual relationship in which the patient knowingly seeks the physician’s assistance and
       the physician knowingly accepts the person as a patient.” Gillespie, 387 Ill. App. 3d at 544
       (citing Reynolds, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 85). The Siwa court explained this concept by noting,
       “A physician’s duty arises only when a clear and direct physician-patient relationship has
       been established.” Siwa, 388 Ill. App. 3d at 447.
¶ 26        Plaintiffs’ second amended complaint specifically states that “the individual on the
       telephone advised [Krista] that Illinois Valley did not have the equipment or medical
       personnel to provide medical services to infants.” We fail to see how the actions of the
       person on phone, even while viewing all the allegations of the complaint in the light most
       favorable to the plaintiffs, evince a “knowing acceptance” of Kameryn as a patient. Plaintiffs
       acknowledge that the person who took the phone call informed Krista that Illinois Valley did
       not have the equipment or personnel to treat Kameryn that evening.
¶ 27        Plaintiff argues that the act of recommending Tylenol and tepid baths is constructive
       acceptance of the patient. We note, however, in Reynolds that Dr. Fulbright recommended
       a much more involved course of action, including performing a spinal tap, yet the Reynolds
       court found he did not knowingly accept the patient. Reynolds, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 85. The
       Reynolds court noted that Fulbright was never “asked to provide a service for [the patient],

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       conduct laboratory tests, or review test results. Fulbright did nothing more than answer an
       inquiry from a colleague” and render “an informal opinion.” Id. at 85.
¶ 28        Plaintiffs would have us hold that a physician-patient relationship is created anytime a
       physician dispenses advice. That is, the singular act of dispensing any quantum of advice
       equates to knowing or at least constructive acceptance of a patient. Case law does not support
       such a holding.
¶ 29        Again, Dr. Fulbright dispensed advice in Reynolds, which impacted that patient’s
       treatment, yet the court found no physician-patient relationship was created. Reynolds, 277
       Ill. App. 3d at 83. Dr. Vashi commented on the patient’s condition when he interpreted test
       results and authored written reports regarding the test results in Gillespie. Gillespie, 387 Ill.
       App. 3d at 542. Nevertheless, no physician-patient relationship was created. Id. at 546. Dr.
       Koch in Siwa (Siwa, 388 Ill. App. 3d at 446) twice dispensed medical advice directly to the
       patient. That act, however, was insufficient to create a physician-patient relationship. Id.
¶ 30        The unidentified person with whom Krista spoke was not asked to perform any tests,
       interpret any results or examine Kameryn. The circumstances surrounding the inquiry and
       response indicate that the person merely gave an informal opinion based upon rather
       common symptoms: those being a temperature, fussiness and refusal to eat or sleep.
¶ 31        The Reynolds court found an inquiry coupled with the informal opinion was insufficient
       to establish “a consensual relationship in which the patient knowingly seeks the physician’s
       assistance and the physician knowingly accepts the person as a patient.” Reynolds, 277 Ill.
       App. 3d at 85. The court noted the “consequence” of finding that such an inquiry and
       informal opinion sufficiently creates such a relationship “would have a chilling effect upon
       the practice of medicine. It would stifle communication, education and professional
       association, all to the detriment of the patient.” Id. at 86. We envision a similar adverse effect
       on the practice of medicine were we to find the inquiry and informal advice rendered in this
       matter created a relationship between patient and medical provider. It is, we think, not
       unreasonable to expect medical providers would attempt to limit their tort exposure. We
       would expect that the result of finding that this phone call created a physician-patient
       relationship would be that anytime a parent called and reported a child with a fever, the
       response would be the same: “Hang up and call 911 or drive your child to an emergency
       room.” We believe that this would benefit neither the providers nor consumers of medical
       care. We find public policy supports the trial court’s decision.
¶ 32        When describing the actions of the physician in Gathings, the court used the phrase, and
       noted he, “declined the consultation.” Gathings, 318 Ill. App. 3d at 1094. We can think of
       no other way to categorize the statement made to Krista that Illinois Valley “did not have the
       equipment or medical personnel to provide medical services to infants” than a refusal to
       provide services similar to the Gathings’ defendant’s declination of consultation. At a
       minimum, that allegation made by plaintiffs defeats any notion that Illinois Valley
       “knowingly accepted” Kameryn as a patient on the night in question. As such, we hold
       plaintiffs’ second amended complaint fails to properly allege the existence of a hospital-
       patient relationship and as such no duty existed as a matter of law. Therefore, the trial court
       did not err in granting defendant’s motion to dismiss.

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¶ 33       Finally, citing to Kirk, Reynolds and Adams v. Via Christi Regional Medical Center, 19
       P.3d 132 (Kan. 2001), plaintiffs assert that the “common thread amongst cases imposing a
       duty of care is whether the patient sought and received medical advice during the telephone
       call.” We disagree. The common thread running through these cases is whether a patient
       knowingly sought a physician’s service and the physician knowingly accepted the patient.
       As detailed above, language from Kirk, Reynolds and Gillespie makes clear that the singular
       act of dispensing advice does not equate to knowing acceptance of a patient. A review and
       analysis of Adams does not change our opinion that no hospital-patient relationship was
       created in this case.
¶ 34       In Adams, the 22-year-old patient, Nichelle, lived at home with her parents. Id. at 134.
       One night after hearing her daughter complain of stomach pains, the 22-year-old’s mother
       called the family’s treating physician, who had not examined the daughter for over four
       years. Id. The mother informed the doctor, Dr. Ohaebosim, that the daughter was five to eight
       weeks pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain. Id. Conflicting testimony existed as to
       what the doctor told the mother.
¶ 35       The doctor testified he told the mother that abdominal pain is not abnormal during
       pregnancy, but to take the daughter to the emergency room if it got any worse. Id. He further
       claimed to have told the mother to have the daughter see a doctor the next day. Id. The doctor
       stated that the mother did not express urgency or serious concern for the situation. Id.
¶ 36       The mother testified that the doctor never told her to take the daughter to the emergency
       room but, instead, told her to bring the daughter in to see him the next morning. Id. Both the
       doctor and mother admitted that the doctor did not ask any questions about the daughter’s
       condition during the phone call which took place at 9 p.m. Id.
¶ 37       At midnight that same night, the mother drove the daughter to the hospital. Id. While
       there, the daughter went into cardiac arrest and was taken to surgery. Id. at 135. The daughter
       died the next day and her parents, individually and as executors of her estate, sued the doctor,
       claiming she would have lived had she received medical attention at 9 p.m. instead of
       midnight. Id. The case proceeded to trial in which the jury returned a verdict in favor of the
       plaintiffs for $2 million.
¶ 38       The doctor appealed the verdict, claiming no physician-patient relationship existed and,
       therefore, as a matter of law, he owed no duty to the plaintiffs. Id. at 139. The Adams court
       noted, “A physician-patient relationship is consensual. Thus, where there is no ongoing
       physician-patient relationship, the physician’s express or implied consent to advise or treat
       the patient is required for the relationship to come into being. Stated otherwise, the doctor
       must take some affirmative action with regard to treatment of a patient in order for the
       relationship to be established.” Id. at 140.
¶ 39       While noting the question of whether a duty exists is a question of law, the Adams court
       found it proper to submit a question to the jury for it to determine whether the phone call
       from the mother to the doctor created a physician-patient relationship. Id. The jury found it
       did. The Adams court found that the doctor “did not decline to express his medical opinion
       about her condition. Thus, he cannot be said to have declined to treat her.” Id. at 141. As
       such, the Adams court found a physician-patient relationship existed sufficient to create a

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       duty of care. Id.
¶ 40        The Adams court specifically noted that Dr. Ohaebosim “cannot be said to have declined
       to treat [the patient].” Adams, 19 P.3d at 141. Even if we were bound by Adams, we see two
       major distinctions. First, as this matter comes to us following the granting of a motion to
       dismiss, there can be no question of fact; we must consider all well-pled facts as true. Tedrick
       v. Community Resource Center, Inc., 235 Ill. 2d 155 (2009). Secondly, and maybe most
       importantly for our analysis, that forces us to accept as true plaintiffs’ contention that the
       person at the hospital “advised [Krista] that Illinois Valley did not have the equipment or
       medical personnel to provide medical services to infants.” We see no way to interpret this
       language other than as declining to treat Kameryn.
¶ 41        Plaintiffs suggest a relationship is created any time an inquiry is made to a physician and
       advice is dispensed. An analysis of applicable case law does not support that contention.
       Kirk, Reynolds and their progeny make clear that the relevant inquiry is whether a patient
       knowingly seeks a physician’s services and the physician knowingly accepts the patient.

¶ 42                                   CONCLUSION
¶ 43       For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of La Salle County is
       affirmed.

¶ 44      Affirmed.

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