Court Opinion

ID: 9535146
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:45:55.987181+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:10.806317
License: Public Domain

WINDES, Justice
(dissenting).
I cannot agree with the majority’s disposition of this case. Needless to say the nature of petitioner’s injuries are such that the extent thereof must be determined by expert medical evidence.
The petitioner sustained two accidents. The first occurred in June, 1954. In March, 1955, the doctors found his condition had become stationary with a 15 percent physical functional disability. In May, 1955, the commission made its so-called interim award to the effect that his condition was stationary and placed him on temporary partial disability pending deter-*219initiation of his earning capacity. Petitioner returned to work and on November 9, 1955, sustained a second unjury. Final processing of his first injury was suspended pending recovery from the second injury. The medical testimony and reports referred to in the majority opinion are the result of medical examinations to determine the effect of the second injury.
The medical advisory board consisting of six doctors after a thorough physical examination and as reflected in its report a consideration of various documents, reports and review of x-rays found that nothing indicated petitioner had more than the 15 percent physical functional disability that had been ascribed to the first injury and that his condition was stationary and no further treatments were indicated. This board also found no spinal fusion was indicated.
After the second accident there were x-rays on December 17, 1955. Dr. Burleigh testified he examined the report of Dr. Keely, the radiologist, and examined the x-rays and that he (Burleigh) wrote the commission relating what the x-rays revealed and requesting permission to perform a spinal fusion. The advisory board’s report reflects that it had this letter before it for consideration. In referring to this letter the advisory board’s report states:
“However, he continued to have back pain and therefore, on the 16th (sic) of December new x-rays were taken which showed a spondylolysis of L5 SI articulation on the left. There were still no findings of herniated intervertebral disc but with a two-year history of recurrent back pain and inability to work steadily, he believed that the instability of the lumbosacral joint due to the spondylolysis was causing the pain and requested permission to fuse the L5 SI articulation.”
The majority seem to believe that because the board did not indicate a personal examination of the December 17th x-rays nor the radiologist’s report thereof, its opinion is valueless as medical evidence. There is no dispute as to what the x-rays show and the board was given and had full knowledge of this showing for consideration in arriving at its opinion.
The effect of the court’s ruling is that the board has given an opinion which is valueless as evidence because it is unsupported by medical facts. The report consists of 14 single-spaced pages substantially all of which relate to medical facts. The report reflects a thorough personal physical examination and a consideration of everything the many doctors had discovered since petitioner was first injured. Being in possession of these facts it is difficult for me to comprehend how their evidence is without value.