Court Opinion

ID: 9707782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 02:21:06.172443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:38.097789
License: Public Domain

KELLY, Judge,
concurring:
While I agree with the majority’s disposition as to appellant’s first argument, I do so for different reasons. Both in the trial court and on appeal, appellants contend that the trial court’s instruction, as given, on the “two schools of thought” doctrine was incorrect because it did not accurately state the law in Pennsylvania. Appellant maintains the charge given did not limit the application of the “two schools of thought” doctrine to cases involving schools of thought followed by a considerable number of physicians. Remley v. Plummer, 79 Pa.Super. 117 (1922). Thus, appellant argues, instead of weighing the testimony of plaintiffs’ and defendants’ experts to determine whether Dr. Zakuto had met the required standard of care, the jury could well have believed they could not hold Dr. Zakuto negligent as long as he had produced “reasonable medical experts” to testify on his behalf. I agree.
Plaintiffs’ and defendants’ experts presented differing opinions concerning the standard of care required of Dr. Zakuto in this case. Consequently, the trial court charged the jury on the “two schools of thought” doctrine applicable in medical malpractice cases, stating as follows:
A physician may rightfully choose to practice his profession in accordance with a school of thought which differs in its concepts and procedures from another school of thought. Even though the school that he follows is a minority one, he will not be deemed to be negligent or *75practicing improperly so long as it is reputable and respected by reasonable medical experts.
(N.T. 7/_/86 at 681) (emphasis added).
The “two schools of thought” doctrine was first recognized in Remley v. Plummer, 79 Pa.Super. 117 (1922). In that case, the Superior Court stated:
[W]here competent medical authority is divided, a physician will not be held responsible if in the exercise of his judgment he followed the course of treatment advocated by a considerable number of his professional brethren in good standing in his community.
79 Pa.Super. at 122 (emphases added). In Duckworth v. Bennett, 320 Pa. 47, 181 A. 558 (1935), our Supreme Court reaffirmed the “two schools of thought” doctrine and defined the doctrine In exactly the same terms as this Court did in Remley. See Duckworth v. Bennett, supra, 320 Pa. at 51, 181 A. at 559.
The key language in Remley and Duckworth is the phrase “advocated by a considerable number of his professional brethren.” This language defines and limits the scope of the “two schools of thought” doctrine as it is applied in Pennsylvania. The doctrine applies only to a school of thought advocated by “a considerable number” of reputable, and respected physicians. See Brannan v. Lankenau Hospital, 490 Pa. 588, 417 A.2d 196 (1980).
Instantly, the trial court charged that Dr. Zakuto could not be deemed negligent so long as his conduct conformed to a school of thought which was “reputable and respected by reasonable medical experts.” As such, the charge as given was insufficient because it failed to include the language “advocated by a considerable number of Ms professional brethren” and thus did not accurately reflect the law in Pennsylvania as it relates to the “two schools of thought” doctrine. As a result, the jury may very well have found Dr. Zakuto acted appropriately because his conduct was condoned at trial by defendants’ expert witnesses rather than weighing all the testimony to determine whether Dr. Zakuto had met the required standard of care. Therefore, I would reverse and remand for a new trial.