Court Opinion

ID: 3072618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 00:48:48.352699+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:26:05.372970
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-12-00357-CV

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                 TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                         TYLER, TEXAS

ETMC FIRST PHYSICIANS AND                              §      APPEAL FROM THE 2ND
KRISTIN AULT, D.O.,
APPELLANTS

V.

MELISSA VAN NESS, INDIVIDUALLY
AND AS NEXT FRIEND, AN HEIR AT
LAW, AND A SURVIVING PARENT OF                         §      JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
NICHOLAS VAN NESS, RONALD VAN
NESS, INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS NEXT
FRIEND OF, AN HEIR AT LAW, AND A
SURVIVING PARENT OF NICHOLAS
VAN NESS AND ESTATE OF
NICHOLAS VAN NESS,
APPELLEES                                              §      CHEROKEE COUNTY, TEXAS

                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION
       ETMC First Physicians and Kristin Ault, D.O. appeal the trial court’s order denying their
motion to dismiss the lawsuit against them filed by Melissa Van Ness, Individually and as Next
Friend, an Heir at Law, and a Surviving Parent of Nicholas Van Ness; Ronald Van Ness,
Individually, and as Next Friend of, an Heir at Law, and a Surviving Parent of Nicholas Van
Ness; and the Estate of Nicholas Van Ness. In their sole issue, ETMC and Ault contend that the
trial court abused its discretion when it overruled their motion to dismiss the Van Nesses’ suit for
failure to comply with the expert report requirements under Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil
Practice and Remedies Code.1 We reverse the order of the trial court, dismiss in part, and
remand in part.

       1
           See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.351 (West Supp. 2013).
                                                 BACKGROUND
        Melissa and Ronald Van Ness filed suit against ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault,
alleging that their negligence caused the death of their son Nicholas.2 The Van Nesses attempted
to comply with the expert report requirements by filing a report from Dr. Alvin Jaffee within the
applicable time period. ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault filed joint objections to the report
and a motion to dismiss, alleging that the report failed to adequately establish causation. The
trial court entered an order agreeing with ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault, but granted a
thirty day extension to the Van Nesses so that they could amend their report and cure its
deficiencies regarding causation. Dr. Jaffee amended his report.
        In the amended report, Dr. Jaffee stated that Nicholas Van Ness was born on November
13, 2009. Melissa and Ronald took Nicholas to see Dr. Ault on November 19, 2009, and
November 30, 2009. At those visits, Nicholas was well and there were no concerns regarding his
health. Melissa and Ronald took Nicholas to see Dr. Ault again on December 11, 2009, when he
was exactly four weeks old. Nicholas had a fever and nasal congestion. Dr. Jaffee noted that
Nicholas’s medical records did not disclose whether his temperature was taken rectally or orally,
or if any medications had been given to Nicholas prior to the visit. Melissa told Dr. Ault that
Nicholas had facial discoloration and that he had been coughing to the point that he could not
breathe. Dr. Jaffee also noted that the medical records do not show whether Dr. Ault performed
any medical tests during this visit. However, Dr. Jaffee did not discuss whether Dr. Ault created
a treatment plan or prescribed any medications to Nicholas during this visit.
        Dr. Jaffee stated in his report that even though there were no medical records or billing
records showing a further office visit, Melissa and Ronald stated that they returned to Dr. Ault’s
office on December 15, 2009, and reported that Nicholas’s symptoms had worsened. According
to Melissa and Ronald, Dr. Ault removed Nicholas from his car seat and physically examined
him, but did not listen to his breathing or perform any tests on him. No lab blood tests or X-rays
were obtained.
        Five days later on December 20, 2009, Nicholas was taken to East Texas Medical Center
in Jacksonville and treated for acute pneumonia, wheezing, and tachycardia. The following day,

        2
           The Van Nesses allege that ETMC First Physicians is vicariously liable to them solely because of its
employment relationship with Dr. Ault, and not because of any direct negligent acts on its part. The Van Nesses
also sued Justin McInnis, but later filed an amended petition dismissing McInnis from the lawsuit. He is not a party
to this appeal.

                                                         2
Nicholas was transferred to Children’s Medical Center Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Approximately one month later, on January 20, 2010, Nicholas died of pertussis respiratory
illness (whooping cough).
         Dr. Jaffee stated that Dr. Ault should have conducted a more thorough physical
examination, completed various lab tests, and started Nicholas on a preventative regimen of
antibiotics.3 Dr. Jaffee concludes that had she done so, Nicholas likely would not have died.
         ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault renewed their objections and motion to dismiss,
again contending that the report failed to adequately demonstrate causation. After a hearing, the
trial court overruled their objections and motion to dismiss. This appeal followed.

                                                EXPERT REPORT
         In their sole issue, ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault contend that the trial court
abused its discretion when it overruled their motion to dismiss the Van Nesses’ suit for failure to
comply with the expert report requirements on causation under Chapter 74.
Standard of Review
         We review a trial court’s Section 74.351 ruling for an abuse of discretion.                            Am.
Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877 (Tex. 2001). A trial court
abuses its discretion if it acts in an unreasonable or arbitrary manner, without reference to any
guiding rules or principles. Walker v. Gutierrez, 111 S.W.3d 56, 62 (Tex. 2003). A trial court
acts arbitrarily and unreasonably if it could have reached only one decision, but instead reached a
different one. See Teixeira v. Hall, 107 S.W.3d 805, 807 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2003, no pet.).
To that end, a trial court abuses its discretion when it fails to analyze or apply the law correctly.
In re Sw. Bell Tel. Co., 226 S.W.3d 400, 403 (Tex. 2007) (citing In re Kuntz, 124 S.W.3d 179,
181 (Tex. 2003)). We may not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court. Walker v.
Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839–40 (Tex. 1992) (orig. proceeding).
Applicable Law
         An ―expert report‖ is a written report that provides a fair summary of the expert’s
opinions regarding applicable standards of care, the manner in which the defendant failed to
meet those standards, and the causal relationship between the defendant’s failure and the

         3
          Dr. Jaffee also opined that Dr. Ault should have admitted Nicholas to a treatment facility, but the parties
do not discuss this conclusion in their briefs in any detail. In any event, it appears from the report that Dr. Jaffee
focused mostly on Dr. Ault’s failure to administer antibiotics as the reason for Nicholas’s death.

                                                          3
plaintiff’s injury, harm, or damages claimed. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.35l(r)(6)
(West Supp. 2013). In setting out the expert’s opinions on each of the required elements, the
report must provide enough information to fulfill two purposes if it is to constitute a good faith
effort. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 879. An objective good faith effort to comply with the statute is
made if the report (1) informs the defendant of the specific conduct that the plaintiff has called
into question and (2) allows the trial court to conclude that the claim has merit. Id. at 879. A
report that merely states the expert’s conclusions about the standard of care, breach, and
causation does not provide the necessary information to fulfill the dual purposes. Id. Rather, the
expert must explain the basis of his statements to link his conclusions to the facts. Bowie Mental
Hosp. v. Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 52 (Tex. 2002). In our review of an expert report, we are limited
to the report’s contents, contained within the four corners of the report, in determining whether
the report manifests a good faith effort to comply with the statutory definition of an expert
report. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.351(l ); Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 878.
       A causal relationship is established by proof that the negligent act or omission was a
substantial factor in bringing about the harm and that absent this act or omission, the harm would
not have occurred. Costello v. Christus Santa Rosa Health Care Corp., 141 S.W.3d 245, 249
(Tex. App.—San Antonio 2004, no pet.). Merely providing some insight into the plaintiff’s
claims does not adequately address causation. Wright, 79 S.W.3d at 53. Accordingly, causation
cannot be inferred; it must be clearly stated. Castillo v. August, 248 S.W.3d 874, 883 (Tex.
App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.). Indeed, we may not fill in gaps in a report by drawing inferences
or guessing what the expert meant or intended. Austin Heart, P.A. v. Webb, 228 S.W.3d 276,
279 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, no pet.).
       However, a plaintiff need not present evidence in the report as if it were actually
litigating the merits. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 879. The report can be informal, meaning that it
does not have to meet the same requirements as the evidence offered in a summary judgment
proceeding or at trial. Id.
Discussion
       Dr. Jaffee stated in his report that when Dr. Ault evaluated Nicholas Van Ness on
December 11, 2010, and diagnosed fever, she should have taken the following actions:

      Performed a full physical exam including vital signs, pulse oximetry, respiratory rate and CBC;
      Performed a complete septic work-up, including

                                                        4
              o   complete blood count
              o   blood culture
              o   urinalysis and urine culture
              o   spinal tap so that doctors can order an examination of the spinal fluid, including a spinal
                  fluid culture
              o   chest x-ray (although this is often left out if the child lacks respiratory symptoms)
              o   stool studies if the baby has diarrhea
              o   viral test or culture, such as an RSV prep or flu test
      Performed additional laboratory tests, such as culture, polymerase chain reaction [PCR], direct
       fluorescent antibody [DFA] and serology;
      Administered antibiotics prophylactically while the test[s] are pending; and/or
      Admitted Nicholas to a medical facility for further evaluation.

Dr. Jaffee went on to conclude that had Dr. Ault done so, ―[i]t is within a reasonable degree of
medical certainty and/or with 51% certainty that had Dr. Ault appropriately evaluated and
diagnosed him, Nicholas Van Ness would have received the appropriate dosage and treatment of
antibiotics in a timely manner, and he would not have expired on January 20, 2010.‖4
       However, Dr. Jaffee’s conclusion does not follow from the facts he described in his
report. In describing pertussis in relation to its effects on infants, Dr. Jaffee noted that
―[i]nfection in newborns is particularly severe. Pertussis is fatal in an estimated one in 100
infants under two months, and fatal in one in 200 infants aged two to twelve months.‖ Dr. Jaffee
stated that‖[r]eported fatalities from pertussis in infants have increased substantially over the past
20 years.‖ Dr. Jaffee went on to mention that ―[p]revention via vaccination is of primary
importance because treatment is of little benefit to the person affected.‖ Infants as young as
Nicholas will not be completely vaccinated. Consequently, Dr. Jaffee asserts ―[u]nvaccinated or
incompletely vaccinated infants younger than 12 months of age have the highest risk for severe
and life-threatening complications and death[, and in such a case,] prophylactic antibiotics . . .
are still frequently used in those who have been exposed and are at high risk of severe disease
(such as infants).‖ Dr. Jaffee stated that antibiotics may ―shorten the duration of infectiousness

       4
           Dr. Jaffee made other similar conclusions elsewhere in his report. For example, he stated as follows:

       None of the protocols outlined in this report were followed by Dr. Ault. In my opinion to a
       reasonable degree of medical certainty, had Dr. Ault performed any of these tests, it would have
       shown Bordetella pertussis at a treatable stage and but for the failure to treat Nicholas Van Ness as
       outlined above he would have had a 51% or more chance of survival.

                                                           5
and are thus recommended.‖ Even though early treatment is of little benefit to the person
affected, Dr. Jaffee contends in his report that

         [e]arly treatment of pertussis is very important. The earlier a person, especially an infant[,] starts
         treatment[,] the better. If treatment for pertussis is started early in the course of illness, during the
         first one to two weeks before coughing paroxysms occur, symptoms may be lessened. Clinicians
         should strongly consider treating prior to test results if clinical history is strongly suggestive or
         patient is at risk for severe or complicated disease, e.g. infants. If the patient is diagnosed late,
         antibiotics will not alter the course of the illness and, even without antibiotics, the patient should
         no longer be spreading pertussis.

Finally, Dr. Jaffee states that ―[a] reasonable guideline is to treat . . . infants aged less than [one] year
within six weeks of cough onset.‖
         Thus, a review of Dr. Jaffee’s report demonstrates that treatment is of little benefit to the person
affected, but given the danger of pertussis to infants, prophylactic antibiotics should be
administered to those infants exhibiting symptoms of the disease, even prior to obtaining the test
results. Antibiotics are recommended because they may shorten the duration of infectiousness
and limit its transmission to others. However, based on Dr. Jaffee’s report, if treatment is
administered early, at most, symptoms may be lessened, and that in the event of a late diagnosis,
antibiotics will not alter the course of the illness. He then stated that the reasonable course of
action would have been to treat infants such as Nicholas within six weeks of cough onset.
         At the earliest, Nicholas began coughing on December 1, 2010. He began treatment on
December 20, 2010, which was approximately three weeks from the earliest possible date he
began to cough; yet he died one month later on January 20, 2011. 5 This was well within the
reasonable guideline of treating the disease within six weeks of cough onset. Dr. Jaffee’s
conclusion that Nicholas would not have died had Dr. Ault began treatment on December 11,
2010, or December 15, 2010, does not follow from the aforementioned discussion of the facts in
his report.
         Rather, because treatment is of little benefit to the person affected, the facts lead to the
conclusion that had Dr. Ault provided antibiotics to Nicholas on either of those dates, at most
Nicholas’s symptoms may have lessened and his ability to spread the disease to others may have
diminished. The facts discussed in the report do not show that treatment would have altered the

         5
           Dr. Jaffee opined in his report that had Dr. Ault conducted the proper medical tests, she should have
administered antibiotics prophylactically, even prior to learning of the pertussis test results. Consequently, based on
Dr. Jaffee’s analysis, we treat Dr. Ault’s failure to provide antibiotics as the critical event, not her failure to conduct
the tests.

                                                            6
course of the disease, but lead to the conclusion that Nicholas was unfortunately one of those
infants who did not survive despite timely treatment.
        The Van Nesses also contend that Dr. Jaffee was not required to rule out every possible
cause, at least for purposes of satisfying the expert report requirement in a healthcare liability
claim. See, e.g., Hillery v. Kyle, 371 S.W.3d 482, 492 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no
pet.). While Dr. Jaffee may not have been required to rule out all possible causes, he must
establish in his report some causal connection between the defendants’ conduct and Nicholas’s
death. The statements concerning causation cannot be inferred, speculative, or conclusory. See
Wright, 79 S.W.3d at 53; Castillo, 248 S.W.3d at 883; Webb, 228 S.W.3d at 279. Moreover, the
conclusion must link to the facts. See Wright, 79 S.W.3d at 52. As we have discussed, Dr.
Jaffee’s report fails in this regard. Consequently, the Van Nesses failed to establish that Dr.
Ault’s failure to diagnose or provide prophylactic antibiotics caused Nicholas’s death.
        The trial court or a court of appeals may grant a thirty day extension in which to amend a
timely filed but deficient expert report. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.351(c);
Leland v. Brandal, 257 S.W.3d 204, 207–08 (Tex. 2008). However, the statute allows only a
single extension. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.351(c). Once an extension has been
granted by the trial court, the court of appeals is without authority to grant another extension.
See id. Because the trial court previously granted the Van Nesses an extension to amend their
expert report, we are without authority to grant another extension and must dismiss their suit.
        ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault’s sole issue is sustained.

                                                  DISPOSITION
        We have sustained ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault’s sole issue. Consequently, we
reverse the order of the trial court, render judgment that the Van Nesses’ claims against ETMC
First Physicians and Ault be dismissed with prejudice, and remand the cause for a determination
of the amount of attorney’s fees and costs to be awarded ETMC First Physicians and Dr. Ault.
See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 74.351(b)(1).
                                                                 BRIAN HOYLE
                                                                    Justice
Opinion delivered March 31, 2014.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., and Hoyle, J.
Griffith, J., not participating.
                                                  (PUBLISH)

                                                      7
                                  COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                          JUDGMENT

                                          MARCH 31, 2014

                                        NO. 12-12-00357-CV

            ETMC FIRST PHYSICIANS AND KRISTIN AULT, D.O.,
                              Appellants
                                 V.
 MELISSA VAN NESS, INDIVIDUALLYAND AS NEXT FRIEND, AN HEIR AT LAW,
           AND A SURVIVING PARENT OF NICHOLAS VAN NESS,
       RONALD VAN NESS, INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF,
   AN HEIR AT LAW, AND A SURVIVING PARENT OF NICHOLAS VAN NESS
                  AND ESTATE OF NICHOLAS VAN NESS,
                              Appellees

                                 Appeal from the 2nd District Court
                      of Cherokee County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 2011-12-0993)

                       THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and the briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, because it is the opinion of this court that there was error
in the order of the court below, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED by this court that
the order be reversed and judgment rendered that the Van Nesses’ claims against ETMC First
Physicians and Ault be dismissed with prejudice, the cause remanded to the trial court for a
determination of the amount of attorney’s fees and costs to be awarded ETMC First Physicians
and Dr. Ault, and that all costs of this appeal are hereby adjudged against the Appellees,
MELISSA VAN NESS, INDIVIDUALLYAND AS NEXT FRIEND, AN HEIR AT LAW,
AND A SURVIVING PARENT OF NICHOLAS VAN NESS, RONALD VAN NESS,
INDIVIDUALLY, AND AS NEXT FRIEND OF, AN HEIR AT LAW, AND A
SURVIVING PARENT OF NICHOLAS VAN NESS AND ESTATE OF NICHOLAS VAN
NESS, in accordance with the opinion of this court; and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
                       Brian Hoyle, Justice.
                       Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., and Hoyle, J.
                       Griffith, J., not participating.