Christian v. Kettering Med. Ctr. , 2016 Ohio 1260 ( 2016 )

[Cite as Christian v. Kettering Med. Ctr., 2016-Ohio-1260.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ROSALYN CHRISTIAN :
:
Plaintiff-Appellant : C.A. CASE NO. 26717
:
v. : T.C. NO. 14CV5808
:
KETTERING MEDICAL CENTER, et : (Civil Appeal from
al. : Common Pleas Court)
:
Defendant-Appellee :
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OPINION
Rendered on the ___25th___ day of _____March______, 2016.
...........
MATTHEW T. JEWSON, Atty. Reg. No. 0063928, 812 E. National Rd., Vandalia, Ohio
45377
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellant
CHARLES F. SHANE, Atty. Reg. No. 0062494 and CHRISTINA M. FLANAGAN, Atty.
Reg. No. 0087943, 400 PNC Center, 6 N. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee
.............
FROELICH, J.
{¶ 1} Rosalyn Christian appeals from a judgment of the Montgomery County Court
of Common Pleas, which denied Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F) motion and granted summary
judgment to Kettering Medical Center on statute of limitations grounds. For the following
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reasons, the trial court’s judgment will be reversed and the case will be remanded for
further proceedings.
I. Background and Procedural History
{¶ 2} The evidence submitted in support of Kettering Medical Center’s motion for
summary judgment reveals the following facts.
{¶ 3} At approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 30, 2012, Christian went to the
emergency department at Kettering Medical Center for symptoms of hemorrhaging,1 an
unforeseen medical emergency. She was driven to the hospital by Holly Hall, a friend,
in Hall’s personal vehicle. Upon arriving at the hospital, Hall entered the emergency
department and requested help with getting Christian out of the vehicle. John Glenn, a
registered nurse who was working in that capacity in the emergency room when Christian
arrived, took a wheelchair to Hall’s vehicle and attempted to transfer Christian from the
vehicle to the wheelchair. The attempt was unsuccessful, for reasons that are in dispute,
and Christian ended up on the ground. Glenn called for assistance, and Christian was
lifted onto a gurney and transported into the emergency department.
{¶ 4} More than a year later, on October 9, 2014, Christian filed a complaint against
Kettering Medical Center and other unnamed parties, alleging that she had cautioned the
employee who came out to help her (whose name was then unknown) in response to
Hall’s request that he “may want additional help from someone” while assisting her out of
the vehicle and into a wheelchair. The employee allegedly rejected Christian’s advice,
stating that he was experienced. Christian alleged that, when the employee lifted her
1
The complaint indicated that Christian had a serious gastrointestinal bleed, but her
affidavit merely stated that she had “symptoms of hemorrhaging.” The affidavit did not
specify what her symptoms were.
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out of the vehicle, she “was dropped, fell to the ground and suffered serious bodily injury,”
including injuries to her Achilles tendon and foot. Christian’s complaint asserted two
claims: (1) negligence and (2) negligent supervision and training.
{¶ 5} Kettering Medical Center moved to dismiss the action, pursuant to Civ.R.
12(B)(6), claiming that Christian’s allegations amounted to a “medical claim” and that her
action was filed beyond the one-year statute of limitations. Christian opposed the
motion, and attached her own affidavit and an affidavit from Hall. The trial court denied
the motion (without referencing the affidavits), concluding that Christian’s claims, as pled,
were not “medical claims.” The court explained:
Even if the wheelchair was used to transfer Plaintiff from her vehicle into the
hospital where she could receive treatment for her medical condition, there
is no indication at this point that the use of the wheelchair was an inherent
part of a medical procedure or that it arose out of physician ordered
treatment, especially since Plaintiff had only just arrived at KMC when the
wheelchair transfer attempt was made and Plaintiff was injured. It is also
unclear whether a “certain amount” of professional expertise or professional
skill may have been required to transfer Plaintiff from the vehicle to the
wheelchair.
{¶ 6} In January 2015, the trial court issued a scheduling order with discovery
deadlines. Under that order, the deadline for filing motions for summary judgment was
August 4, 2015; discovery was required to be completed by October 5, 2015; and trial
was scheduled for November 2, 2015.
{¶ 7} On May 1, 2015, Kettering Medical Center filed a motion for summary
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judgment on the ground that there was no genuine issue of material fact and that
Christian’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations, as a matter of law. The
hospital supported its motion with Glenn’s affidavit and the same affidavits of Christian
and Hall that had previously been submitted by Christian. The trial court set a
submission date of May 25, 2015, for the summary judgment motion.
{¶ 8} On May 12, 2015, Christian filed a motion for a continuance, pursuant to
Civ.R. 56(F). Christian argued:
Discovery within this litigation is still in its early stages. Written discovery
has been exchanged, but no depositions have been taken. As such,
undersigned counsel has not had sufficient time to depose all necessary,
material witnesses. Plaintiff needs additional time to complete this
discovery prior to responding to Defendant’s Motion for summary judgment.
Several depositions will be necessary for Plaintiff’s counsel to ascertain all
of the facts and circumstances regarding the incident which gave rise to this
lawsuit. While Plaintiff’s deposition has been scheduled, counsel for
Plaintiff and Defendant will be working to schedule additional depositions
within the next 30-45 days. * * * Undersigned counsel has been diligent in
their pursuit of affidavits and discovery in this matter since being recently
retained. By granting Plaintiff’s request for a continuance to complete
further, necessary discovery the Court will in no way prejudice the
Defendants in this case.
Christian’s counsel submitted a supporting affidavit with similar statements.
{¶ 9} Kettering Medical Center opposed the Civ.R. 56(F) motion. The hospital
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asserted that a delay until August 4 (the discovery deadline) was an unreasonable delay.
It emphasized that Christian had not set forth any reasons why she could not present
facts to oppose summary judgment on the statute of limitations issue, noting that Christian
had already filed her own affidavit and an affidavit of a witness (Hall) in response to the
prior motion to dismiss on the same issue. Kettering Medical Center further stated that
Christian had not requested a time to depose Glenn.
{¶ 10} In reply, Christian stated that Kettering Medical Center had failed to provide
her with written discovery responses, and she did not know Glenn’s name until May 1,
when the hospital filed its summary judgment motion. Christian asserted that she “must
be given the opportunity to depose Mr. Glenn prior to filing any response.”
{¶ 11} The trial court overruled Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F) motion. The court
reasoned that the summary judgment motion related to “one very discrete issue,” i.e.,
whether the statute of limitations had expired prior to the filing of the complaint, and
Christian had not suggested what discovery was necessary in order for her to respond to
the summary judgment motion.
{¶ 12} A week later, Christian responded to the summary judgment motion,
arguing that her claims were not “medical claims,” as a matter of law. Christian did not
submit any additional evidence.
{¶ 13} The trial court granted Kettering Medical Center’s summary judgment
motion on May 28, 2015. The trial court reviewed the definition for a “medical claim”
under R.C. 2305.113(E)(3) and discussed Conkin v. CHS-Ohio Valley, Inc., 1st Dist.
Hamilton No. C-110660, 2012-Ohio-2816, which discussed what constituted “care” under
Ohio Supreme Court authority, particularly when the “care” involved the use of medical
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equipment. Conkin held that an employee did not provide “medical care” when
transferring the plaintiff’s ward from her wheelchair into a Hoyer lift so that the ward could
shower. The trial court also cited other cases which held, on the other hand, that
negligence in the transporting of a patient for medical diagnosis or treatment constituted
a medical claim. Applying those cases to the facts before it, the trial court concluded that
the evidence before it demonstrated that Christian had asserted a “medical claim.” It
reasoned:
In consideration of the evidence before the court, the court finds that
Plaintiff’s injury arose because she was being transported from the parking
lot into the hospital in the process of receiving medical diagnosis, care, or
treatment for her gastrointestinal bleeding, thereby creating a medical claim
subject to the one-year statute of limitations under R.C. 2305.113. The
court finds that the initial staff assistance of transferring Plaintiff out of a
vehicle in the parking lot into the wheelchair involved “the prevention or
alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness,” as it is undisputed that
Plaintiff was there to receive treatment for a medical condition. The court
also finds that the use of the wheelchair was necessary to transporting
Plaintiff into KMC from the vehicle, as it is undisputed that Plaintiff was
unable to independently walk into or otherwise enter the hospital. While
Plaintiff argued that the use of the wheelchair and the transfer of Plaintiff
from the vehicle to the wheelchair did not require a certain level of
professional skill or expertise, Plaintiff failed to present any evidence
supporting her argument. Conversely, Glenn asserted in his affidavit that
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a certain amount of professional expertise or skill was required to transfer
Plaintiff out of the vehicle and into the wheelchair. The court finds that,
based on the evidence, Plaintiff’s claim constitutes a “medical claim” subject
to the one-year statute of limitations under R.C. 2305.113. Accordingly,
because Plaintiff failed to file her claim until after the expiration of the one-
year statute of limitations, Plaintiff’s claim is time-barred.
{¶ 14} Christian appeals from the trial court’s judgment, raising two assignments
of error.
II. Civ.R. 56(F) Motion
{¶ 15} Christian’s first assignment of error states:
The trial court erred to the prejudice of Plaintiff-Appellant by denying
her Motion for Civil Rule 56(F) Continuance.
{¶ 16} Civ.R. 56(F) provides:
Should it appear from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion for
summary judgment that the party cannot for sufficient reasons stated
present by affidavit facts essential to justify the party’s opposition, the court
may refuse the application for judgment or may order a continuance to
permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had or may make such
other order as is just.
{¶ 17} We discussed this Rule in Doriott v. MVHE, Inc., 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
20040, 2004-Ohio-867, stating:
Pursuant to Civ.R. 7(A), the grounds for a Civ.R. 56(F) motion for a
continuance must be stated with particularity. In addition, Civ.R. 56(F)
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requires the motion to be supported by an affidavit containing “sufficient
reasons why (the nonmoving party) cannot present by affidavit facts
sufficient to justify its opposition” to the summary judgment motion. Id.“Mere allegations requesting a continuance or deferral of action for the
purpose of discovery are not sufficient reasons why a party cannot present
affidavits in opposition to the motion for summary judgment.” “There must
be a factual basis stated and reasons given within an affidavit why a party
cannot present facts essential to its opposition to the motion.”
A party who seeks a continuance for further discovery is not required
to specify what facts he hopes to discover, especially where the facts are in
the control of the party moving for summary judgment. However, the court
must be convinced that there is a likelihood of discovering some such facts.
Further, a claim that the party has not completed discovery is more likely to
be rejected by the court where the party has not shown some diligence in
attempting discovery.
(Citations omitted.) Doriott at ¶ 40-41; Gregory v. Towne Properties, Inc., 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 26410, 2015-Ohio-443, ¶ 15 (quoting Doriott).
{¶ 18} “The trial court’s determination of a Civ.R. 56(F) motion is a matter within
its sound discretion. * * * Accordingly, the trial court’s determination will not be reversed
absent an abuse of that discretion.” (Citation omitted.) Scaccia v. Dayton Newspapers,
Inc., 170 Ohio App.3d 471, 2007-Ohio-869, 867 N.E.2d 874, ¶ 13 (2d Dist.) An abuse of
discretion “implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.”
Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983), quoting State
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v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 157, 404 N.E.2d 144 (1980).
{¶ 19} Although we may not have reached the same conclusion, with the record
before it, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F)
motion for a continuance. Christian’s motion and supporting affidavit simply stated that
discovery had not been completed, that counsel requires additional time to depose
“numerous material witnesses,” that he cannot oppose the summary judgment motion
without additional time, and that counsel has pursued discovery diligently. The counsel
indicated that the deadlines for completing discovery and filing motions for summary
judgment had been set by the court, as agreed to by the parties.
{¶ 20} Nothing in Christian’s motion and supporting affidavit addressed why
additional time was required to address the limited issue raised in the summary judgment
motion, namely whether the complaint was filed within the statutory time limitation.
Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F) motion and affidavit did not identify any factual matter related to
the statute of limitations issue that needed to be explored. There was no suggestion that
she had not yet received any discovery responses from Kettering Medical Center; to the
contrary, the motion simply stated that “written discovery has been exchanged,” which
suggested that discovery responses had been provided. Christian did not inform the
court that Kettering Medical Center had not yet informed her of the identity and
qualifications of the employee who had assisted her in the parking lot.
{¶ 21} Christian’s reply memorandum, which was not supported by an affidavit,
raised that Kettering Medical Center had not yet provided discovery responses and that
Christian had learned of the employee’s name when the summary judgment motion was
filed. She stated, “Plaintiff must be given the opportunity to depose Mr. Glenn prior to
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filing any response.” However, Christian again did not articulate any factual basis why
she could not present facts essential to its opposition to the motion. And there is no
reason why Christian could not have presented an affidavit from her own expert witness
as to whether the transferring of an individual to a wheelchair under the known
circumstances constituted “medical care” or required medical expertise.
{¶ 22} The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F)
motion for a continuance. Christian’s first assignment of error is overruled.
III. Statute of Limitations
{¶ 23} Christian’s second assignment of error states:
The trial court committed prejudicial error when it determined that
Plaintiff-Appellant’s claims were “medical claims” thereby sustaining
Defendant-Appellee Kettering Medical Center’s Motion for Summary
Judgment.
{¶ 24} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is proper when (1) there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law, and (3) reasonable minds, after construing the evidence most strongly in
favor of the nonmoving party, can only conclude adversely to that party. Zivich v. Mentor
Soccer Club, Inc., 82 Ohio St.3d 367, 369-370, 696 N.E.2d 201 (1998). The moving party
carries the initial burden of affirmatively demonstrating that no genuine issue of material
fact remains to be litigated. Mitseff v. Wheeler, 38 Ohio St.3d 112, 115, 526 N.E.2d 798(1988). To this end, the movant must be able to point to evidentiary materials of the type
listed in Civ.R. 56(C) that a court is to consider in rendering summary judgment. Dresher
v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292-293, 662 N.E.2d 264 (1996).
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{¶ 25} Once the moving party satisfies its burden, the nonmoving party may not
rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the party’s pleadings. Dresher at 293; Civ.R.
56(E). Rather, the burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to respond, with affidavits
or as otherwise permitted by Civ.R. 56, setting forth specific facts that show that there is
a genuine issue of material fact for trial. Id. Throughout, the evidence must be
construed in favor of the nonmoving party. Id.{¶ 26} We review the trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment de
novo. Schroeder v. Henness, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2012 CA 18, 2013-Ohio-2767, ¶ 42.
De novo review means that this court uses the same standard that the trial court should
have used, and we examine the evidence, without deference to the trial court, to
determine whether, as a matter of law, no genuine issues exist for trial. Ward v. Bond,
2d Dist. Champaign No. 2015-CA-2, 2015-Ohio-4297, ¶ 8.
{¶ 27} The parties agree that the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim
based on ordinary negligence is two years. R.C. 2305.10. In contrast, a negligence
action based on a medical claim must be brought within one year. R.C. 2305.113.
{¶ 28} The term “medical claim” is defined as:
any claim that is asserted in any civil action against a physician, podiatrist,
hospital, home, or residential facility, against any employee or agent of a
physician, podiatrist, hospital, home, or residential facility, or against a
licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, advanced practice registered
nurse, * * * and that arises out of the medical diagnosis, care, or treatment
of any person.
(Emphasis added.) R.C. 2305.113(E)(3).
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{¶ 29} The terms “medical diagnosis” and “treatment” are terms of art, which relate
to the identification and alleviation of a physical or mental illness, disease, or defect.
Browning v. Burt, 66 Ohio St.3d 544, 557, 613 N.E.2d 993 (1993) (discussing a prior
analogous version of R.C. 2305.11). In the context of the statute of limitations for
“medical claims,” “care” has been defined as “the prevention or alleviation of a physical
or mental defect or illness.” Id. The Supreme Court of Ohio has cautioned that the term
“care” “should not be broadly interpreted when the context in which it is used is properly
understood.” Id.{¶ 30} “Medical claims” include, among other things, derivative claims for relief that
arise from the plan of care, medical diagnosis, or treatment of a person; and claims that
arise out of the plan of care, medical diagnosis, or treatment of any person and to which
either of the following applies:
(i) The claim results from acts or omissions in providing medical care.
(ii) The claim results from the hiring, training, supervision, retention, or
termination of caregivers providing medical diagnosis, care, or treatment.
R.C. 2305.113(E)(3)(a) and (b).
{¶ 31} On appeal, Christian claims that her allegations were not “medical claims,”
because the transfer from her car to the wheelchair was not an inherent part of a medical
procedure or physician-ordered treatment. She emphasizes that she had not yet been
seen or evaluated by any physician or medical staff, and Glenn did not know the reason
that she was at the hospital for treatment. Christian states that her lawsuit is similar to
Conkin, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110660, 2012-Ohio-2816, which the trial court
discussed, and is distinguishable from Rome v. Flower Mem. Hosp., 70 Ohio St.3d 14,
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635 N.E.2d 1239 (1994), which Conkin discusses.
{¶ 32} In Rome, the Ohio Supreme Court addressed two cases in which patients
were injured at hospitals. In one case, a student radiological intern failed to fasten a
footboard to the bottom of a radiology table, causing a patient to fall from the table when
it was tilted. In the second, a patient was injured when a component of his wheelchair
collapsed as he was being transported from physician-ordered physical therapy following
knee surgery. The Ohio Supreme Court held that a “medical claim” includes a hospital
employee’s negligent use of hospital equipment while caring for a patient which allegedly
results in an injury to the patient. Rome at syllabus.
{¶ 33} As to the case involving the wheelchair, the supreme court noted that the
physical therapy was ordered by the patient’s physician, that it was standard practice to
transport patients to and from physical therapy in a wheelchair, and that the patient was
assisted by a hospital employee who was required to use a certain amount of professional
skill in transporting the patient in a wheelchair. The supreme court concluded that “the
transport of [the patient] from physical therapy was ancillary to and an inherently
necessary part of his physical therapy treatment” and resulted from his “care or treatment”
at the hospital. Rome at 16-17.
{¶ 34} In Conkin, the First District held that a nursing home employee did not
provide “medical care” when transferring the plaintiff’s ward, a resident, from her
wheelchair into a Hoyer lift so that the ward could shower. The court reasoned that, even
if the Hoyer lift had been used for the alleviation of problems associated with the resident’s
range of motion, there was “no indication at this point in the proceedings that the use of
the Hoyer lift was an inherent part of a medical procedure or that it arose out of physician
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ordered treatment.” Id. at ¶ 11. The appellate court further noted that it was “unclear
whether a ‘certain amount’ of professional expertise or professional skill may have been
required to transfer [the resident] into the lift.” Id.
{¶ 35} As Conkin noted, its holding is consistent with cases from other appellate
districts. For example, courts have held that the plaintiff did not assert a “medical claim”
when the injury allegedly arose from (1) falling out of a wheelchair while on the way to
lunch at an assisted living facility, Eichenberger v. Woodlands Assisted Living Residence,
L.L.C., 2014-Ohio-5354, 25 N.E.3d 355 (10th Dist.); (2) falling while attempting to stand
from a wheelchair outside the hospital upon discharge, Hill v. Wadsworth-Rittman Area
Hosp., 185 Ohio App.3d 788, 2009-Ohio-5421, 925 N.E.2d 1012 (9th Dist.); (3) falling
while going from a hospital bed to the bathroom, Balascoe v. St. Elizabeth Hosp. Med.
Ctr., 110 Ohio App.3d 83, 673 N.E.2d 651 (7th Dist.1996); and (4) falling backwards while
washing hands in a bathroom while receiving rehabilitative care following surgery, McDill
v. Sunbridge Care Ents., Inc., 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 12CA8, 2013-Ohio-1618. In each
of these cases, the injury did not arise out of medical diagnosis, care, or treatment.
{¶ 36} Kettering Medical Center cites to other cases to support its position that
Christian had asserted a “medical claim.” In particular, the hospital relies on Godby v.
Med Central Health Sys., 5th Dist. Richland No. 04CA89, 2005-Ohio-2671, in which the
plaintiff alleged that she was injured after being improperly placed on a stretcher by a
security guard at the medical center. (The opinion provided no additional details.) The
Fifth District held that “the placement of appellant on the stretcher was ‘ancillary to and
an inherently necessary part of’ her diagnosis and treatment” and concluded that her
claim constituted a “medical claim.”
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{¶ 37} Godby relied on Long v. Warren Gen. Hosp., 121 Ohio App.3d 489, 700
N.E.2d 364 (11th Dist.1997), which Kettering Medical Center also cites. In Long, a
patient went to the hospital at the direction of his physician for a colonoscopy; the patient
was directed to an examination room, where he changed into a hospital gown. The
patient fell while attempting to walk (at the direction of an orderly) from the bed in the
examination room to a gurney, which would transport him to the colonoscopy test. The
Eleventh District held that transporting a patient to a colonoscopy test was “ancillary to
and an inherently necessary part of his diagnosis and treatment” and thus the plaintiff had
alleged a “medical claim.” It noted that the patient was at the hospital due to his
physician’s instructions, he fell while attempting to comply with the orderly’s instructions
to get on the gurney, and the “need to transport appellant arose out of the diagnostic
testing directed by appellant’s physician.” Long at 492.
{¶ 38} In the case before us, the evidence reflects that Christian came to Kettering
Medical Center in Hall’s private vehicle upon experiencing a self-described medical
emergency. Christian stated that she “was not expected at Kettering Medical Center and
did not present there for any scheduled treatment.” (Christian Aff. ¶ 4.) Christian did
not come to the hospital for any physician-ordered evaluation and/or treatment.
{¶ 39} Hall went inside the hospital and asked for assistance in getting Christian
out of the vehicle. (Hall Aff. ¶ 4.; see Glenn Aff. ¶ 5) Glenn came outside with a
wheelchair and attempted to transfer Christian to it. (Christian Aff.¶ 6; Hall Aff. ¶ 5; Glenn
Aff. ¶ 7, ¶ 9.) Christian states that she did not receive any medical care at the time of
her injury outside the hospital, that neither she nor Hall advised anyone of the nature of
her emergency or symptoms, and that the man who assisted her (Glenn) did not ask any
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questions about her medical condition or care. (Christian Aff. ¶ 7.) Hall likewise stated
that Glenn “did not interact with Ms. Christian in any way except to attempt to transfer her
from the vehicle to the wheelchair.” (Hall Aff. ¶ 6.) Hall further stated that Glenn did not
ask about Christian’s condition, symptoms, or reason for coming to the hospital, nor was
he informed of those facts. (Id.) Glenn’s affidavit does not state that he evaluated
Christian, obtained her medical history, or took any other actions (other than helping
Christian from the vehicle and arranging for her to be taken into the hospital) to begin her
treatment, diagnosis, and/or care related to her medical emergency.
{¶ 40} Glenn states in his affidavit that he exercised professional experience and
skill while conveying Christian from the vehicle to the wheelchair, and that Christian could
not have received medical treatment without being transported into the hospital. (Glenn
Aff. ¶ 8, ¶ 9.) He states the conclusion that transferring Christian from the car to the
wheelchair was thus “an inherently necessary part of the desired medical treatment.”
{¶ 41} In granting summary judgment to Kettering Medical Center, the trial court
apparently found significant Glenn’s statements that he been trained in lifting and
assisting ill and injured people from a seated position to a wheelchair and that he
exercised professional experience and skill while assisting Christian. The only difference
between the facts from which the trial court denied the Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion and granted
the summary judgment motion were those from Glenn’s affidavit that his actions required
a certain amount of professional expertise or skill. However, the need for skill in
performing an act begs the question of whether that act itself was an inherent part of
medical diagnosis, care, or treatment. In this case, we disagree with the trial court’s
apparent conclusion in the summary judgment decision, as opposed to the Civ.R.
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12(B)(6) decision, that it was.
{¶ 42} Glenn’s act of transferring Christian from her friend’s vehicle to a wheelchair
was too attenuated from the receipt of medical treatment, care, and diagnosis to
constitute a “medical claim.” It appears that Christian needed assistance to enter the
hospital, where she could then be evaluated, diagnosed, and treated for her medical
condition. But as noted by Justice Pfeifer in his dissent in Rome, “[a] claim sounding in
negligence does not become a medical claim simply because the injury arises in a
hospital.” Rome at 17 (Pfeifer, J., dissenting); see Browning, 66 Ohio St.3d at 557, 613
N.E.2d 993 (1993) (not all claims asserted against a hospital are “medical claims”).
{¶ 43} Here, there was nothing in Glenn’s actions that constituted medical
treatment or diagnosis, and the need to transport Christian from a private vehicle to a
wheelchair did not arise out of any diagnostic testing, treatment, or care directed by a
physician. Glenn’s transferring Christian from a private vehicle to a wheelchair was
simply for the purpose of allowing Christian to enter the hospital, where she could then
seek medical attention. Glenn attempted to transfer Christian from Hall’s vehicle to the
wheelchair at Hall’s request, and nothing in the record suggests that transporting a
prospective patient from a private vehicle to a wheelchair upon arrival at the emergency
department is Kettering Medical Center’s standard practice.
{¶ 44} Construing the evidence in the light most favorable to Christian, her
allegations do not constitute a “medical claim” within the meaning of R.C. 2305.113(E)(3).
Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to Kettering Medical
Center on statute of limitations grounds. Christian’s second assignment of error is
sustained.
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IV. Conclusion
{¶ 45} The trial court’s judgment will be reversed and the case remanded for
further proceedings.
.............
FAIN, J., concurring in the judgment:
{¶ 46} In sustaining the hospital’s motion for summary judgment, the trial court
noted that “Glenn asserted in his affidavit that a certain amount of professional experience
or skill was required to transfer Plaintiff out of the vehicle and into the wheelchair.”
Supra, ¶ 13. In view of the significance the trial court ascribed to this averment in Glenn’s
affidavit, I conclude that Christian should have been afforded a meaningful opportunity to
cross-examine Glenn on this point. Therefore, I am not so sure that Christian’s First
Assignment of Error should be overruled on its merits; perhaps the trial court did abuse
its discretion in overruling Christian’s Civ.R. 56(F) motion.
{¶ 47} But I find it unnecessary to decide this issue. Since I concur in sustaining
Christian’s Second Assignment of Error, for the reasons set forth in Part III of Judge
Froelich’s opinion, I regard the issue raised in Christian’s First Assignment of Error as
moot.
{¶ 48} I concur in the judgment.
.............
DONOVAN, P.J., dissenting:
{¶ 49} I dissent. It is undisputed that Christian was seeking medical
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treatment/care at Kettering Medical Center at the time the injury occurred. It is likewise
undisputed that the individual who assisted Christian is a registered nurse and employee
of Kettering Medical Center. Clearly, this nurse was acting in the scope of his
employment in providing assistance to Christian so that she could be cared for, that is the
act was inherently necessary to alleviate and identify illness.
{¶ 50} In some ways, it is analogous to the individual who arrives by ambulance
and is met/transported by medical personnel so that care/treatment/diagnosis can be
made. The fact that no doctors’ orders have been made yet would generally be the case
when a patient arrives at the emergency room for emergency care and cannot enter on
his or her own accord. However, this fact does not relieve the hospital and an R.N. from
their professional duty to exercise care in the service of individuals arriving at the
emergency room.
{¶ 51} In the Rome case, the Ohio Supreme Court utilized the terminology
“ancillary to and an inherently necessary part of the administration of the x-ray procedure”
in finding the plaintiff was making a medical claim. Id., 70 Ohio St.3d at 16. Granted, in
Rome it was an ordered test, but as I’ve previously articulated, emergency room initial
assistance and care is to alleviate and identify illness and would generally precede orders.
{¶ 52} Furthermore, as emphasized in Rome, a hospital employee is “required to
use a certain amount of professional skill in transporting the patient in the wheelchair.”
Id. at 16-17. It cannot be disputed that a wheelchair is a common piece of equipment
utilized at a hospital by its employees in facilitating/providing medical care/treatment.
Furthermore, the affidavit of the registered nurse clarifies that part of his training was
“lifting and assisting ill and injured persons from a seated position to a wheelchair.”
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(Affidavit, par. 2).
{¶ 53} Although the majority cites to the Conkin case, it is distinguishable in that
going to the bathroom is an ordinary, routine function, unlike seeking emergency room
care with the necessity of wheelchair transport. In Conkin, the injury arose because the
plaintiff had to use the bathroom, not because she was in the process of receiving care,
treatment or medical diagnosis. Id. at ¶ 11.
{¶ 54} Accordingly, I would affirm.
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Copies mailed to:
Matthew T. Jewson
Charles F. Shane
Christina M. Flanagan
Hon. Mary Katherine Huffman