Munoz, F. v. The Children's Hospital ( 2021 )

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2021 PA Super 217FREDDY MUNOZ AND BEATRIZ : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MUNOZ, AS CO-ADMINISTRATORS : PENNSYLVANIA
OF THE ESTATE OF S.M., DECEASED :
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v. :
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THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF :
PHILADELPHIA :
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FREDDY MUNOZ :
:
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v. :
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THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF :
PHILADELPHIA :
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APPEAL OF: FREDDY MUNOZ AND :
BEATRIZ MUNOZ, AS CO- :
ADMINISTRATORS OF THE ESTATE :
OF S.M., DECEASED, AND FREDDY :
MUNOZ : No. 1798 EDA 2020
Appeal from the Judgment Entered September 14, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No: No. 170403453
BEFORE: BOWES, J., STABILE, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
OPINION BY STABILE, J.: FILED OCTOBER 27, 2021
Appellants, Freddy Munoz and Beatriz Munoz, as Co-Administrators of
the Estate of S.M., appeal from the September 14, 2020 order entered in the
Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, denying Appellants’ motion to
remove a nonsuit entered in favor of Appellee, The Children’s Hospital of
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Philadelphia (“CHOP”). The nonsuit was entered at the conclusion of
Appellants’ case-in-chief in their medical negligence action against CHOP and
several co-defendants.1 Appellants argue the trial court erred in granting—
and refusing to remove—a nonsuit because there was ample evidence to
demonstrate that CHOP undertook and provided healthcare services to S.M.
We agree and, therefore, reverse and remand for removal of the nonsuit and
a new trial.
For perspective, we note that much of the expert testimony presented
in Appellants’ case-in-chief addressed the care provided to S.M. by CHOP’s co-
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1 Pa.R.C.P. 230.1 (Compulsory Nonsuit at Trial) provides, in relevant part:
(c) In an action involving more than one defendant, the court may
not enter a nonsuit of any plaintiff prior to the close of the case of
all plaintiffs against all defendants. The nonsuit may be entered
in favor of
(1) all of the defendants, or
(2) any of the defendants who have moved for nonsuit if all of the
defendants stipulate on the record that no evidence will be
presented that would establish liability of the defendant who has
moved for the nonsuit.
Pa.R.C.P. 230.1(c). Our review has not uncovered any stipulation in
accordance with Rule 230.1(c)(2) that would authorize entry of a nonsuit in
favor of fewer than all defendants. “Otherwise, the proper procedure for the
moving defendant is to seek a directed verdict at the end of the trial.” Baird
v. Smiley, 169 A.3d 120, 125 (Pa. Super. 2017). While it appears the trial
court did not explain its seeming departure from the rule, neither did the
parties challenge the entry of a nonsuit in favor of CHOP only. Therefore,
there is no issue before us with respect to the appropriateness of the court’s
order entering a nonsuit in favor of a single defendant.
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defendants, including Einstein Medical Center-Elkins Park (“Einstein”) and
Stephen J. Parrillo, D.O. (“Dr. Parrillo”), the board-certified emergency
medicine physician who treated S.M. in the Einstein emergency department
(“the ED”) on June 8, 2015. Following entry of the nonsuit in favor of CHOP,
Appellants settled their claims against all remaining co-defendants.
Therefore, while some discussion of the care provided by the co-defendants is
addressed herein, our focus is on the role played by CHOP and its agents.
Our review of the record reveals that Freddy Munoz took his four-year-
old son, S.M., to the Einstein ED on June 7, 2015, for treatment of a fever.
S.M. had been treated at the same facility for pneumonia in January of 2015.
At the conclusion of the June 7 visit, S.M. was discharged with a diagnosis of
a herpes lesion on his lip, was given Ibuprofen, and was directed to follow up
with his pediatrician in two days.
S.M. returned to the ED the following day because he had developed
congestion and was having difficulty breathing. At 4:33 p.m., S.M. was seen
by Dr. Parrillo. Lab tests revealed, inter alia, that S.M.’s oxygen levels and
white blood count were extremely low and his heart rate was very high. Dr.
Parrillo first diagnosed S.M. with asthma, then with cancer. An x-ray revealed
pneumonia.
At 5:06 p.m., Dr. Parrillo called CHOP’s emergency services department
and informed CHOP of S.M.’s condition, which Dr. Parrillo described as an
emergency. Dr. Parrillo was connected with CHOP’s pediatric intensive care
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unit (“PICU”), which agreed to admit S.M. Dr. Parrillo then engaged in a
series of conversations with Matt Taylor, M.D. (“Dr. Taylor”), a pediatric
intensive care fellow in CHOP’s PICU.2 After Dr. Parrillo described S.M.’s
condition, Dr. Taylor suggested administration of saline and antibiotics. Dr.
Taylor asked if Dr. Parrillo believed S.M. could “crash” and require intubation.
Dr. Parrillo said he did not believe so but that he could intubate S.M. if
necessary.
At approximately 5:41 p.m., CHOP advised Dr. Parrillo that a transport
team was available and would arrive in approximately one hour.3 The CHOP
team included two pre-hospital nurses, Donna Galvin and Heather Maerten,
both of whom had specialized training in intubating children and running codes
under a physician’s direction. The team did not include an intensivist
physician, although CHOP’s transport policy did provide for an intensivist to
be part of the team for some patient transports, including “patient[s] with
unstable vital signs and potential for loss of vital signs on transport.” While
the CHOP team was en route to Einstein, S.M. was provided oxygen through
a mask.
The CHOP team arrived at Einstein at approximately 6:35 p.m. Nurse
Galvin received a report from the Einstein nursing staff while Nurse Maerten
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2 All told, there were 22 conversations between CHOP and Einstein personnel.
3 As a small facility, Einstein did not have a transport team of its own, and
relied upon CHOP for transport.
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went to the area in the ED where she located S.M. and his father and observed
that S.M. was “blue.” Nurse Galvin called CHOP, reported that S.M. was blue,
that his oxygen saturation was very low at 80%, and that she was going to
“get this kid intubated.” At approximately 6:45 p.m., Dr. Parrillo administered
a pre-intubation sedative and paralytic and, approximately seven minutes
later, attempted—unsuccessfully—to intubate S.M. His second intubation
attempt at 6:54 p.m. was similarly unsuccessful. The CHOP nurses were
nearby, but neither participated in the intubation attempts. Testimony at trial
revealed that Nurse Galvin had intubated many more pediatric patients than
Dr. Parrillo, perhaps 30 or so to his five.
Dr. Parrillo attempted to increase S.M.’s oxygen levels with an Ambu
bag and mask. By 6:56 p.m., S.M. had no detectable pulse and Einstein
providers began CPR. Dr. Parrillo accepted a King’s Airway device (an
alternative to intubation) from the CHOP team and inserted it at 6:59 p.m. as
CPR continued.
As the trial court explained:
At 7:03 p.m., S.M. regained his pulse. His oxygen level rose [to]
between 90% and 96%, and CPR was discontinued. Nurse Galvin
left the area and updated Dr. Taylor over the phone. During this
phone call, Dr. Taylor suggested to Nurse Galvin that: any
abnormalities to electrolytes be corrected; that S.M. receive
bicarbonate, calcium gluconate, and another dose of epinephrine,
and that a chest tube be considered. Nurse Galvin stood across
the hall during this conversation, and repeated portions of the
recommendations. [Appellants’] expert Dr. Paynter testified that
Dr. Taylor’s suggestions constituted “running the code.” Upon
cross examination however, Dr. Paynter elaborated that “if Nurse
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Galvin is there conveying Dr. Taylor’s suggestions and confirming,
that’s fine.”
Trial Court Opinion, 12/18/20, at 6 (footnotes and some alterations omitted).
Subsequently, S.M. lost his pulse again and CPR was resumed, this time
with Nurse Maerten taking turns with Einstein providers. At approximately
7:16 pm., after receiving Nurse Galvin’s update call, Dr. Taylor engaged in a
number of conversations with CHOP’s transport service and arranged to send
a second team to Einstein by ambulance, this time with an intensivist
physician. (Sending a team by helicopter was not an option due to weather
conditions.) The transport team would arrive in an hour. It was ultimately
determined that the team would not arrive in time to assist in S.M.’s care.
Therefore, a second team was not dispatched.
In the meantime, at 7:12 p.m., the first of two Einstein anesthesiologists
arrived in the ED. Each unsuccessfully attempted to intubate S.M. S.M. was
pronounced dead at 7:36 p.m.
As noted, at trial Appellants presented expert testimony addressing the
treatment provided to S.M. by Einstein personnel as well as CHOP’s
involvement in S.M.’s care. At the conclusion of Appellants’ case-in-chief,
CHOP moved for a nonsuit. The trial court took the matter under advisement
and, on February 18, 2020, granted CHOP’s motion. Appellants then settled
their claims against the remaining defendants.
On September 8, 2020, following argument, the trial court denied
Appellants’ post-trial motion seeking to remove the nonsuit. Judgment was
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entered on the order denying post-trial motions and this timely appeal
followed. Both Appellants and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.4
Appellants present two issues for our consideration:
I. Did the trial court err in entering a nonsuit on the claims
against CHOP based on [its] conclusion there is no evidence
CHOP ever undertook to render a service to S.M., where
[Appellants] presented evidence
• CHOP undertook to admit him to its PICU;
• CHOP’s Dr. Taylor, a pediatric fellow with advanced
training in critical care, advised Dr. Parrillo how to
treat the little boy for sepsis;
• Dr. Taylor assembled a transport team of two nurses
with advance training in emergency care and dispense
[sic] them to Einstein for S.M.;
• the nurses assessed S.M.’s condition, Nurse Galvin
told CHOP she was going to intubate him and both
nurses advised Dr. Parrillo the child’s situation was
dire and he required intubation;
• when Dr. Parrillo’s efforts to intubate S.M. failed,
Nurse Galvin offered him the use of their King’s
airway;
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4 CHOP takes issue with Appellants’ Rule 1925(b) statement, contending it
presents issues in a boilerplate fashion and without the requisite specificity.
While the Rule 1925(b) statement might not be a model of clarity, it is clear
from the trial court’s opinion that the court understood the matters for which
Appellants were seeking review. The fact Appellants have not raised any
issues in their brief that were not addressed in the trial court’s Rule 1925(a)
opinion is a reflection of that fact. Therefore, we decline to find waiver. See
Fulano v. Fanjul Corporation, 236 A.3d 1, 9 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citing
Commonwealth v. Smith, 955 A.2d 391, 393 (Pa. Super. 2008) (no waiver
where trial court meaningfully addressed issues despite vague Rule 1925(b)
statement)).
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• after the anesthesiologist removed the King’s airway
and S.M. coded, Dr. Taylor gave the instructions on
the medications to give and dosages and when to give
them which Nurse Galvin called out to the staff;
• Nurse Galvin advised the nurses when they needed to
start CPR and Nurse Maerten participated in providing
it?
II. Did the lower court err in applying the Althaus[5] standard?
Appellants’ Brief at 4-5.
In Rolon v. Davies, 232 A.3d 773 (Pa. Super. 2020), this Court
reiterated the applicable standard of review as follows:
In reviewing the entry of a nonsuit, our standard of review is well-
established: we reverse only if, after giving appellant the benefit
of all reasonable inferences of fact, we find that the factfinder
could not reasonably conclude that the essential elements of the
cause of action were established. Indeed, when a nonsuit is
entered, the lack of evidence to sustain the action must be so clear
that it admits no room for fair and reasonable disagreement. The
fact-finder, however, cannot be permitted to reach a decision on
the basis of speculation or conjecture.
Id. at 776-77 (quoting Vicari v. Spiegel, 936 A.2d 503, 509 (Pa. Super.
2007)) (cleaned up), affirmed, 989 A.2d 1277 (Pa. 2010). Stated differently:
On appeal, entry of a compulsory nonsuit is affirmed only if no
liability exists based on the relevant facts and circumstances, with
appellant receiving “the benefit of every reasonable inference and
resolving all evidentiary conflicts in [appellant’s] favor.” Agnew
v. Dupler, 553 Pa. 33, 717 A.2d 519, 523 (1998). The
compulsory nonsuit is otherwise properly removed and the matter
remanded for a new trial.
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5 Althaus v. Cohen, 756 A.2d 1166 (Pa. 2000).
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Scampone v. Highland Park Care Ctr., LLC, 57 A.3d 582, 595-96 (Pa.
2012). “The appellate court must review the evidence to determine whether
the trial court abused its discretion or made an error of law.” Baird, 169 A.3d
at 124 (citation omitted).
In Rolon, this Court explained:
Medical malpractice is a form of negligence. Griffin v. University
of Pittsburgh Med. Ctr.-Braddock Hosp., 950 A.2d 996, 999
(Pa. Super. 2008), appeal denied, 970 A.2d 431 (Pa. 2009). To
make a prima facie case a plaintiff must establish that the
physician owed the plaintiff a duty and breached it; that the
breach was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s harm; and that
the alleged damages were a direct result of the harm. Id. at 999-
1000 (quoting Quinby v. Plumsteadville Fam. Practice, Inc.,
589 Pa. 183, 907 A.2d 1061, 1070-71 (2006)). The plaintiff must
present expert testimony “where the circumstances surrounding
the malpractice claim are beyond the knowledge of the average
layperson.” Id. at 1000 (quoting Vogelsberger v. Magee-
Womens Hosp. of UPMC Health Sys., 903 A.2d 540, 563 n.11
(Pa. Super. 2006), appeal denied, 917 A.2d 315 (Pa. 2007)).
An expert must testify, to a reasonable degree of medical
certainty, that the defendant physician deviated from acceptable
standards, and that the deviation was the proximate cause of the
plaintiff’s harm. Vicari, 936 A.2d at 510. Further, “a medical
opinion need only demonstrate, with a reasonable degree
of medical certainty, that a defendant’s conduct increased
the risk of the harm actually sustained, and the jury then
must decide whether that conduct was a substantial factor
in bringing about the harm.” Id. (quoting Smith v. Grab, 705
A.2d 894, 899 (Pa. Super. 1997)).
Id. at 777 (emphasis added).
Appellants argue that, giving Appellants the benefit of all reasonable
inferences of fact, the evidence was sufficient for a jury to conclude that the
essential elements of a cause of action for medical negligence were
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established against CHOP. Again, to establish the cause of action, a plaintiff
must first establish that the provider owed a duty and breached it. Here, the
trial court concluded that CHOP did not undertake to render services to S.M.
and, therefore, did not owe any duty of care to S.M. under the Restatement
(Second) of Torts, § 323.6 Section 323 provides:
One who undertakes, gratuitously or for consideration, to render
serves to another which he should recognize as necessary for the
protection of the other’s person or things, is subject to liability to
the other for physical harm resulting from his failure to exercise
reasonable care to perform his undertaking, if
(a) his failure to exercise such care increases the risk of
such harm, or
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6 The trial court’s opinion does not include any analysis of the duty, or lack of
duty, under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
(“EMTALA”), 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, because Appellants “failed to establish that
CHOP owed S.M. a duty of care under state law[.]” Trial Court Opinion,
12/18/20, at 19. Simply stated, EMTALA requires that a transferring hospital
stabilize a patient before transferring the patient to another hospital. We
acknowledge CHOP’s argument that it did not have any duty to S.M. under
EMTALA because S.M. was not under CHOP’s direct care, was never admitted
to CHOP, and was not transferred to CHOP. Notes of Testimony, 2/14/20
(Afternoon Session), at 104. However, as the United States Court of Appeals
for the Eleventh Circuit observed, “EMTALA was not intended to establish
guidelines for patient care, [to] replace available state remedies, or to provide
a federal remedy for medical negligence.” Harry v. Marchant, 291 F.3d 767,
773 (11th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). As stated in EMTALA itself, “The
provisions of this section do not preempt any State or local law requirement,
except to the extent that the requirement directly conflicts with a requirement
of this section.” 42 U.S.C. § 1395(dd(f). While there is no question that S.M.
never left Einstein’s facility, the question here is whether CHOP owed any duty
of care to S.M. under Pennsylvania law, i.e., under the Restatement (Second)
of Torts, § 323.
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(b) the harm is suffered because of the other’s reliance
upon the undertaking.
Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 323.
In support of its finding that CHOP did not undertake to provide medical
services to S.M., the trial court noted that “CHOP never transported S.M.; and
. . . [Appellants] presented no evidence of a relationship between CHOP and
[Appellants].” Trial Court Opinion, 12/18/20, at 15. The trial court relied on
its findings that Appellants brought S.M. to Einstein, not CHOP; that
emergency services were proved by Einstein physicians, not CHOP’s; that
“[n]o person from CHOP spoke to Mr. Munoz or S.M. directly or over the phone
at any time”; that CHOP did not provide diagnostic tests or transport S.M.;
and that no one from Einstein directed the CHOP team to take control of the
code. Id.
However, the trial court continued—and in several respects seemed to
contradict its own conclusion, noting:
CHOP first learned about S.M.’s situation when [Dr.] Parrillo called
CHOP’s Emergency Services department on June 8, 2015. [Dr.]
Parrillo described S.M.’s condition as a medical emergency. CHOP
indicated they would admit S.M., and connected [Dr.]
Parrillo to CHOP’s PICU. [Dr.] Parrillo thereafter spoke with Dr.
Taylor of CHOP’s PICU. [Dr.] Parrillo provided the details of S.M.’s
condition to Dr. Taylor. [Dr.] Parrillo stated he believed intubation
would not be necessary, but informed Dr. Taylor that he could
intubate S.M. if needed. Dr. Taylor suggested [Dr.] Parrillo
provide S.M. with saline, cefepime, and vancomycin, and
advised [Dr.] Parrillo that CHOP was sending a transport team to
Einstein[.]
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When the CHOP Team arrived, Nurses Galvin and Maerten did not
render medical treatment to S.M. Nurse Galvin called CHOP
and told them she was going to “get this kid intubated.”
Nurse Galvin then located [Dr.] Parrillo to initiate the
intubation, but no one from CHOP participated in the intubation
attempts. When [Dr.] Parrillo’s first two intubation attempts
failed, the Einstein[] staff began CPR. Although Nurse Galvin
provided [Dr.] Parrillo with a King’s Airway that the CHOP
team brought, CHOP did not participate in placing the King’s
Airway. When S.M.’s condition began to improve, Nurse Galvin
left the area to update Dr. Taylor by phone. The nature of the
relationship between CHOP and S.M. is not changed by
[Appellants’] testimony that Nurse Maerten took turns
performing chest compressions on S.M., or that Dr. Taylor
provided recommendations to Nurse Galvin.
Id. at 15-16.7
More importantly, Appellants offered expert testimony to support their
assertion that CHOP, through the actions of Dr. Taylor, Nurse Galvin, and
Nurse Maerten, did in fact undertake to provide medical care to S.M. For
instance, Appellants’ expert, Dr. Paynter, testified that Nurse Galvin was
“calling the shots” and “taking the responsibility” when she called out orders
to the Einstein staff. N.T., 2/13/20 (Afternoon Session), at 51. Dr. Paynter
stated that Dr. Parrillo “may have been in charge, but the decision making,
which is critical in a code, when to give a drug, when to take an action, was
being called by Matt Taylor over the phone to Donna Galvin.” Id. Further,
when Dr. Parrillo twice unsuccessfully attempted to intubate S.M., Nurse
Galvin “could have taken command and intubated the patient. That did not
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7 We have taken the liberty of correcting the spelling of Dr. Parrillo’s name.
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happen and instead a less qualified person who had only done five pediatric
intubations attempted it. It did not work out.” Id. at 26. The subsequent
attempts by two different Einstein anesthesiologists “apparently did not work
out either.” Id. Moreover, Nurse Maerten was unquestionably participating
in S.M.’s care when she engaged in CPR along with Einstein personnel.
Dr. Paynter also was critical of CHOP’s failure to include a pediatric care
intensivist fellow as part of the transport team. Notes of Testimony, 2/13/20,
(Morning Session), at 96-97. An intensivist physician was “just what this child
needed to get all these variables under control. And they did not make the
decision to send that, and it’s in their policy that they can send that person,
and I can’t imagine a sicker child than this one that would need it. The
intensivist should have been sent in the ambulance[.]” Id.
Further evidence of CHOP’s participation in S.M.’s care stems from Dr.
Taylor’s recognition that S.M. was septic, a diagnosis Dr. Parrillo seemingly
missed, even when the x-ray he ordered revealed pneumonia, after he initially
diagnosed S.M. with asthma (and ordered Albuterol) and then cancer. See
Notes of Testimony, 2/11/20 (Morning Session), at 42-45, 107, 113-14. It
was Dr. Taylor’s recommendation to administer antibiotics and a saline bolus,
reflecting his diagnosis of sepsis and his involvement in S.M.’s care.
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At the least, Appellants presented expert testimony that suggested
CHOP’s actions, or lack thereof, increased the risk of harm to S.M. 8 As this
Court recognized in Hill v. Slippery Rock University, 138 A.3d 673 (Pa.
Super. 2016), appeal denied, 164 A.3d 491 (Pa. 2017):
In Pennsylvania, an increased risk of harm can occur through a
failure to act, or a “sin of omission.” Indeed, in addressing
increased risk of harm under Section 323 of the Restatement, the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court stated as follows:
[O]nce a plaintiff has demonstrated that defendant’s acts or
omissions, in a situation to which Section 323(a) applies,
have increased the risk of harm to another, such evidence
furnishes a basis for the fact-finder to go further and find
that such increased risk was in turn a substantial factor in
bringing about the resultant harm; the necessary proximate
cause will have been made out if the jury sees fit to find
cause in fact.
Hamil v. Bashline, 481 Pa. 256, 392 A.2d 1280, 1288 (1978)
(footnote omitted) (emphasis added). Moreover, in Hamil, the
Court noted the effect of Section 323(a) was to relax the degree
of certainty ordinarily required of a plaintiff’s evidence in order to
make a case for the jury. Id.; see also [Feeney v. Disston
Manor Personal Care Home, Inc., 849 A.2d 590, 595 (Pa.
Super. 2004) (applying the standard announced in Hamil to a
motion to remove a compulsory nonsuit).
Id. at 680 (footnote omitted).
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8 Dr. Paynter testified that CHOP’s failure to staff the transport team with an
intensivist fellow increased the risk of harm to S.M. Notes of Testimony,
2/13/20 (Afternoon Session), at 4-5. Even prior to his testimony, the trial
court stated, “I’ve concluded that it’s quite likely that we are going to be
reading the increased risk of harm instruction to the jury. . . . It’s going to be
for the jury to decide a great number of questions about the interaction
between anybody from CHOP and the people who were at Einstein.” Notes of
Testimony, 2/13/20 (Morning Session), at 126-27.
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As noted above, “entry of a compulsory nonsuit is affirmed only if no
liability exists based on the relevant facts and circumstances, with appellant
receiving ‘the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolving all
evidentiary conflicts in [appellant’s] favor.’” Scampone, 57 A.3d at 595-96
(quoting Agnew v. Dupler, 717 A.2d at 523). Otherwise, the compulsory
nonsuit is properly removed and the matter remanded for a new trial. Id.Giving Appellants the benefit of every reasonable inference, and
resolving all evidentiary conflicts in their favor, we cannot say “that the
factfinder could not reasonably conclude that the essential elements of the
cause of action were established” or that “the lack of evidence to sustain the
action [is] so clear that it admits no room for fair and reasonable
disagreement.” Rolon, 232 A.3d at 776-77. Accordingly, we find the trial
court erred in granting the nonsuit in favor of CHOP. Therefore, we remand
the case with direction that the nonsuit be removed and a new trial be
granted.9
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9 In light of our disposition of Appellants’ challenge to the trial court’s entry of
a nonsuit, we need not address Appellants’ second issue. However, we
recognize that our Supreme Court has held that while an Althaus analysis is
necessary when courts announce a new common law duty, it is unnecessary
when circumstances involve application of existing statutory and common law
duties of care, such as those owed a plaintiff under the Restatement (Second)
of Torts, § 323. See Feleccia v. Lackawanna Coll., 215 A.3d 3, 13-14 (Pa.
2019); Scampone, 169 A.3d at 617 (Althaus analysis is superfluous because
Pennsylvania has adopted the Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 323).
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Order reversed. Case remanded for removal of nonsuit and a new trial.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/27/2021
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