Michael T. Jelinek, M. D. & Columbia Rio Grande Healthcare, L. P., D/B/A Rio Grande Regional Hospital v. Francisco Casas ( 2008 )

NUMBER 13-06-00088-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI - EDINBURG
MICHAEL T. JELINEK, M.D. AND
COLUMBIA RIO GRANDE
HEALTHCARE, L.P., D/B/A
RIO GRANDE REGIONAL HOSPITAL, Appellants,
v.
FRANCISCO CASAS, ET AL., Appellees.
On appeal from the 275th District Court
of Hidalgo County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Chief Justice Valdez and Justices Garza and Benavides
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Garza
Appellant Columbia Rio Grande Healthcare, L.P., d/b/a Rio Grande Regional
Hospital (the “Hospital”), appeals from a jury verdict awarding $250,000 in damages to
appellees, Francisco Casas and Alfredo DeLeon, Jr., as personal representatives of the
estate of Eloisa Casas (collectively referred to as “the Casases”). By three issues, the
Hospital asserts that: (1) there was insufficient evidence that the Hospital’s negligence
proximately caused Eloisa Casas’s injury; (2) there was insufficient evidence to support the
jury’s award of mental anguish damages; and (3) the trial court erred by not including an
unavoidable accident instruction in the jury charge. Appellant Michael Jelinek, M.D., who
was non-suited prior to trial, appeals from the trial court’s denial of his motion for sanctions
and dismissal, claiming that the Casases’ expert report failed to contain an adequate
statement of causation. We affirm with respect to both appellants.
I. BACKGROUND
On July 11, 2001, Eloisa Casas was admitted to the Hospital for diagnosis and
treatment of abdominal pain and a possible obstruction of the small intestine. Casas, who
suffered from metastatic colon cancer, had a 101-degree fever and a mildly elevated white
blood cell count, which indicated a possible infection. Accordingly, her surgeon and
primary treating physician, Carlos Garcia-Cantu, M.D., requested the assistance of an
infectious disease specialist, Dr. Jelinek. To treat the unidentified infection, Dr. Jelinek
prescribed Maxipime, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and Flagyl, an antibiotic designed to
treat anaerobic bacteria.
During Casas’s hospital stay, her doctors realized that the cancer had perforated
her colon, causing leakage of material into her abdominal cavity. The fluid and abscesses
generated by the perforation of the colon were determined to be the cause of the
obstruction in Casas’s small intestine. On July 13, 2001, Casas underwent major surgery
to remedy this problem. Dr. Garcia-Cantu performed the surgery, known as a subtotal
colectomy, during which the perforated area of the colon was reattached to prevent further
leakage. After surgery, Dr. Garcia-Cantu prescribed Maxipime and Flagyl. A culture of the
removed abscesses was taken during surgery; the results revealed that Casas was
suffering from an E. coli infection.
Maxipime, which is considered an effective treatment for E. coli, was administered
to Casas until July 18, 2001, when the prescriptions for both Maxipime and Flagyl expired
automatically. However, due to an oversight by the hospital staff, a renewal form for the
2
medications was not placed with Casas’s chart. As a result, neither prescription was
renewed. This oversight was not recognized until July 23, 2001, when Dr. Jelinek visited
Casas and noticed no record of the medications having been administered. Casas did not
receive Maxipime or Flagyl for over four days, from July 18 to July 23. During this time,
according to her husband and son, Casas suffered a setback in her condition. Further,
Casas’s incision site was emitting a foul odor so potent that the hospital staff needed to
bring fans into Casas’s hospital room in an attempt to dissipate it.
A culture taken on July 21, 2001, from the site of Casas’s surgical incision showed
the presence of Candida, a fungus. Diflucan, an anti-fungal drug, was prescribed to treat
this infection. Another culture of Casas’s blood was taken on July 23, which showed the
presence of a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infection. Dr. Jelinek prescribed two
antibiotics, Levaquin and Vancomycin, to treat this infection. Neither the July 21 nor the
July 23 cultures showed the presence of E. coli. Moreover, it was undisputed that neither
Maxipime nor Flagyl would have effectively treated the Candida or Staphylococcus
infections.
Casas died on November 12, 2001. On May 30, 2003, Eloisa Casas’s husband
Francisco, and her son, Alfredo DeLeon, Jr., filed suit against the Hospital, Dr. Garcia, and
Dr. Jelinek.1 The Casases asserted that the defendants’ negligence caused Eloisa to
“suffer grievous embarrassment and humiliation, as well as excruciating pain the remainder
of her life which she would not have suffered to such degree if properly diagnosed, treated
and cared for . . . .” The Casases sought damages for Eloisa’s injuries and mental
1
The Casases’ original petition nam ed Francisco Casas, individually and as the personal
representative of Eloisa’s estate, as a plaintiff, along with DeLeon, Conception Pacheco, and “All Those
Entitled to Recover For The W rongful Death of Eloisa Casas, Deceased, Under the Texas W rongful Death
Act.” The Casases’ first am ended original petition, filed on July 21, 2004, listed only Francisco, individually
and as the personal representative of Eloisa’s estate, as a plaintiff. On August 8, 2005, the Casases filed their
second am ended original petition, which was operative at the tim e of trial, and which nam ed Francisco and
DeLeon as plaintiffs solely in their representative capacities on behalf of Eloisa’s estate. See T EX . R. C IV . P.
65.
3
anguish.2
The Casases filed an expert report within 180 days of their original petition, pursuant
to former article 4590i, section 13.01 of the Texas Medical Liability and Insurance
Improvement Act (“MLIIA”) (current version at TEX . CIV. PRAC . & REM . CODE ANN . § 74.351
(Vernon Supp. 2006)).3 The report, authored by John A. Daller, M.D., stated that Drs.
Garcia-Cantu and Jelinek were negligent in failing to recognize that the antibiotics were not
being given to Casas, and that this negligence resulted in a prolonged hospital stay and
increased pain and suffering experienced by Casas.
On March 9, 2004, Dr. Jelinek filed a “Motion for Sanctions and Dismissal Pursuant
to Article 4590i § 13.01,” contending that Dr. Daller’s report “wholly failed to explain any
causal connection between the alleged deviation from the applicable standard of care and
[Casas’s] alleged injuries.” The trial court denied Dr. Jelinek’s motion on November 19,
2004. Nevertheless, on June 23, 2005, the Casases filed a “Motion for Non-Suit With
Prejudice” as to Dr. Jelinek and Dr. Garcia-Cantu, stating that they “no longer desire[d] to
prosecute” their suit against those defendants. The trial court entered an order dismissing
the case against Dr. Jelinek and Dr. Garcia-Cantu with prejudice on June 28, 2005. On
March 1, 2006, Dr. Jelinek filed a notice of appeal, challenging the trial court’s denial of his
motion for sanctions and dismissal.
After a trial on the merits, the jury found that the negligence of the Hospital, Dr.
Garcia-Cantu, and Dr. Jelinek proximately caused injury to Eloisa Casas.4 The jury further
2
The Casases’ original petition also sought dam ages for Eloisa’s wrongful death; however, this claim
was dropped in their subsequent am ended petitions. The only active claim at the tim e of trial was the survival
claim for personal injuries to Eloisa. See id.
3
See Act of May 30, 1977, 65th Leg., R.S., ch. 817, 1977 Tex. Gen. Laws 2039 (form er T EX . R EV . C IV .
S TAT A N N . art. 4590i, § 13.01), repealed by Act of June 2, 2003, 78th Leg., R.S., ch. 204, § 10.09, 2003 Tex.
Gen. Laws 847, 884. Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Rem edies Code governs only those health
care liability claim s com m enced on or after Septem ber 1, 2003. See Olveda v. Sepulveda, 189 S.W .3d 740,
741 n.1 (Tex. 2006) (O’Neill, J., dissenting). The parties to this appeal do not dispute the fact that form er
article 4590i applies here.
4
Question num ber one of the jury charge asked: “Did the negligence, if any, of those nam ed below
proxim ately cause an injury to Eloisa Casas? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for each of the following: a. Rio Grande
Regional Hospital[,] b. Dr. Carlos Garcia[,] c. Dr. Michael T. Jelinek, directly, or by his agent or em ployee Dr.
Maria Rom ero.” The jury responded affirm atively as to each defendant.
4
found that the negligence was attributable as follows: 90% to the Hospital; 5% to Dr.
Garcia-Cantu; and 5% to Dr. Jelinek. Finally, the jury concluded that $250,000 would fairly
and reasonably compensate Eloisa Casas for “pain and mental anguish” caused by the
negligence of the Hospital and of Drs. Garcia-Cantu and Jelinek. Final judgment was
rendered on the jury verdict on February 1, 2006. The Hospital filed a “Motion for New
Trial, or in the Alternative, Motion for Remittitur and/or to Modify Judgment” and a motion
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict on March 3, 2006, both of which were overruled
by operation of law. See TEX . R. CIV. P. 329b(c). The Hospital filed its notice of appeal on
March 3, 2006, and this appeal ensued.5
II. DISCUSSION
A. Sufficiency of Causation Evidence
By its first issue, the Hospital claims that there was legally and factually insufficient
evidence to support the jury’s finding that its negligence proximately caused Casas’s
injuries.
1. Standard of Review
We will sustain a challenge to the legal sufficiency of evidence only if: (1) there is
a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact; (2) the court is barred by rules of law or of
evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to prove a vital fact; (3) the
evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a mere scintilla; or (4) the evidence
establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital fact. City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d
802, 810 (Tex. 2005). More than a scintilla of evidence exists, and the evidence is legally
sufficient, if the evidence furnishes some reasonable basis for differing conclusions by
reasonable minds about a vital fact’s existence. Lee Lewis Constr. Co. v. Harrison, 70
5
The Casases argued in their appellate brief that the Hospital’s m otion for new trial and notice of
appeal were filed late, and therefore their issues were not preserved for appeal. See T EX . R. C IV . P. 329b(a)
(m otion for new trial shall be filed within thirty days after the judgm ent is signed); T E X . R. A PP . P. 26.1 (civil
notice of appeal m ust be filed within thirty days after the judgm ent is signed). Although the Casases
abandoned this contention at oral argum ent, we note that the Hospital’s m otion for new trial and notice of
appeal were indeed tim ely filed, because in com puting the thirty-day tim e period, the day of the signing of the
judgm ent is not included. See T EX . R. C IV . P. 4.
5
S.W.3d 778, 782-83 (Tex. 2001). However, “when the evidence offered to prove a vital
fact is so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or suspicion of its existence,
the evidence is no more than a scintilla and, in legal effect, is no evidence.” Ford Motor
Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 601 (Tex. 2004) (citing Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650
S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex. 1983)).
In conducting a legal sufficiency review, we credit evidence supporting the judgment
if reasonable jurors could, and disregard contrary evidence unless reasonable jurors could
not. City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 827; Villagomez v. Rockwood Specialties, Inc., 210
S.W.3d 720, 748 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 2006, pet. denied).
In conducting a factual sufficiency review, we do not substitute our judgment for that
of the jury; rather, we view all the evidence in a neutral light to determine whether the
contested finding is so contrary to the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as
to be manifestly unjust, shock the conscience, or clearly demonstrate bias. See Golden
Eagle Archery, Inc. v. Jackson, 116 S.W.3d 757, 761 (Tex. 2003); Pool v. Ford Motor Co.,
715 S.W.2d 629, 635 (Tex. 1986); Villagomez, 210 S.W.3d at 749.
2. Analysis
A plaintiff must establish two causal nexuses in order to be entitled to recovery: (1)
the plaintiff must show that the defendant’s conduct caused the event sued upon; and (2)
the plaintiff must establish that this event caused the plaintiff to suffer injuries for which
compensation in damages should be paid. See Morgan v. Compugraphic Corp., 675
S.W.2d 729, 731 (Tex. 1984); Kirkpatrick v. Mem’l Hosp. of Garland, 862 S.W.2d 762, 772
(Tex. App.–Dallas 1994, pet. denied); see also Guevara v. Ferrer, 247 S.W.3d 662, 666
(Tex. 2007). The Hospital concedes that its employees’ negligence caused the event sued
upon—that is, the failure of Casas to receive Maxipime and Flagyl from July 18, 2001 to
July 23, 2001. However, the Hospital contends that there was insufficient evidence to
establish that this event caused Casas’s injuries. We disagree.
6
Casas’s husband and son testified that she suffered a dramatic setback in her
condition beginning on the day that she was informed of the Hospital’s oversight, and that
this deteriorated condition continued until the time of her death. The record also reflects
that Casas suffered from depression and anxiety after the Hospital failed to provide her
with the prescribed antibiotics. A certain amount of depression and anxiety can certainly
be expected in a patient who suffers from metastatic colon cancer and has recently
undergone invasive surgery. However, Casas’s husband and son testified that she
suffered additional pain and mental anguish following the Hospital’s oversight. Lay
testimony is adequate to prove causation in those cases in which general experience and
common sense will enable a layman to determine, with reasonable probability, the causal
relationship between the event and the condition. Morgan, 675 S.W.2d at 733 (citing
Lenger v. Physician’s Gen. Hosp., Inc., 455 S.W.2d 703, 706 (Tex. 1970)) (holding that lay
testimony could establish causal connection between chemical leak and plaintiff’s injuries
when plaintiff, who had previously been in good health, began experiencing symptoms
such as watery eyes, blurred vision, headaches and swelling of the breathing passages
four days after typesetting machine that sat two inches from her face was found to be
leaking chemical fumes); Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. Kneten, 440 S.W.2d 52 (Tex. 1969). In
limited circumstances, the existence and nature of certain basic conditions, proof of a
logical sequence of events, and temporal proximity between an occurrence and the
conditions can be sufficient to support a jury finding of causation without expert evidence.
Guevara, 247 S.W.3d at 667. In the instant case, the jury could have found, based on the
lay testimony of Casas’s husband and son, that her condition deteriorated promptly
following the Hospital’s failure to provide her with Maxipime and Flagyl for four and a half
days. The evidence thus provided a reasonable basis for the jury’s finding that Casas
suffered additional pain and mental anguish because of that failure. See id.; Morgan, 675
S.W.2d at 733; Kneten, 440 S.W.2d at 54.
Moreover, Dr. Daller testified at trial that additional, undetected bacterial infections
7
could have been present in Casas’s incision site which could have been treatable by the
prescribed antibiotics. Dr. Daller noted specifically that anaerobic bacteria, which cannot
survive without oxygen, would not have been detectable by taking a culture of the incision
area, and so a negative finding with respect to such a culture would not be medically
significant. Dr. Daller also testified that the putrid odor emanating from the incision site
was indicative of such an anaerobic infection. Viewing each piece of circumstantial
evidence not in isolation, but in light of all the known circumstances, see City of Keller, 168
S.W.3d at 813-14, we find that it was reasonable for the jury to have concluded that an
anaerobic infection was present and caused Casas to suffer additional pain and mental
anguish.
The Hospital further contends that Dr. Daller’s testimony cannot be considered
because: (1) Dr. Daller was not competent to render an opinion on the issue of causation;
and (2) his testimony amounted to no more than mere speculation. The Hospital is correct
that incompetent evidence is legally insufficient to support a judgment, even if admitted
without objection. See id. at 820. To provide opinion testimony, an expert must be
qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education. See TEX . R. EVID . 702.
In a medical negligence case, an expert must have knowledge, skill, experience, training,
or education regarding the specific issue before the court which would qualify the expert
to give an opinion on that particular subject. See Roberts v. Williamson, 111 S.W.3d 113,
121 (Tex. 2003) (quoting Broders v. Heise, 924 S.W.2d 148, 153 (Tex. 1996)). However,
this does not mean, for example, that only a neurosurgeon can testify about the cause of
death from an injury to the brain, or that an emergency room physician could never so
testify. See Broders, 924 S.W.2d at 153. Dr. Daller testified that he is an experienced
transplant surgeon and that he has a doctorate in pharmacology, a field that includes the
study of drug interactions within the body. He testified that he has treated in excess of one
hundred patients with intra-abdominal infections such as the one Casas suffered from.
Although Dr. Daller does not specialize and is not certified in infectious disease, we
8
conclude that his experience and training qualified him as an expert to testify regarding the
cause of Casas’s injuries.
The Hospital also claims that, even if Dr. Daller was competent to give expert
testimony, the jury could not have based its causation finding on his hypothesis because
to do so, “it would have had to infer (1) other bacteria were in fact present; (2) that would
cause pain and (3) would have been effectively treated by Maxipime and Flagyl.” See
Schlumberger Well Surveying Corp. v. Nortex Oil & Gas Corp., 435 S.W.2d 854, 858 (Tex.
1968) (“A vital fact may not be established by piling inference upon inference.”). We
disagree that the jury engaged in impermissible inference stacking here. Dr. Daller
provided competent testimony that the odor emanating from the incision site was indicative
of an anaerobic infection, and that such an infection would have been treatable by
Maxipime and Flagyl. Dr. Daller also testified that the increased heart rate and fever
experienced by Casas after the Hospital’s failure to provide her with those medications
indicated an increased pain level. The jury may not pile inference upon inference, see
Schlumberger, 435 S.W.2d at 858, but they are free to believe one witness and disbelieve
another. City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 807. Here, the jury believed Dr. Daller’s testimony,
and we cannot impose our own opinion to the contrary. See id.
We find that the evidence furnished a reasonable basis for the jury to find that the
Hospital’s actions proximately caused injury to Casas; therefore, more than a scintilla of
evidence exists. See Lee Lewis Constr. Co., 70 S.W.3d at 782-83. Further, viewing all the
evidence in a neutral light, we cannot say that the jury’s finding is so contrary to the great
weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust, shock the
conscience, or clearly demonstrate bias. See Golden Eagle Archery, Inc., 116 S.W.3d at
761. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was legally and factually sufficient to
support the jury’s finding with respect to causation. The Hospital’s first issue is overruled.
9
B. Sufficiency of Damages Evidence
By its second issue, the Hospital contends that there was legally and factually
insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding of mental pain and distress rising to a
legally compensable level. The Texas Supreme Court has stated:
The term “mental anguish” implies a relatively high degree of mental pain
and distress. It is more than mere disappointment, anger, resentment or
embarrassment, although it may include all of these. It includes a mental
sensation of pain resulting from such painful emotions as grief, severe
disappointment, indignation, wounded pride, shame, despair and/or public
humiliation.
Parkway Co. v. Woodruff, 901 S.W.2d 434, 444 (Tex. 1995) (quoting Trevino v. Sw. Bell
Tel. Co., 582 S.W.2d 582, 584 (Tex. Civ. App.–Corpus Christi 1979, no writ)). In Parkway
Co., the plaintiff sought mental anguish damages arising from flooding caused by the
defendant’s negligence. The supreme court found insufficient evidence of mental anguish,
citing “[no] direct evidence of the nature, duration, or severity of the [plaintiff’s] mental
anguish, [and] no circumstantial evidence other than the fact of the flooding itself to support
any award of mental anguish.” Id. at 445.
The Hospital contends that the same result should obtain here, and in support of its
argument points to Dr. Jelinek’s deposition testimony, wherein he stated that Casas, upon
being informed that she did not receive antibiotics for four and a half days, did not cry or
express anger or fear. However, Casas’s son and husband gave conflicting testimony.
DeLeon testified that “she was visibly upset, mad, that the medication, the antibiotics
weren’t being given to her.” DeLeon testified that the depression his mother suffered from
was unusual and out of character for her. Francisco Casas testified that, when Dr. Jelinek
removed the staples from his wife’s incision to determine the extent of the infection, she
cried out in pain. Francisco also stated that the odor and the drainage of pus from the
incision site caused his wife to worry and feel embarrassed as to the way she looked. He
testified that his wife “would be in tears, and she would always tell me [sic] when was I ever
10
going to get well from this cut. . . . She felt disgusted, mad, because they had forgotten to
give her antibiotics. She wasn’t the same anymore. She didn’t trust the nurses or doctors.”
Casas’s husband and son testified that the putrid odor emanating from the incision site was
so strong that it persisted even after the nursing staff had brought in fans to circulate the
air in the hospital room.
Jurors are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to give
their testimony. City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 807. Here, unlike in Parkway Co., the record
contains competent evidence indicating that Casas’s mental anguish was “more than mere
disappointment, anger, resentment or embarrassment.” See Parkway Co., 901 S.W.2d
at 444. Giving credit to evidence supporting the judgment, and viewing the evidence in a
neutral light, we find legally and factually sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding
of compensable mental anguish damages. See City of Keller, 168 S.W.3d at 827;
Villagomez, 210 S.W.3d at 748; Golden Eagle Archery, Inc., 116 S.W.3d at 761.
Accordingly, the Hospital’s second issue is overruled.
C. Unavoidable Accident Instruction
By its third issue, the Hospital claims that the trial court erred in not including in the
jury charge an instruction regarding the hospital’s defense that Casas’s injuries were
caused by an unavoidable accident.6
1. Standard of Review
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 277 requires the trial court to submit instructions and
definitions to the jury as are necessary to enable the jury to render a verdict. TEX . R. CIV.
P. 277. A trial court has greater discretion in submitting instructions and definitions to the
jury than it does in submitting questions. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Middleton, 982 S.W.2d
6
In response to the Hospital’s third issue, Casas argues that, if the trial court had included an
unavoidable accident instruction, it would have been an im perm issible com m ent on the weight of the evidence.
See T EX . R. C IV . P. 277; W al-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Johnson, 106 S.W .3d 718, 723-24 (Tex. 2003). As
discussed herein, however, we need not address this argum ent as the hospital has failed to show the
possibility of reversible error.
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468, 470 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 1998, pet. denied); see Steak & Ale of Tex., Inc. v.
Borneman, 62 S.W.3d 898, 904 (Tex. App.–Fort Worth 2001, no pet.).
When a trial court refuses to submit a requested instruction, the question on appeal
is whether the request was reasonably necessary to enable the jury to render a proper
verdict. See TEX . R. CIV. P. 277; Tex. Workers’ Comp. Ins. Fund v. Mandlbauer, 34 S.W.3d
909, 912 (Tex. 2000). Further, for an instruction to be proper, it must: (1) assist the jury;
(2) accurately state the law; and (3) find support in the pleadings and the evidence. See
TEX . R. CIV. P. 278; Mandlbauer, 34 S.W.3d at 912. As long as the charge is legally
correct, trial courts are afforded broad discretion, subject to reversal only on a court’s
abuse of that discretion. Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v. E.B., 802 S.W.2d 647, 649 (Tex.
1990); Hagins v. E-Z Mart Stores, Inc., 128 S.W.3d 383, 387 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2004,
no pet.).
Even if the trial court abused its discretion, we reverse only where the error in the
jury charge is shown to be harmful. Boatland of Houston, Inc. v. Bailey, 609 S.W.2d 743,
749-50 (Tex. 1980). That is, a jury charge error is reversible only if it probably caused the
rendition of an improper judgment or probably prevented the appellant from properly
presenting the case on appeal. TEX . R. APP . P. 44.1(a). Moreover, failure to submit an
instruction shall not be deemed a ground for reversal of the judgment unless a substantially
correct instruction has been requested in writing and tendered by the party complaining of
the judgment. TEX . R. CIV. P. 278.
2. Analysis
The purpose of an unavoidable accident instruction is to inform the jury that,
although the defendant’s conduct may have been negligent, it must produce the outcome
complained of if the plaintiff is to recover. See Williams v. Viswanathan, 64 S.W.3d 624,
629 (Tex. App.–Amarillo 2001, no pet.); Crawford v. Hope, 898 S.W.2d 937, 941 (Tex.
App.–Amarillo 1995, writ denied). The instruction has been historically used in medical
12
malpractice cases if there is some evidence first presented that the event was caused by
some condition other than the negligence of the parties. Williams, 64 S.W.3d at 629; see
Hill v. Winn Dixie Tex., Inc., 849 S.W.2d 802, 803 (Tex. 1992); Crawford, 898 S.W.2d at
941; Wisenbarger v. Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hosp., Inc., 789 S.W.2d 688,
692 (Tex. App.–Corpus Christi 1990, writ denied). However, a defendant is not
automatically entitled to an instruction explaining unavoidable accident; rather, evidence
must first be presented that the event was caused by some condition other than the
negligence of the parties. Crawford, 898 S.W.2d at 941.
In the instant case, the Hospital contends that it requested an unavoidable accident
instruction to follow the jury instruction on proximate cause. However, the Hospital points
to nothing in the record that can be considered a “substantially correct” rendition of such
an instruction. See TEX . R. CIV. P. 278. At trial, there was a discussion outside the
presence of the jury regarding the charge, during which counsel for both parties expressed
objections to the trial court’s proposed charge. At that time, the following exchange took
place between the trial court and counsel for the Hospital:
[Hospital’s counsel]: Your Honor, also for the record we have
proposed in writing – the Defendant Hospital has
requested instructions and special issues. The
first of which we believe is the ultimate issue in
this case that should be decided and that was:
Whether by a preponderance of the evidence
the Plaintiff has proved that there was an injury
to Ms. Casas in the case.
Also, they requested instructions on unavoidable
accident. And as we have shared with the Court
as it is used in medical malpractice cases, and is
understood in such as the decision of
[Wisenbarger], in a medical negligence case
where expert testimony establishes that another
physical condition or circumstance was the
probable cause of the injury, the definition of
unavoidable accident must follow the jury
instruction on proximate cause.
We have also proferred new and independent
13
cause and sole proximate cause to the Court for
consideration and submission of the Charge. I
believe the same have been raised by the
evidence of other such events, circumstances
and persons who are not Defendants in the case
as the proximate cause of the injury to the
Plaintiff, and they’re presently not in the Charge,
and I just respectfully request the Court to make
a ruling on the record.
THE COURT: Yes, sir. Those were the same requested
instructions and questions that – or definitions
that you requested earlier in chambers off the
record, right?
[Hospital’s counsel]: That’s correct.
THE COURT: All of those that were shown to me and that you
made a request for are denied.
Although the Hospital alludes to the presence of a written unavoidable accident
instruction tendered to the trial court, it does not appear in the record. Because the record
does not reflect that a “substantially correct” instruction has been “requested in writing and
tendered” by the Hospital, we conclude that any error that may have been committed by
the trial court in refusing to submit an avoidable accident instruction is not reversible. See
TEX . R. CIV. P. 278; see also TEX . R. APP. P. 33.1(a). Accordingly, the Hospital’s third issue
is overruled.
D. Denial of Jelinek’s Motion to Dismiss
By his sole issue, Dr. Jelinek asserts that the trial court erred by denying his motion
for sanctions and dismissal under former article 4590i, section 13.01 of the MLIIA. See
TEX . CIV. PRAC . & REM . CODE ANN . § 74.351. We disagree.
Medical malpractice plaintiffs must provide each defendant physician and
health-care provider an expert report containing the expert’s curriculum vitae, and “a fair
summary of the expert’s opinions as of the date of the report regarding applicable
standards of care, the manner in which the care rendered by the physician or health care
provider failed to meet the standards, and the causal relationship between that failure and
14
the injury, harm, or damages claimed.” Bowie Mem'l Hosp. v. Wright, 79 S.W.3d 48, 51
(Tex. 2002); see Am. Transitional Care Ctrs. of Tex., Inc. v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 877
(Tex. 2001). The expert report must provide “a fair summary of the expert’s opinions as
of the date of the report regarding applicable standards of care, the manner in which the
care rendered by the physician or health care provider failed to meet the standards, and
the causal relationship between that failure and the injury, harm, or damages claimed.”
Bowie Mem’l Hosp., 79 S.W.3d at 51. If a plaintiff timely files an expert report and the
defendant moves to dismiss because of the report’s inadequacy, the trial court must grant
the motion “only if it appears to the court, after hearing, that the report does not represent
a good faith effort to comply with the definition of an expert report in [the MLIIA].” See id.
at 51-52; Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 878. To constitute a “good faith effort,” the report must
provide enough information to fulfill two purposes: (1) it must inform the defendant of the
specific conduct the plaintiff has called into question, and (2) it must provide a basis for the
trial court to conclude that the claims have merit. Bowie Mem’l Hosp., 79 S.W.3d at 52;
see Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 879. The report need not marshal all the plaintiff’s proof, but
it must include the expert’s opinion on each of the three elements that the MLIIA identifies:
standard of care, breach, and causal relationship. Bowie Mem’l Hosp., 79 S.W.3d at 52.
That is, 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 in that the information in
the report does not have to meet the same requirements as the evidence offered in a
summary-judgment proceeding or at trial. Id.
We review a trial court’s order dismissing a claim for failure to comply with the
expert report requirement under an abuse of discretion standard. Bowie Mem’l Hosp., 79
S.W.3d at 52; Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at 878. A trial court abuses its discretion if it acts in an
arbitrary or unreasonable manner without reference to any guiding rules or principles.
Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985).
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Dr. Daller’s original expert report dated October 30, 2003, stated as follows:
The standard of care when managing a patient requires vigilance towards
the treatments the patient is receiving and confirming that orders specified
in the physician order sheets are carried out. Both Dr. Carlos Garcia and Dr.
Michael Jelinek by their failure to recognize that the antibiotics were not
being administered as ordered committed a breach in the standard of care.
This breach in the standard of care represents negligence and, within
reasonable medical probability, resulted in a prolonged hospital course and
increased pain and suffering being experienced by Ms. Casas.
The report thereby informed Dr. Jelinek of the specific conduct being challenged—i.e., his
“failure to recognize that the antibiotics were not being administered”—and it provided a
basis for the trial court to conclude that the claims had merit. See Palacios, 46 S.W.3d at
879. Moreover, the report included Dr. Daller’s opinion that Dr. Jelinek’s negligence was
causally related to the “increased pain and suffering” experienced by Casas.
Dr. Daller’s report included his opinion on the three elements required by the MLIIA:
standard of care, breach, and causation. See id. at 878. Therefore, we conclude that the
report constituted a good faith effort to comply with the expert report requirements of the
MLIIA. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant Dr.
Jelinek’s motion for sanctions and dismissal. See Bowie Mem’l Hosp., 79 S.W.3d at 51-52.
Dr. Jelinek’s issue is overruled.
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment of the trial court as to both appellants.
______________________________
DORI CONTRERAS GARZA,
Justice
Memorandum Opinion delivered and
filed this the 29th day of July, 2008.
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