Dolan v. O'Rourke

The plaintiff brings this action to recover damages against the defendant for alleged negligence in the administering of an anesthetic, claimed to be the proximate cause of the death of plaintiff's wife.

The defendant is a dentist, and practiced his profession at Bowbells, North Dakota, for seven and one half years prior to March 13, 1926, on which date, the plaintiff, William Dolan, and his wife came to the defendant's office for the purpose of having two of Mrs. Dolan's teeth extracted. The teeth were badly abscessed. The patient had suffered much pain and had been unable to eat or sleep for a couple of days. The defendant states, that on account of the badly infected condition of Mrs. Dolan's teeth he told her that a general anesthetic would be better than a local one. He further states, that the patient then told him that she had taken chloroform several times, the last time about six months previous. The chloroform was administered, the teeth extracted, and it was then noticed that the anesthetic had had a bad effect on the patient. Dr. Hilts was immediately called, and everything that could be done was done but the patient never came out from under the influence of the anesthetic.

The case was tried, and the jury returned a verdict for the defendant. The plaintiff then moved for a new trial, which was granted and from the order granting a new trial the defendant appeals, specifying that the court erred in granting plaintiff's motion for a new trial on the ground set forth in plaintiff's specification of error number 10.

"The court erred in overruling plaintiff's objection to the following question: Q. What would you say now as to his ability to give anesthetics? Is he careful in that or not in your opinion?" on the grounds as being immaterial and calling for a conclusion of the witness, establishing a criterion from the opinion of another surgeon, and incompetent and immaterial."

The trial court granted the motion for a new trial on the theory that the evidence introduced under objection and in answer to the question in No. 10, viz.: "What would you say now as to his ability to give anesthetics? Is he careful in that or not in your opinion?" was error.

It is the contention of the appellant that the evidence was admissible and as showing a foundation for the introduction of such testimony appellant quotes from the testimony as follows:

"Q. Now, by the way, before I overlook it, are you a surgeon? Do you operate?"

"A. Yes, sir.

"Q. And have you operated on a good many people during the time you have been here?

"A. Yes, sir, I have.

"Q. Who has administered anesthetics for you in all major operations?

"A. Dr. O'Rourke.

"Q. This defendant.

"A. Yes, sir.

"Q. How many administrations of anesthetics would you say, doctor, of course you can't tell exactly, but approximately how many administrations of anesthetics for you has Dr. O'Rourke, this defendant, made during the time you have been practicing here?

"Mr. Sinkler: That is objected to as being immaterial, incompetent, and not tending to prove any of the issues in this case.

"The court: Overruled. You may answer.

"A. Well he has given over a thousand, I know that, but to give the exact number I couldn't do it.

"Q. And given anesthetics for you as a surgeon in many difficult cases?

"A. Yes, sir.

"Q. What would you say now as to his ability to give anesthetics? Is he careful in that or not in your opinion?

"Mr. Sinkler: That is objected to as being immaterial and calling for a conclusion of the witness, establishing a criterion from the opinion of another surgeon, and incompetent and immaterial.

"The court: Overruled. He may answer.

"A. Yes, sir.

It is well settled that, "the rules governing the duty and liability of physicians and surgeons in the performance of professional services are applicable to practitioners of the kindred branches of the healing art, such as dentists, oculists, and manipulators of X-ray machines." 21 R.C.L. 386, § 31. It is also well settled, that "a physician is bound to bestow such reasonable care, skill, and diligence as physicians and surgeons in the same neighborhood, in the same general line of practice, ordinarily exercise in like cases." Hanson v. Thelan, 42 N.D. 617, 173 N.W. 457; Whitson v. Hillis, 55 N.D. 797, 215 N.W. 480; Loudon v. Scott, 58 Mont. 645, 194 P. 488, 12 A.L.R. 1487, and notes on pages 1493-1495; 21 R.C.L. 385, § 30.

Respondent insists, that it is not claimed by the plaintiff that the defendant was unskilful, and that the only question upon which he seeks to recover damages, is, that defendant was negligent, and did not exercise any care in the administration of the anesthetic. The question of care being in issue it was one for the jury to say upon the whole evidence, whether in the administration of the anesthetic the defendant exercised the ordinary degree of care, exercised by other physicians, in administering anesthetics in the same locality. The question, "What would you say now as to his ability to give anesthetics?" "Is he careful in that or not in your opinion?" is a double question and the jury would understand from the answer, "Yes, sir," that the doctor was qualified to give anesthetics and that he was careful in doing so.

In Jones on Evidence, Vol. 2, p. 1279, § 687, the rule is stated as follows:

"And when the question relates to the degree of care used at the time of a given accident, the evidence must be confined to that issue and it is irrelevant to show that the party is ordinarily careful. Glass v. Memphis C.R. Co. 94 Ala. 581, 10 So. 215; Price v. Charles Warner Co. 1 Penn. (Del.) 462, 42 A. 699; Central R. Bkg. Co. v. Kent, 87 Ga. 402, 13 S.E. 502; Illinois C.R. Co. v. Borders, 61 Ill. App. 55; Stafford v. Oskaloosa, 64 Iowa, 251, 20 N.W. 174; Atchison, T. S.F.R. Co. v. Gants, 38 Kan. 608, 5 Am. St. Rep. 780, 17 P. 54; Junction City v. Blades, 1 Kan. App. 85, 41 P. 677; Chesapeake O.R. Co. v. Riddle, 24 Ky. L. Rep. 1687, 72 S.W. 22; Lawrence v. Mt. Vernon, 35 Me. 100; Carr v. West End Street R. Co. 163 Mass. 360, 40 N.E. 185; McDonald v. Savoy, 110 Mass. 49; Bourassa v. Grand Trunk R. Co. 75 N.H. 359, 74 A. 590; McCarragher v. Rogers, 120 N.Y. 526, 24 N.E. 812; Wooster v. Broadway Seventh Ave. R. Co. 72 Hun, 197, 25 N.Y. Supp. 378; Gulf, C. S.F.R. Co. v. Hamilton, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 76, 42 S.W. 358."

3 Jones Ev. p. 1243, § 1243:

"No better or more constant application of the general rule excluding opinions can be found than in negligence cases. It has been repeatedly held that, where the ultimate fact for the jury is whether the conduct of a certain person was careless, reckless, or negligent, it is not competent for a witness to express an opinion, conclusions, or judgment thereon.

It is the province of the jury to determine the ultimate fact whether conduct was careless, reckless, or negligent, and this right may not be encroached upon by witnesses. It is the function of the witness to state evidentiary facts and the function of the jury to draw such conclusions as the facts warrant."

In Green v. Shaw, 136 S.C. 56, 48 A.L.R. 243, 134 S.E. 226, this question was asked "What is your observation of Dr. Shaw as to his efficiency and carefulness in general?" The information called for is more general than the question calls for in the case at bar, but the court said, "The suit was based upon certain specific acts of the defendant. A physician might be ever so skilful or competent in a general way, might have an unexcelled reputation, and yet be guilty of the grossest negligence in his treatment of a particular case." The court held that the evidence called for by the question, was not admissible.

In the case of Engstrom v. Weis Dental Co. 97 Or. 634, 193 P. 187, it is held, "In an action where negligence on the part of a dentist is charged, evidence as to his reputation for carefulness is inadmissible." See also People v. Crossan, ___ Cal.App. ___,261 P. 531. We are of the opinion that the admission of the testimony was error.

Respondent in his motion for a new trial specified as error, the cross-examination of Dr. Dreisbach, a witness for the plaintiff, in reference to Webster's book on "The Science and Art of Anesthesia." The doctor qualifying did not mention said book, and on cross-examination, he was asked, if he was familiar with it; he answered, "Not very." "I have not read text-books very much in the last ten years." Counsel then proceeded to read portions of the book and asked witness, if he agreed with it. The law is well settled in this state, that text-books cannot be read in the presence of the jury, and cannot be used in the cross-examination of expert witnesses, except, when the witness has testified that he bases his opinion on the knowledge acquired from reading such textbooks.

In the case of State v. Brunette, 28 N.D. 539, 150 N.W. 271, Ann. Cas. 1916E, 340, this court said:

"Although there is some conflict in the authorities and much obscurity of thought therein to be found, the distinction seems to be very clear. It is that, where the expert has testified from his own experience and from his personal experience alone, and has not based his opinions upon any specific authorities, or upon the authorities generally, the scientific treatise may not be read, either directly or indirectly, to the jury, so that in any way their authority may be obtruded upon them. Hypothetical questions may, of course, in all instances, be framed from the books, but the books themselves should not be paraded before the jury."

See also State v. Moeller, 20 N.D. 114, 126 N.W. 572.

Medical text-books cannot be used in opposition to expert medical testimony given upon the stand, for the very good reason, that the author is not under oath, and is not subject to the test of a cross-examination.

The plaintiff, also, claimed in his motion for a new trial, and argued in this court, that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies to this case.

In the recent case of Gallagher v. Kermott, 55 N.D. 161,216 N.W. 569, this court said: "The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur has no application in a malpractice case, and an unfortunate or bad result does not show proof of neglect."

In the case of Loudon v. Scott, 58 Mont. 645, 194 P. 488, 12 A.L.R. 1487 and notes on pages 1493-1495, supra, the court held, that negligence on the part of a surgeon cannot be inferred from the fact alone that the patient died under the anesthetic and that the maxim res ipsa loquitur has no application to death of a patient under an anesthetic.

In the case of Runyan v. Goodrum, 147 Ark. 481, 13 A.L.R. 1403, 228 S.W. 397, 20 N.C.C.A. 373, the court said: "The doctrine ofres ipsa loquitur does not apply in an action for damages for an injury by burning with an X-ray machine."

In the case of Sweeney v. Erving, 35 App. D.C. 57, 43 L.R.A. (N.S.) 734, an action for damages for injury from burning by an X-ray machine, the court said:

"Generally speaking, no inference of negligence can be drawn from the result of the treatment of a physician or surgeon. In the absence of special contract they are not insurers, and there must be evidence of negligence by witnesses qualified to testify. Wood v. Barker, 49 Mich. 295, 13 N.W. 597; Piles v. Hughes, 10 Iowa, 579. ``If the maxim, res ipsa loquitur, were applicable to a case like this, and a failure to cure were held to be evidence, however slight, of negligence on the part of the physician or surgeon causing the bad result, few would be courageous enough to practice the healing art, for they would have to assume financial liability for nearly all the ills that flesh is heir to.' Ewing v. Goode (C.C.) 78 Fed. 442."

The order granting a new trial is affirmed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.

NUESSLE, Ch. J., and BURR, BIRDZELL, and CHRISTIANSON, JJ., concur.