Adams, T. v. Vaughn, D., M.D.

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
THERESA ADAMS 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant
v.
DAVID A. VAUGHN, M.D., AND
SURGICAL SPECIALISTS OF LANCASTER
Appellee No. 1383 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Judgment Entered August 17, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Civil Division at No(s): CI -13-03124
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., OTT, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.: FILED APRIL 06, 2017
Theresa Adams appeals from the judgment entered on August 17,
2016, in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County after the trial court
granted David A. Vaughn, M.D.'s and Surgical Specialists of Lancaster's
(collectively Dr. Vaughn or Defendants) motion for compulsory nonsuit at
the close of Adams' case -in -chief. In this timely appeal, Adams raises three
issues; she claims the trial court erred: (1) in determining plaintiff's expert
on liability did not testify to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, (2) in
granting defendant's motion for nonsuit where plaintiff had provided a prima
facie case against Surgical Specialists of Lancaster, and (3) in striking the
affidavit of Plaintiff's counsel, April L. Strang-Kutay. After a thorough review
of the submissions by the parties, the certified record, and relevant law, we
affirm.
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We adopt the factual and procedural history of this matter as recited
by the trial judge, the Honorable James P. Cullen, in his Opinion and Order
of August 5, 2016,1 denying Adams' motion to remove nonsuit and for a new
trial.
On February 13, 2012, [Adams] presented at the Lancaster
General Hospital Emergency Department complaining of
abdominal pain. After an ultrasound revealed that [Adams]
suffered from gallstones, Dr. Vaughn advised [Adams] that she
needed to have her gallbladder removed and that the procedure
could be done laparoscopically. This procedure was performed
by Dr. Vaughn on February 14, 2012.
Following surgery, [Adams] continued to experience severe pain
and remained hospitalized. A CT scan, performed on February
16, 2012, showed that she had a pelvic abscess, which was
drained the same day. Tests revealed that the contents of the
abscess included bile and feces, indicative of a bowel perforation.
A second CT scan on February 18, 2012, located a .2 cm hole in
[Adams'] bowel, which was surgically repaired. After this second
surgery, [Adams] was treated for peritonitis, continued to
experience pain and other symptoms and missed time from
work.
At trial, on February 9, 2016, [Adams] produced one expert on
liability, I. Michael Leitman, M.D., who testified that he reviewed
[Adams'] medical records from Lancaster General Hospital and
other hospitals, the deposition testimony of Dr. Vaughn and Dr.
Leslie, and the reports by other physicians who reviewed the
case. Based on his review of these items, Dr. Leitman testified
that he had formed an opinion concerning the alleged breach of
the standard of care within a reasonable degree of medical
certainty. He then went on to define reasonable degree of
medical certainty as meaning "based upon evidence and the
records that I have reviewed that, more likely than not the
1 Although judgment was not entered on the docket until August 17, 2016,
the trial court's order and opinion were dated August 5, 2016.
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opinion I have is supported by the records and materials." The
remainder of Dr. Leitman's testimony was devoted to
development of his expert opinion.
On February 11, 2016, at the close of [Adams'] case, Defendants
moved orally for compulsory nonsuit and subsequently filed a
supplemental motion for compulsory nonsuit. Following
argument by the parties, the Court granted the nnotion.[2]
Order and Opinion, 8/5/2016, at 1-3.
Adams' first two issues can be resolved together. Our standard of
review regarding the refusal to remove a nonsuit is as follows:
An order denying a motion to remove a compulsory nonsuit will
be reversed on appeal only for an abuse of discretion or error of
law. A trial court's entry of compulsory nonsuit is proper where
the plaintiff has not introduced sufficient evidence to establish
the necessary elements to maintain a cause of action, and it is
the duty of the trial court to make a determination prior to
submission of the case to a jury In making this determination
the plaintiff must be given the benefit of every fact and all
reasonable inferences arising from the evidence and all conflicts
in evidence must be resolved in plaintiff's favor.
Additionally, a compulsory nonsuit is valid only in a clear case
where the facts and circumstances lead to one conclusion-the
absence of liability.
Neidert v. Charlie, 143 A.3d 384, 387-88 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citations and
quotation marks omitted).
Instantly, the trial court granted nonsuit on favor of Dr. Vaughn
because Adams' expert, Dr. Leitman, failed to give his professional opinion
2
Here, the trial court added a footnote indicating the argument was
conducted in chambers and was not recorded. We also note that Adams'
counsel was offered time to respond to the written supplemental motion for
nonsuit, but declined.
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to the requisite degree of certainty. The trial judge explained his basis for
analysis in his Opinion and Order.
[I]t is settled law that if the circumstances of a medical
malpractice action are beyond the knowledge of a layperson, the
plaintiff must present an expert to testify to a reasonable degree
of medical certainty that the actions of the defendant deviated
from the standard of care and that deviation caused the
plaintiff's injury. Vicari v. Spiegel, 936 A.2d 503, 510 (Pa.
Super. 2007), aff'd 989 A.2d 1277 (Pa. 2010). An expert is not
required to testify with absolute certainty or to rule out all
alternative causes of injury, Winchel v. Jain, 925 A.2d 782,
794 (Pa. Super. 2007), but the expert's testimony, taken in its
entirety, must express reasonable certainty that the acts
complained of were a substantial factor in bringing about the
injury. Hreha v. Benscoter, 554 A.2d 527, 527 (Pa. Super.
1989). As the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explained,
"[t]he issue is not merely one of semantics." McMahon v.
Young, 442 Pa. 484, 486, 276 A.2d 534, 535 (1971).
The opinion of a medical expert is evidence. If the fact -
finder chooses to believe it, he can find as fact what the
expert gave as an opinion. ... Perhaps in the world of
medicine, nothing is absolutely certain. Nevertheless,
doctors must make decisions in their own profession every
day based on their own expert opinions. Physicians must
understand that it is the intent of our law that if the
plaintiff's medical expert cannot form an opinion with
sufficient certainty so as to make a medical judgment,
there is nothing on the record with which a jury can make
a decision with sufficient certainty so as to make a legal
judgment.
Id.The term "reasonable degree of medical certainty" is not clearly
defined in the case law. However, it has been noted that "an
expert fails the standard of certainty if he testifies that the
alleged cause 'possibly' or 'could have' led to the result, or even
that it could 'very properly account' for the result, or even that it
was 'very highly probable' that it caused the result." Griffin v.
Univ. of Pittsburgh Med. Ctr.-Braddock Hosp., 950 A.2d
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996, 1000 (Pa. Super. 2008). Additionally, an expert fails to
satisfy the standard of certainty where that expert's testimony is
framed in terms of "more likely than not." Id. (citing Corrado v.
Thomas Jefferson Univ. Hosp., 790 A.2d 1022, 1031 (Pa.
Super. 2001) (holding that, viewed in its totality, medical
expert's testimony did not rise to the requisite level of certainty
where he testified that "more likely than not in my opinion
[defendant] deviated from the standard of care")).
Order and Opinion, 8/5/2016, at 4-5. We find no error of law in the trial
court's use of this analytic basis.
Initially, we examine Dr. Leitman's direct and redirect testimony
regarding standard of care. On direct examination, Dr. Leitman testified:
Q: And in your opinion, Dr. Leitman, did Dr. Vaughn meet the
standard of care in the performance of the surgery?
A: Dr. Vaughn did not meet the standard of care in performing
the surgery.
Q: And on what do you base that opinion?
A: It's based upon the following: That the bowel was injured.
That there was no other circumstance, in my opinion, that would
have caused the bowel to be injured, and that he didn't go back
and check the area where the instruments were placed to make
sure that the intestine was not injured prior to concluding the
operation. [3]
N.T. Trial, 2/9/2016 at 119.
3 We do not quote Dr. Leitman's entire testimony herein. We note that Dr.
Leitman could not point to any specific action documented in the medical
records that demonstrated Dr. Vaughn's negligence. Essentially, Dr.
Leitman opined Dr. Vaughn had to have misplaced at least one of the
laparoscopic instruments, outside the field of view of the surgical camera, to
have punctured the bowel. Further, Dr. Leitman opined that the injury could
only have occurred during Dr. Vaughn's laparoscopic surgery.
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On redirect, Dr. Leitman testified similarly:
Q: And you have indicated that a perforation of the bowel in a
laparoscopic procedure is a very remote rare circumstance?
A: It is.
Q: And when that circumstance happens does it happen where
the patient is more complex, has adhesions, infection, other
problems?
A: Yes.
Q: And so, if a patient undergoes a procedure with a virgin
abdomen, never having had this type of surgery before with any
adhesions or any anomalies that could confuse a surgeon, if a
bowel puncture is made during that surgery, is that evidence of
substandard care?
A: It is.
Id. at 166-67.
This review of Dr. Leitman's direct and redirect testimony shows his
opinion that the injury suffered by Adams could only happen through
substandard (negligent) care.4 However, that apparent confidence is belied
when examining the totality of his testimony in light of the standard of
certainty required in a medical negligence action.
Even prior to testifying as to his opinion, Dr. Leitman was asked the
following questions on direct examination.
4 Dr. Leitman essentially provided res ipsa loquitor testimony. He could not
opine with certainty which of the laparoscopic instruments caused the injury,
only that one of them must have caused the injury and that the only way an
instrument can cause the injury is by negligent placement.
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Q: Following review of those items, Dr. Leitman, were you able
to form opinions and conclusions within a reasonable degree of
medical certainty concerning this matter?
A: Yes.
Q: And how to you define reasonable medical certainty?
A: What I define as reasonable medical certainty is based upon
evidence and the records that I have reviewed that, more likely
than not the opinion that I have is supported by the records and
materials.
Defense Counsel: Your Honor, I would object to the witness
giving a statement of what the law is with regard to a reasonable
degree of medical certainty.
The Court: Your response?
Plaintiff's Counsel: My response is that when the doctor is giving
his opinion in reasonable medical certainty, he should know what
it means in order to formulate his answer.
The Court: Well, ladies and gentlemen, the doctor may believe
what he wishes about the law; I will tell you what the law is.
You must follow only my instructions on the law. So he is
certainly permitted to give you his understanding about what he
is doing and what he views the standard to be but, again, I will
tell you what the legal standard is and that is the standard you
must apply.
Id., at 99-100.
Here, we note that Dr. Leitman was clearly asked what "reasonable
medical certainty" meant to him, when he stated he was testifying to that
standard. Dr. Leitman clearly stated he believed that his opinion, based
upon evidence and the medical records, is more likely than not. This was
unambiguous testimony. Adams' counsel explicitly told the trial court that
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was the information she was seeking - Dr. Leitman's working definition of
"reasonable medical certainty." Id. at 100.
The standard of "more likely true than not" was raised again during Dr.
Leitman's cross-examination.
Q: Iwant to talk a little bit about whether this injury could have
happened at some time other than during the lap chole.E51 In
your initial report dated March 15th, on page 2.
A: Can I have my reports back? Sorry. Page 2?
Q: Page 2, about halfway down the page, under Opinion of Care
Rendered.
A: Yes.
Q: Numbered paragraph No. 4. I'm going to read the first part
of that sentence. And please tell me if I misstate it. I
sometimes do that when I'm trying to stand and look and read
all at the same time.
More likely than not the perforation to the small intestine "ileum"
occurred during the operation of 2/14/12.
Did I read that part of the sentence correctly?
A: You did.
Q: More likely than not it happened during that surgery.
That would suggest to me, if I understand your use of the
English language, that it's possible it happened at some time
other than that surgery?
5 "Lap chole" is a shortened version of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which
is the formal name of the surgery Dr. Vaughn performed and which was at
issue.
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A: Possibly, but less likely.
Id. at 151-52.
Finally, this exchange took place on redirect and then re -cross
examination:
Q (redirect): Doctor, having reviewed the materials in this case
and having issued two reports well before Dr. Leslie [Defendants'
medical expert] gave his testimony, has it been your opinion
from the very beginning that this bowel puncture was made
during the laparoscopic surgery?
A: Yes.
Q: And do you hold that opinion within reasonable medical
certainty?
A: I do.
Q: No further questions.
The Court: Any recross?
Q (recross): On that last point I want to make sure we are clear.
You have acknowledged under oath that it is possible that that
injury happened at some time other than the lap chole; right?
A: Possibly, but much less likely.
Q: In fact, your terminology is more likely than not?
A: That's what I testified to.
Q: And that's the best that you can testify to?
A: It is.
Id. at 168-69.
Our review of the certified record demonstrates Dr. Leitman repeatedly
testified that, to him, a reasonable degree of medical certainty meant that
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his opinion was "more likely than not." In addition to that testimony, Dr.
Leitman also agreed that, contrary to his direct testimony, it was indeed
possible that the injury did not occur during Dr. Vaughn's laparoscopic
procedure.6 Accordingly, Dr. Leitman contradicted his own testimony that
the injury could only have occurred through Dr. Vaughn's negligent care.
In light of the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not err in
determining Dr. Leitman's testimony was not provided to a sufficient level of
certainty. Therefore, there was no error in granting the compulsory nonsuit
in favor of Dr. Vaughn.
Finally, Adams argues the trial court erred in striking the affidavit of
Attorney Strang-Kutay that detailed her recollection of the argument held in
chambers on the motion for compulsory nonsuit regarding whether the
doctor testified to the requisite degree of certainty. The trial judge has
opined he did not need counsel's recollection of the argument. Specifically,
While the affidavit is a reasonable representation of [Adams']
counsel's recollection of what took place in chambers after the
close of [Adams'] case, Defense counsel asserts that it differs in
some respects from his recollection. (Defendants' Motion to
Strike Affidavit, 23).
'11 It likely differs from the Court's
recollection in some respects as well. Notwithstanding such
differences, the fact remains that the parties present in
chambers all recall what was said and the affidavit does not
6
On cross-examination, Dr. Leitman also agreed that medical literature
admitted the possibility of injury to the small bowel during a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy, although he still claimed negligence was the only instant
possibility. N.T. Trial, 2/9/2016, at 146-47.
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change what each recalls. The Court has discretion in deciding
to admit or exclude and affidavit. See Stumpf v. Nye, 950
A.2d 1032, 135-36 (Pa. Super. 2008). In the present case,
because the affidavit does not add to the understanding of what
took place and is unnecessary to more fully detail the
circumstances, the Court will exclude it.
Opinion and Order, 8/5/2016, at 4.
We have reviewed the affidavit of the argument which was held in
chambers and it does nothing to dissuade us from our conclusion that the
trial court properly determined Dr. Leitman's testimony had failed to meet
the proper standards of certainty. Other issues raised in the affidavit are
irrelevant as counsel made no objections at the time of trial.' Therefore, we
discern no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in striking the
affidavit. Adams is not entitled to relief on this issue.
Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion or commit an error
of law in either denying Adams' motion to remove nonsuit or in striking the
affidavit, Adams is not entitled to relief.
Judgment affirmed.
7 There is no indication in the certified record that Plaintiff's counsel
requested the argument be placed on the record or that such request was
denied.
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Judgment Entered.
J seph D. Seletyn,
Prothonotary
Date: 4/6/2017
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