Bryant v. McCord

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE,
AT NASHVILLE
FILED
_______________________________________________________
) January 12, 1999
RHONDA S. BRYANT, and husband, ) Davidson County Circuit Court
NATHAN G. BRYANT, ) No. 96C-1013 Cecil W. Crowson
) Appellate Court Clerk
Plaintiffs/Appellants. )
)
VS. ) C.A. No. 01A01-9801-CV-00046
)
DAVID H. MCCORD, M.D., DAVID H. )
MCCORD, d/b/a TENNESSEE SPINE )
CENTER, INC., ACROMED )
CORPORATION, ACROMED, INC., )
and COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE )
CORPORATION, )
)
Defendants, )
)
And )
)
HCA HEALTH SERVICES OF )
TENNESSEE, INC., )
d/b/a CENTENNIAL MEDICAL )
CENTER, )
)
Defendant/Appellee, )
______________________________________________________________________________
From the Circuit Court of Davidson County at Nashville
Honorable Walter C. Kurtz, Judge
Charles J. Williams,
John B. Carlson,
WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., Nashville, Tennessee
G. Thomas Nebel, LAW OFFICES OF TOM NEBEL, P.C., Nashville, Tennessee
Attorneys for Plaintiffs/Appellants.
C. J. Gideon, Jr.,
William S. Walton,
GIDEON & WISEMAN, Nashville, Tennessee
Attorneys for Defendants/Appellees.
OPINION FILED:
AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED
FARMER, J.
CRAWFORD, P.J., W.S.: (Concurs)
TOMLIN, Sp. J.: (Concurs)
Plaintiff Rhonda Bryant appeals an order of the trial court granting summary
judgment in favor of Defendant Centennial Medical Center (CMC). We find, contrary to the ruling
of the trial court, that there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether CMC violated a duty
of care owed to Bryant. Thus, we reverse the portion of the trial court’s order granting summary
judgment to CMC with respect to Bryant’s hospital malpractice claim. For reasons somewhat
different than those cited by the trial court, we agree that the trial court properly granted summary
judgment to CMC with respect to Bryant’s remaining claims.
Factual and Procedural History
Bryant sustained back injuries as a result of her involvement of two separate
automobile accidents occurring in 1979 and 1992. Following the second accident, Bryant was
examined by Dr. Steven McLaughlin. Dr. McLaughlin diagnosed Bryant’s condition as kyphosis,
a condition commonly known as curvature of the spine, and referred Bryant to Dr. David McCord,
an orthopaedic surgeon.
Dr. McCord recommended that Bryant undergo surgery to correct her curvature of
the spine. According to Bryant, Dr. McCord did not guarantee the results of the proposed surgery
but did state that there was a high likelihood that the surgery would be a success and that Bryant
could be as good as new and back to work within six months after the procedure. He further
explained, however, that if the surgery was not a success, Bryant would have to undergo a second
and more extensive surgical procedure. On May 3, 1993, Dr. McCord performed a surgical
procedure on Bryant which involved the implantation of pedicle screws in Bryant’s spine. After this
first surgery, Bryant’s back pain worsened. Six months after the surgery, Bryant was still unable to
return to work. Nine months after the surgery, Bryant continued to take pain medication prescribed
by Dr. McCord. On February 21, 1994, Bryant underwent a second surgery during which Dr.
McCord replaced the pedicle screws implanted during the first surgery and inserted a “bone cage”
in Bryant’s spine.
Bryant continued to experience severe pain and take prescription pain medication
following this second surgery. Bryant consulted Dr. John Campa regarding further treatment for her
continuing pain. While in the waiting room of Dr. Campa’s office, Bryant met a woman who
informed her that several lawsuits had been filed against Dr. McCord in connection with his use of
pedicle screws. Bryant made arrangements to meet with the attorneys who represented the plaintiffs
in the other lawsuits against Dr. McCord. Bryant also sought a second opinion from Dr. John Ditmer
regarding her injuries. In June of 1997, Bryant underwent a third surgery to correct her back injuries.
This procedure, which was performed by Dr. Michael McNamara, involved the removal of the
hardware implanted in Bryant’s spine by Dr. McCord and its replacement with other corrective
hardware.
On March 18, 1996, Bryant filed an action against a variety of defendants including
Centennial Medical Center (CMC), the facility where Dr. McCord performed the May 1993 and
February 1994 surgeries.1 During the same week that Bryant filed her complaint, approximately
sixty identical lawsuits were filed by Bryant’s attorneys on behalf of other individual plaintiffs. All
of the cases were assigned to a single trial judge who selected twelve of the cases (including the
action brought by Bryant) to proceed with discovery.
On May 6, 1997, CMC filed a motion for summary judgment with respect to all of
Bryant’s claims against CMC. On October 17, 1997, while CMC’s motion for summary judgment
was still pending, a Pennsylvania federal court approved a settlement agreement in a multiple district
lawsuit against AcroMed, the manufacturer of the devices implanted in Bryant’s spine during the
May 1993 and the February 1994 surgeries. See Fanning v. AcroMed Corp. (In re Orthopedic
Bone Screw Prods. Liability Litigation), 176 F.R.D. 158 (E.D. Penn. 1997). By memorandum
opinion dated October 30, 1997, the trial court granted CMC’s motion for summary judgment.
Bryant filed a motion to alter or amend the ruling which was denied by the trial court. Bryant has
appealed the trial court’s ruling with respect to her claims based on lack of informed consent,
1
Bryant’s complaint alleged a number of theories for recovery, including negligence, strict
liability, failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of
implied warranty, breach of express warranty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fear of
future illness and/or product failure, negligent infliction of emotional distress, violation of the
Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, supply of a product dangerous for its intended use, doctor’s
medical malpractice, hospital’s medical malpractice, battery, lack of informed consent,
conspiracy, joint enterprise, negligence per se, and action in concert. On appeal we consider only
Bryant’s claims based on lack of informed consent, hospital malpractice, joint enterprise, and
acting in concert.
hospital malpractice, joint enterprise, and acting in concert.
Issues
The issues on appeal as we perceive them are as follows: (1) Are any or all of
Bryant’s claims against CMC barred by the AcroMed settlement agreement? (2) Are any or all of
Bryant’s claims against CMC barred by the statute of limitations? (3) Did the trial court err in
granting summary judgment in favor of CMC with respect to Bryant’s claims against CMC based
on lack of informed consent, hospital malpractice, joint enterprise, and/or acting in concert?
Standard of Review
Summary judgment is appropriate only if the party seeking summary judgment
demonstrates that there are no genuine issues of material fact and further shows that, under the
undisputed facts, the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. See White v.
Lawrence, 975 S.W.2d 525, 528 (Tenn. 1998)(citing Byrd v. Hall, 847 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Tenn.
1993)). When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the court must view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of
the nonmoving party and discarding all countervailing evidence. See id. at 529 (citing Byrd, 847
S.W.2d at 210-11). If there is a dispute as to any material fact or any doubt as to the conclusion to
be drawn from the evidence, the motion must be denied. See Dooley v. Everett, 805 S.W.2d 380,
383 (Tenn. App. 1990)(citing Phillips v. Pittsburg Consol. Coal Co., 541 S.W.2d 411, 413 (Tenn.
1976)). Because this is solely a legal determination, our review of the trial court’s ruling on a
motion for summary judgment is de novo with no presumption of correctness. See White, 975
S.W.2d at 528-29 (citing Robinson v. Omer, 952 S.W.2d 423, 426 (Tenn. 1997); Bain v. Wells, 936
S.W.2d 618, 622 (Tenn. 1997)).
AcroMed Settlement Agreement
In December of 1996, a settlement agreement was reached in a lawsuit pending
against AcroMed in a Pennsylvania federal court. The Pennsylvania district court issued an opinion
approving this agreement on October 17, 1997. See Fanning v. AcroMed Corp. (In re Orthopedic
Bone Screw Prods. Liability Litigation), 176 F.R.D. 158 (E.D. Penn. 1997). In its memorandum
opinion of October 30, 1997, the trial court in the instant case did not discuss the existence of this
settlement agreement. On appeal, however, CMC contends that the agreement provides an
additional basis for the dismissal of Bryant’s claims against CMC. Thus, although the trial court did
not rely upon the AcroMed settlement agreement when granting CMC’s motion for summary
judgment, we nevertheless address whether the agreement has any legal effect on Bryant’s claims.
The AcroMed settlement agreement provides in pertinent part as follows:
This Agreement shall be the exclusive remedy for any and all
Settled Claims of Settlement Class Members and for any claims of
Settlement Class Members against AcroMed and the Released Parties
arising out of the subject matter of this Agreement and the Complaint.
AcroMed and the Released Parties shall not be subject to liability or
expense of any kind to any Settlement Class Member with respect to
any Settled Claim or for any claim arising out of the subject matter of
this Agreement, except as provided in this Agreement. When the
Final Order and Judgment becomes Final, each of the Settlement
Class Members shall be barred from initiating, asserting, or
prosecuting any Settled Claims.
In determining whether this provision operates to bar Bryant’s claims against CMC, we must first
determine whether Bryant qualifies as a member of the settlement class. The AcroMed agreement
defines the term “Settlement Class” as follows:
“Settlement Class” shall mean all persons and entities
wherever located, who have or may in the future have any claim
(whether filed or unfiled, existing or contingent, and specifically
including claims for alleged injuries and damages not yet known or
manifest), . . . in any state or federal courts of the United States or the
courts of its territories or possessions, against any or all of AcroMed
and the Released Parties arising out of, based upon, related to, or
involving Orthopedic Bone Screws that were implanted in the United
States or its territories or possessions in an operation that occurred on
or before December 31, 1996 . . . .
The agreement defines the term “Orthopedic Bone Screw” as follows:
“Orthopedic Bone Screw” shall mean any screw, including but not limited
to bone screws, cancellous bone screws, universal cancellous bone screws, sacral
screws, iliac screws, and pedicle screws, and/or related devices used with such
screws as adjuncts to spinal fusion surgery, including but not limited to plates, rods,
hooks, wires, cables, connectors, nails, clamps, washers, nuts, ramps, cages, and
implants of any kind.
In the instant case, Bryant filed a claim in state court against AcroMed and other defendants. This
claim is directly related to the implantation of pedicle screws and a bone cage in her spine prior to
December 31, 1996. Thus, we conclude that Bryant is a member of the settlement class affected by
the AcroMed agreement.
We next consider whether CMC is among the defendants affected by the AcroMed
settlement agreement. The agreement states that its purpose is to “settle and resolve . . . all
Orthopedic Bone Screw Related claims against AcroMed and the Released Parties.” The terms and
conditions of the agreement specifically require the dismissal of claims against AcroMed, the
released parties, and the professional societies. The terms “released parties” and “professional
societies” are defined as follows:
“Released Party/Parties” shall mean and shall be limited to
those persons and entities listed on Exhibit E to this Agreement.
“Professional Societies” shall mean the American Academy
of Neurological Surgeons (“AANS”), American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons (“AAOS”), North American Spine Society
(“NASS”), and Scoliosis Research Society (“SRS”).
CMC is not included among the parties listed in Exhibit E of the settlement agreement. It is also not
one of the organizations named in the definition of the term “Professional Societies.” Thus, the
express language of the purpose statement contained in the AcroMed settlement agreement supports
the conclusion that the agreement was not intended to settle claims brought against CMC.
CMC contends that, in addition to claims against AcroMed, the released parties, and
the professional societies, the settlement agreement also operates to bar claims against non-settling
defendants. The term “Non-Settling Defendant” is defined as follows:
“Non-Settling Defendant” shall mean any person or entity that is not
AcroMed or a Released Party as defined herein but that is named as
a defendant in any pending or future action or litigation alleging
injury or damage as a result of the implantation of any Orthopedic
Bone Screw.
We agree that CMC qualifies as a non-settling defendant within the meaning of this definition.
We conclude, however, that the AcroMed settlement agreement does not provide for
the dismissal of claims against non-settling defendants. Rather, the agreement serves to enjoin non-
settling defendants from maintaining an action for contribution, indemnity, or subrogation against
AcroMed or the released parties. The agreement requires class members to deposit into the
settlement fund any money received from non-settling defendants and provides that such proceeds
shall not be disbursed until the claims against the non-settling defendant are either dismissed with
prejudice or until the non-settling defendant releases any third party claims that it may have against
AcroMed and/or the released parties. Additionally, it authorizes the administrator of the settlement
fund to consider the extent to which non-AcroMed bone screw recipients have been compensated
by non-settling defendants when deciding whether to make funds available to this class of plaintiffs.
Finally, the agreement states that judgments obtained against non-settling defendants shall be
reduced by any amount that the non-settling party is entitled to recover from AcroMed or the
released parties. Thus, the language of the AcroMed settlement agreement contemplates that
members of the settlement class might obtain judgments against defendants such as CMC that did
not participate in the settlement.
Accordingly, we find that the AcroMed settlement agreement releases any settled
claims that Bryant may have against AcroMed, the released parties, and the professional societies
but does not require the dismissal of Bryant’s claims against any non-settling defendant, including
CMC.
Statute of Limitations
At trial, CMC argued that all of Bryant’s claims against CMC were barred by the
statute of limitations. The trial court found that, with the exception of Bryant’s claim that CMC did
not inform her that she might experience pain, discomfort, and abnormal sensations and that her pain
level might worsen after the 1993 surgery, Bryant’s claims are not barred by the applicable statute
of limitations. CMC does not challenge this ruling on appeal. Bryant, however, contends that the
trial court erred in finding that her pain related lack of informed consent claims are untimely.
Causes of action based on lack of informed consent are subject to the same limitations
period as medical malpractice claims. See Shadrick v. Coker, 963 S.W.2d 726, 733 (Tenn. 1998).
The statute of limitations applicable to medical malpractice claims states in pertinent part as follows:
(1) The statute of limitations in malpractice actions shall be one (1)
year as set forth in § 28-3-104.
(2) In the event the alleged injury is not discovered within the
said one (1) year period, the period of limitation shall be one (1) year
from the date of such discovery.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-116 (a) (1980). The two surgeries that Dr. McCord performed on Bryant
at CMC took place on May 3, 1993 and February 21, 1994. Bryant did not file her complaint against
CMC until March 18, 1996. Thus, CMC contends that Bryant’s claims arising out of these two
surgeries are untimely.
In considering whether Bryant’s lack of informed consent claims related to pain
experienced after the May 1993 surgery are barred by the statute of limitations, we must first
determine the date on which Bryant discovered her injuries. In Shadrick v. Coker, 963 S.W.2d 726(Tenn. 1998), Shadrick underwent a surgical procedure on March 12, 1990 involving the
implantation of pedicle screws. See id. at 728. After the surgery, Shadrick’s pain worsened and in
September of 1990, an X-ray revealed that one of the screws had broken. See id. at 729. In
November of 1990, the pedicle screws were surgically removed from Shadrick’s back. See id.
Shadrick continued to experience pain even after the screws were removed. See id. Dr. Coker,
Shadrick’s surgeon, did not attribute Shadrick’s continued pain to the use of pedicle screws. See id.
Rather, he explained that this pain might be due to inflammation or scarring and also expressed his
belief that Shadrick had a low tolerance for pain. See id. On December 17, 1993, Shadrick viewed
a television program reporting that pedicle screws were experimental, had not been approved for use
in the spine, and had caused a number of problems in patients in whom they had been implanted.
See id.
On December 16, 1994, Shadrick filed an action against Dr. Coker and CMC, the
facility where his surgeries were performed, alleging that he had not been informed of the risks
associated with the use of pedicle screws prior to the surgery. See id. Dr. Coker and CMC filed
identical motions for summary judgment, claiming that Shadrick’s claims were barred by the one
year statute of limitations applicable to medical malpractice claims. See id. at 730. The trial court
granted the motion to dismiss. See id. On appeal, the Tennessee Supreme Court noted as follows:
[T]he statute of limitations begins to run when the plaintiff knows or
in the exercise of reasonable care and diligence should know that an
injury has been sustained as a result of wrongful or tortious conduct
by the defendant. . . . “It is knowledge of facts sufficient to put a
plaintiff on notice that an injury has been sustained which is crucial.”
Stanbury, at 678. Such knowledge includes not only an awareness
of the injury, but also the tortious origin or wrongful nature of that
injury.
Id. at 733-34 (quoting Stanbury v. Bacardi, 953 S.W.2d 671, 677 (Tenn. 1997); Roe v. Jefferson,
875 S.W.2d 653, 657-58 (Tenn. 1994); Hathaway v. Tennessee Anesthesiology, P.C., 724 S.W.2d
355, 359 (Tenn. App. 1986)). The court then concluded that, because he had been told that the use
of pedicle screws was a “routine treatment” and because Shadrick’s surgeon offered other
explanations for Shadrick’s continued pain, there was evidence from which a jury could find that
Shadrick did not discover his cause of action until December of 1993. See id. at 734. Thus, the
court held that there was a genuine issue of material fact regarding when the statute of limitations
began to run. See id. at 735.
In the present case, Bryant experienced back pain prior to her referral to Dr. McCord.
Her pain worsened, however, after she underwent surgery in May of 1993. Bryant stated that it
never occurred to her after the May 1993 surgery that she might have a cause of action because Dr.
McCord had explained that, if the May 1993 surgery was unsuccessful, Bryant may have to undergo
a second surgical procedure. Like the plaintiff in Shadrick, Bryant also viewed a television program
regarding the dangers of pedicle screws. Bryant became concerned and discussed the program with
Dr. McCord during her next visit. Dr. McCord reassured Bryant that the screws used during her
surgery were different from and of a higher qualify than the ones discussed on the television
program.
Applying the holding in Shadrick to the case at bar, we must conclude that, because
Dr. McCord allegedly attempted to persuade Bryant that the screws implanted in her spine were not
the cause of her continuing pain, there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding when Bryant
should have reasonably known that the pain she experienced after the May 1993 surgery was the
result of the screws used by Dr. McCord. While Bryant was certainly aware of her pain immediately
following the May 1993 surgery, a jury could reasonably conclude that she was not aware of the
tortious origin of her pain until sometime thereafter. Thus, we hold that the trial court erred in
finding that Bryant’s lack of informed consent claims relating to pain experienced after the May
1993 surgery are barred by the statute of limitations.
Lack of Informed Consent
Bryant contends that CMC failed to obtain her informed consent prior to the
performance of the May 1993 and February 1994 surgeries. CMC, however, argues that it had no
legal duty to obtain Bryant’s informed consent.
Bryant filed with the trial court affidavits from three physicians concluding that CMC
had a duty to obtain Bryant’s informed consent prior to each of the surgical procedures performed
on Bryant. Expert testimony, however, should not be considered when determining whether a
defendant owes a legal duty to a plaintiff. See Coffey v. Knoxville, 866 S.W.2d 516, 519 (Tenn.
1993). Rather, the existence or nonexistence of a duty is entirely a question of law to be determined
by the court. See, e.g., Blair v. Campbell, 924 S.W.2d 75, 78 (Tenn. 1996). Thus, in determining
whether CMC had a duty to obtain Bryant’s informed consent, we will disregard the legal
conclusions contained in the affidavits of Bryant’s expert witnesses.
It is well established in Tennessee that a physician has a duty to obtain the informed
consent of his or her patient before administering a treatment or performing a surgical procedure on
the patient. See, e.g., Shadrick, 963 S.W.2d at 732 (citing Cardwell v. Bechtol, 724 S.W.2d 739,
750 (Tenn. 1987)). The law in Tennessee is silent, however, regarding whether the hospital where
the treatment is administered or the surgical procedure is performed also has a duty to obtain the
patient’s informed consent. Other jurisdictions that have considered this question have repeatedly
held that hospitals generally do not have a duty to obtain the patient’s informed consent. Krane v.
Saint Anthony Hosp. Sys, 738 P.2d 75, 77 (Colo. Ct. App. 1987); Petriello v. Kalman, 576 A.2d
474, 478 (Conn. 1990); Valcin v. Public Health Trust of Dade County, 473 So. 2d 1297, 1307 (Fla.
Dist. Ct. App. 1984), approved in part and quashed in part on other grounds, 507 So. 2d 596 (Fla.
1987); Parr v. Palmyra Park Hosp., 228 S.E.2d 596, 597-98 (Ga. Ct. App. 1976); Pickle v. Curns,
435 N.E.2d 877, 880-81 (Ill. App. Ct. 1982); Auler v. Van Natta, 686 N.E.2d 172, 175 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1997); Pauscher v. Iowa Methodist Medical Ctr., 408 N.W.2d 355, 362 (Iowa 1987); Lincoln
v. Gupta, 370 N.W.2d 312, 318 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985); Baltzell v. Baptist Medical Ctr., 718 S.W.2d
140, 142 (Mo. Ct. App. 1986); Giese v. Stice, 567 N.W.2d 156, 164 (Neb. 1997); Johnson v. Sears,
Roebuck & Co., 832 P.2d 797, 800 (N.M. Ct. App. 1992); Fiorentino v. Wenger, 227 N.E.2d 296,
301 (N.Y. 1967); Cox v. Haworth, 283 S.E.2d 392, 395-96 (N.C. Ct. App. 1981); Kershaw v.
Reichert, 445 N.W.2d 16, 17 (N.D. 1989); Goss v. Oklahoma Blood Inst., 856 P.2d 998, 1007
(Okla. Ct. App. 1990); Kelly v. Methodist Hosp., 664 A.2d 148, 150 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1995); Ritter
v. Delaney, 790 S.W.2d 29, 32 (Tex. Ct. App. 1990); Howell v. Spokane & Inland Empire Blood
Bank, 785 P.2d 815, 822-23 (Wash. 1990); Cross v. Trapp, 294 S.E.2d 446, 459 (W. Va. 1982).
The underlying rationale of these decisions has been stated as follows:
It is the surgeon, and not the hospital, who has the technical
knowledge and training necessary to advise each patient of the risks
of the surgery prior to the patient giving his consent. Further, the
hospital does not know the patient’s medical history, nor the details
of the particular surgery to be performed.
Krane, 738 P.2d at 77. Additionally, one court commented that “[t]o impose upon a hospital the
duty to inform would be to require a hospital to intervene into the physician/patient relationship” and
concluded that this result would be “more disruptive than beneficial to [the] patient.” Goss, 856 P.2d
at 1007 (quoting Howell, 785 P.2d at 822).
We agree that the duty to obtain a patient’s informed consent prior to the performance
of a surgical procedure lies exclusively with the patient’s physician. Thus, there is no duty on the
part of the hospital to give the patient information, to ensure that the patient understands any
information received from other sources, such as the patient’s physician, or to obtain the patient’s
consent prior to the scheduled procedure. Similarly, we do not think that the hospital has a duty to
ensure that the patient’s physician has carried out his or her duty to obtain the patient’s informed
consent. We agree with the court in Goss that such a rule would require hospitals to unnecessarily
interfere with the physician/patient relationship. See id.
At least one jurisdiction has recognized a limited exception to the general rule that
the law does not impose on a hospital a duty to obtain informed consent from its patients. In Friter
v. Iolab Corp., 607 A.2d 1111 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1992), the plaintiff underwent cataract surgery
involving the implantation of a type of lens that had not been approved by the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and that was the subject of a clinical study designed to test its
safety. See id. at 1111. FDA regulations required hospitals participating in the study to obtain
informed consent from any patient undergoing this experimental treatment. See id. The plaintiff
brought an action against the hospital, alleging that he was not informed prior to the surgery that he
was a participant in the study or that the experimental lens would be implanted in his eye during the
surgery. See id. at 1111-1112. While noting the general rule that hospitals do not have an
independent duty to obtain informed consent, the court found that, by participating in an experiment
that was subject to the FDA regulations, the hospital assumed a duty to obtain the patient’s informed
consent. See id. at 1115.
In Corrigan v. Methodist Hosp., 158 F.R.D. 70 (E.D. Pa. 1994), the plaintiff
underwent back surgery involving the implantation of devices similar to those implanted in the
instant case. See id. at 71-72. The plaintiff asserted a claim against the hospital where the procedure
was performed, alleging that the hospital knew that his surgery was performed as part of an informal
clinical study, that the FDA had restricted the sale of these devices to approved institutions, and that
the hospital was not one of those institutions. See id. at 73. The plaintiff argued that, under such
facts, Fritter imposed on the hospital an independent duty to obtain his informed consent. See id.
The court found that the plaintiff had alleged facts sufficient to maintain a cause of action against
the hospital for lack of informed consent and thus held that the trial court should have denied the
hospital’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. See id.
In the instant case, Bryant alleges that CMC failed to inform her (1) that pedicle
screws were not approved by the FDA for use in spine surgery, (2) that pedicle screws were
classified by the FDA as experimental or investigational, and (3) that there were medical problems
and other risks associated with the use of pedicle screws. She does not allege, however, that the
devices used by Dr. McCord were implanted in her spine as part of a clinical study. We think that
the duty imposed by Friter and Corrigan is limited to situations in which the hospital, by virtue of
its participation in a clinical study, is subject to FDA regulations and applies only when the patient
is actually a subject in the study. In the case at bar, it is undisputed that Bryant was not involved in
any FDA regulated study. Thus, we conclude as a matter of law that CMC had no duty to obtain her
informed consent. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not err in granting CMC’s motion
for summary judgment with respect to Bryant’s informed consent claim.
Hospital Malpractice
The trial court also granted summary judgment in favor of CMC with respect to
Bryant’s hospital malpractice claim. On appeal, Bryant contends that CMC (1) failed to verify that
Bryant had given her informed consent and permitted the use of a misleading and inaccurate consent
form, (2) failed to monitor and control the use of investigational devices used in surgeries performed
at CMC, and (3) failed to enforce policies governing the obtaining of informed consent. Bryant’s
first and third allegations are related to her claim against CMC based on lack of informed consent.
In addressing this claim, we held that the duty to obtain a patient’s informed consent lies with the
patient’s physician, not with the hospital where the procedure is performed. Similarly, we held that
there is no duty on the part of the hospital to ensure that the physician has obtained the patient’s
informed consent prior to the performance of the scheduled procedure. Thus, we consider only
whether the trial court erred in finding that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that CMC
is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law regarding Bryant’s claim that CMC violated a duty owed
to her in failing to monitor the use of investigational devices used in surgeries performed at CMC.
Bryant asserts the position that her hospital malpractice claim is predicated on the
doctrine of corporate negligence. The doctrine of corporate negligence imposes liability on a
hospital for the breach of a duty of care owed by the hospital directly to the patient. See, e.g., Clark
v. Perry, 442 S.E.2d 57, 65 (N.C. Ct. App. 1994). Under this legal theory, hospitals owe to patients
four types of duties. These duties include as follows:
(1) a duty to use reasonable care in the maintenance of safe and
adequate facilities and equipment; (2) a duty to select and retain only
competent physicians; (3) a duty to oversee all persons who practice
medicine within its walls as to patient care; and (4) a duty to
formulate, adopt and enforce adequate rules and policies to ensure
quality care for the patients.
Thompson v. Nason Hosp., 591 A.2d 703, 707 (Penn. 1991)(internal citations omitted). The
doctrine of corporate negligence has been recognized by at least seventeen jurisdictions outside of
Tennessee. See Tucson Medical Ctr., Inc. v. Misevch, 545 P.2d 958, 960 (Ariz. 1976); Elam v.
College Park Hosp., 183 Cal. Rptr. 156, 157 (Cal. Ct. App. 1982); Kitto v. Gilbert, 570 P.2d 544,
550 (Colo. Ct. App. 1977); Insinga v. LaBella, 543 So. 2d 209, 214 (Fla. 1989); Mitchell County
Hosp. Auth. v. Joiner, 189 S.E.2d 412, 414 (Ga. 1972); Darling v. Charleston Community
Memorial Hosp., 211 N.E.2d 253, 258 (Ill. 1965); Ferguson v. Gonyaw, 236 N.W.2d 543, 550
(Mich. Ct. App. 1975); Gridley v. Johnson, 476 S.W.2d 475, 484-85 (Mo. 1972); Foley v. Bishop
Clarkson Memorial Hosp., 173 N.W.2d 881, 884 (Neb. 1970); Corleto v. Shore Memorial Hosp.,
350 A.2d 534, 537-38 (N.J. Super. Ct. Law Div. 1975); Raschel v. Rish, 488 N.Y.S.2d 923, 925
(N.Y. App. Div. 1985); Blanton v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hosp., Inc., 354 S.E.2d 455, 457-58
(N.C. 1987); Benedict v. St. Luke’s Hosps., 365 N.W.2d 499, 504 (N.D. 1985); Park N. Gen. Hosp.
v. Hickman, 703 S.W.2d 262, 266 (Tex. Ct. App. 1985); Pedroza v. Bryant, 677 P.2d 166, 170
(Wash. 1984); Utter v. United Hosp. Ctr., Inc., 236 S.E.2d 213, 215 (W. Va. 1977); Johnson v.
Misericordia Community Hosp., 301 N.W.2d 156, 164 (Wis. 1981).
The courts of Tennessee have long recognized that hospitals have a legal duty to
exercise reasonable care toward their patients. See O’Quin v. Baptist Memorial Hosp., 201 S.W.2d
694, 697 (Tenn. 1947); Keeton v. Maury County Hosp., 713 S.W.2d 314, 316 (Tenn. App. 1986).
In Crumley v. Memorial Hosp., Inc., 509 F. Supp. 531 (E.D. Tenn. 1979), aff’d mem., 647 F.2d
164 (6th Cir. 1981), a federal court considered whether, under Tennessee law, a hospital could be
held independently liable for the negligence of one of its anesthesiologists. The Crumley court
recognized that a hospital has a duty to use due care in the selection and retention of physicians
practicing within its facility. See id. at 535. In Prince v. Coffee County, Tennessee, No. 01A01-
9508-CV-00342, 1996 WL 221863 (Tenn. App. May 3, 1996), the plaintiff sustained injuries
resulting from improperly administered anesthetic during out-patient surgery. See id. at *1. The
plaintiff filed a claim against the hospital where the procedure was performed, alleging that it
negligently failed to establish and enforce adequate anesthetic policies and procedures. See id. We
reversed an order of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of the hospital, finding that
there were genuine issues of material fact precluding summary judgment. See id. at *5. In Keeton
v. Maury County Hosp., 713 S.W.2d 314 (Tenn. App. 1986), the seventy-nine year old plaintiff
repeatedly called for a nurse to assist him in getting to the restroom. See id. at 315. Because no one
appeared to assist him, the plaintiff attempted to go to the restroom alone, lost his balance, and fell
to the floor. See id. at 316. We held in Keeton that, in failing to assist the plaintiff, the hospital did
not exercise reasonable care toward the plaintiff. See id. at 318. Finally, in Spivey v. St. Thomas
Hosp., 211 S.W.2d 450 (Tenn. App. 1947), a delirious patient fell out of the window of his third
floor hospital room. See id. at 451. We held that the hospital had a duty to prevent a patient in a
delirious condition from getting out of bed and harming himself. See id. at 454.
Bryant urges us to expressly adopt the doctrine of corporate negligence. We find this
to be unnecessary because we believe that it is already the law of this state that hospitals have a duty
to use reasonable care to maintain their facilities and equipment in a safe condition, to select and
retain only competent physicians, to supervise the care given to patients by hospital personnel, and
to adopt and enforce rules and policies designed to ensure that patients receive quality care. As part
of its duty to supervise the care given to patients, we think that a hospital must exercise at least a
limited amount of control over the use of devices that are considered to be investigational. In
opposition to CMC’s motion for summary judgment, Bryant relies in part upon the affidavits of three
physicians stating that the devices implanted in her spine at CMC were investigational.
Additionally, Bryant relies upon a letter written by Dr. Robert Alford, CMC’s Medical Director,
suggesting that the use of pedicle screws in spine fixation surgery should be regarded as
investigational. Finally, Bryant notes that CMC’s institutional review board discussed Dr. Alford’s
letter and concluded that this usage of bone screws should be employed under “investigational
protocol.” CMC, however, denies that the devices implanted in Bryant’s spine were investigational.
On the contrary, CMC alleges that these types of devices have been widely used in the medical
community for many years. Whether a medical device is investigational is not a question that may
be resolved on a motion for summary judgment but instead must be determined by the trier of fact
after consideration of all of the evidence. We thus find that, in the instant case, the trial court erred
in granting summary judgment in favor of CMC with respect to Bryant’s hospital malpractice claim.
On remand, the trier of fact must determine whether the devices implanted in Bryant’s spine were
investigational. If the trier of fact concludes that the devices were, in fact, investigational, it must
then determine whether CMC violated its duty to monitor and control the use of these devices in its
facilities.
Joint Enterprise
Bryant also seeks to recover from CMC under the theory of joint enterprise. Bryant
essentially claims that CMC was engaged in a joint venture with Dr. McCord, the purpose of which
was to raise revenue by performing as many surgical procedures as possible at CMC. A joint
venture is similar to a partnership and thus is subject to the same rules of law that apply to
partnerships. See, e.g., Federated Stores Realty, Inc. v. Huddleston, 852 S.W.2d 206, 212 (Tenn.
1992). The law of Tennessee imposes joint and several liability on members of a partnership for the
tortious acts committed by any partner in furtherance of the partnership. See In re Sikes, 184 B.R.
742, 747 (M.D. Tenn. 1995).
In order to establish that CMC and Dr. McCord were engaged in a joint venture,
Bryant must show (1) that they shared a common purpose, (2) that there was an agreement between
them, and (3) that they each had an equal right “to control both the venture as a whole and any
relevant instrumentality.” Fain v. O’Connell, 909 S.W.2d 790, 793 (Tenn. 1995)(quoting Cecil v.
Hardin, 575 S.W.2d 268, 271 (Tenn. 1978)). The imposition of liability based on the existence of
a joint venture is reserved for “cases in which the parties associate for business, or expense sharing,
or some comparable arrangement.” Id. (quoting Cecil, 575 S.W.2d at 272).
In the instant case, Bryant has alleged that CMC funded the hiring of a program
coordinator who worked with CMC’s marketing director to promote the services provided by Dr.
McCord and that CMC guaranteed a base salary to two members of Dr. McCord’s staff. Bryant
contends that, from these facts, a jury could conclude that CMC and Dr. McCord shared a common
purpose and had reached an agreement regarding that purpose. We agree that these facts alleged by
Bryant are sufficient to create a jury question with respect to these first two elements of a claim
based on the theory of joint enterprise.
With respect to the third element of a joint venture, Bryant alleges that CMC
instituted certain policies regarding the performance of surgeries at CMC, including a policy
restricting surgeons from performing more than two back surgeries and one neck surgery per day.
Bryant further alleges, however, that Dr. McCord sometimes violated this policy by scheduling three
or four back surgeries in a single day and that CMC would allow Dr. McCord to do “whatever he
wanted.” Assuming the truth of these allegations, as we must for purposes of summary judgment,
we cannot conclude that CMC and Dr. McCord shared equal control over their business relationship.
On the contrary, it appears that Dr. McCord acted independently of CMC with respect to the care
of his patients, ignoring the attempts of CMC to regulate the number of procedures that he performed
per day. We thus find that Bryant has failed to state a claim against CMC under the theory of joint
enterprise. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court properly granted CMC’s motion for summary
judgment regarding this claim.
Acting in Concert
Finally, Bryant contends that CMC is subject to liability for her injuries under a
concert of action theory. The courts of this state have recognized that “when two or more persons
engage in an unlawful act and one of them commits a serious civil injury upon a person not engaged
therein, all are equally liable for damages to the injured party.” Huckeby v. Spangler, 521 S.W.2d
568, 573 (Tenn. 1975). The elements of a claim based on a concert of action theory include as
follows:
For harm resulting to a third person from the tortious conduct of
another, one is subject to liability if he
(a) does a tortious act in concert with the other or pursuant to
a common design with him, or
(b) knows that the other’s conduct constitutes a breach of
duty and gave substantial assistance or encouragement to the other so
to conduct himself, or
(c) gives substantial assistance to the other in accomplishing
a tortious result and his own conduct, separately considered,
constitutes a breach of duty to third person.
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 876(c). Bryant contends that by failing to supervise Dr. McCord
and by allowing Dr. McCord to use its facilities when performing surgical procedures, CMC
substantially assisted Dr. McCord in breaching his duty of care owed to Bryant. We disagree. The
acts alleged by Bryant, even if proven to be true, would not constitute substantial assistance on the
part of CMC. Thus, we conclude that Bryant has failed to state a claim under the theory of concert
of action. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court properly granted CMC’s motion for summary
judgment with respect to this claim.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we find (1) that the AcroMed settlement agreement does
not require the dismissal of any of Bryant’s claims against CMC, (2) that none of Bryant’s claims
against CMC are barred by the statute of limitations, (3) that the trial court properly granted CMC’s
motion for summary judgment with respect to Bryant’s claims based on lack of informed consent,
(4) that the trial court erred in granting CMC’s motion for summary judgment with respect to
Bryant’s claims based on hospital malpractice, (5) that the trial court properly granted CMC’s
motion for summary judgment with respect to Bryant’s joint enterprise claim, and (6) that the trial
court properly granted CMC’s motion for summary judgment with respect to Bryant’s acting in
concert claim.
We therefore affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion. Cost of appeal are charged one-half to Bryant and one-half
to CMC, for which execution may issue if necessary.
____________________________________
FARMER, J.
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CRAWFORD, P.J., W.S. (Concurs)
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TOMLIN, Sp. J. (Concurs)