Case 2

                                             SHEELEY V. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Procedure

           Who are the parties?

1.       Plaintiff: Sheeley

2.       Defendant : Memorial Hospital 

B     What court did it originate?

Supreme Court of Rhode Island. 

C.      Court Decision?

Memorial Hospital was held liable under the locality rule

Facts

A.      State facts that were recited in court

1.       Sheeley gave birth and received an episiotomy.

2.       Sheeley developed complications and sued the physician and Memorial Hospital sought to introduce the testimony of an expert witness to establish the standard of care and objected on the grounds that an expert witness must be in the same field as the defendant physician.

3.       On May 19, 1987, Sheeley delivered a healthy child at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

4.       The trial court sustained and entered a directed verdict in favor of appealed.

Holding

A.      Any doctor with knowledge of the procedure acquired through experience, observation, association, or education is competent to testify about the requisite standard of care.

B.      In deciding whether to qualify an expert the court should consider a physician’s resources, practice area, and experience, but no one issue should be determinative.

Rationale

A.      The appropriate standard of care regarding cases in the medical field is based on a national standard of reasonable care.

Implications

A.      What does this mean for Health Care?

It basically means that all health organizations must be held under the same standard when It comes to treatment for patients. An organization must provide the same procedure within the same community.

Bibliography

  Find Law. (1998, April 08). Retrieved April 26, 2013, SHEELEY v. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/sc-court-of-appeals/1460256.html