Berel v. HCA Health Services of Texas, Inc.

881 S.W.2d 21, 1994 WL 69943
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 28, 1994
Docket01-93-00513-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 881 S.W.2d 21 (Berel v. HCA Health Services of Texas, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Berel v. HCA Health Services of Texas, Inc., 881 S.W.2d 21, 1994 WL 69943 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinions

OPINION

O’CONNOR, Justice.

The plaintiffs, Beverly Berel and her minor children, Kelly Pileik and Brian Pilcik, and Beverly Carroll and her minor children, Kristy Berel and Jake Berel,1 appeal the summary judgment granted in favor of the defendant, HCA Health Services of Texas, Inc., d/b/a Houston International Hospital (the hospital). They also appeal the trial court’s order severing their cause of action against the hospital from the original lawsuit.

The plaintiffs’ causes of action

In their original lawsuit, the plaintiffs brought suit against Dr. Estella Robinson and the hospital. According to their petition, the plaintiffs consulted Dr. Robinson in her professional capacity as a psychiatrist, and she recommended that Kristy and Jake Ber-el, and Beverly Berel and her children Kelly and Brian, be hospitalized in Houston International Hospital for treatment of alleged emotional disturbances.2 They asserted that Dr. Robinson, individually and as an agent of the hospital, was negligent in, among other things: admitting them to the hospital on the basis of “insufficient testing, observation, and/or diagnosis”; recommending inpatient treatment, which was not the least restrictive appropriate setting available; and failing to properly care for and treat them while they were in her care. The plaintiffs also alleged the doctor was negligent per se for violating several statutes. In the alternative, the plaintiffs asserted that they were hospitalized because of the doctor’s fraudulent misrepresentations. The plaintiffs alleged the hospital was negligent because it knew or should have known of the malpractice committed by its agent, Dr. Robinson, and because it did not properly supervise and regulate Dr. Robinson. The plaintiffs also alleged the hospital was negligent per se for violating various provisions of the Texas Mental Health Code and the Texas Administrative Code. In the alternative, they asserted the hospital acted in concert with Dr. Robinson and was “a party to the intent to hospitalize and the fraudulent misrepresentations made” by Dr. Robinson. The plaintiffs sought recovery of medical expenses, lost wages, severe mental anguish and emotional trauma, and loss of consortium and household services.

[23]*23The hospital’s motion for summary judgment

In its motion for summary judgment, the hospital asserted that Dr. Robinson was an independent contractor, and that it had no right to control the details of her medical practice. It also asserted there was no connection between the care and treatment rendered by any the hospital employee and the plaintiffs’ alleged injuries. The hospital relied upon the affidavit of Larry Carter, the hospital’s administrator in 1989, who stated that Dr. Robinson was an independent contractor. The hospital also relied on the deposition testimony of the plaintiffs’ expert witness, Dr. Grace Jameson, who stated she did not have any opinion about the hospital’s compliance with the applicable standard of care.

In their response to the hospital’s motion, the plaintiffs asserted, among other things, that: the hospital maintained control over the manner in which patients were treated by staff psychiatrists; there is a fact question regarding whether the hospital had the right to control the treatment rendered by staff psychiatrists to a degree that would make the hospital liable for the staff psychiatrists’ negligent acts; and there is a fact question whether the hospital exercised the proper care in carrying out its statutory duties and obligations. In their response, the plaintiffs also stated that in addition to being a hospital staff psychiatrist, Dr. Robinson was employed by the hospital as its Children’s Unit Director. The allegation was not supported by affidavit or other summary judgment evidence. The hospital did not directly challenge the allegation (other than claiming she was not an employee).

Standard of review

The Supreme Court has mandated the following standards for reviewing a motion for summary judgment:

1. The movant for summary judgment has the burden of showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
2. In deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment, evidence favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true.
3.Every reasonable inference must be indulged in favor of the nonmovant and any doubts resolved in its favor.

Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548-59 (Tex.1985); see also Clark v. Pruett, 820 S.W.2d 903, 905-06 (Tex.App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1991, no writ).

When, as here, the trial court’s order granting summary judgment does not specify the ground or grounds upon which it relied for its ruling, summary judgment will be affirmed on appeal if any of the theories advanced are meritorious. Carr v. Brasher, 776 S.W.2d 567, 569 (Tex.1989).

In their brief, the plaintiffs have not framed their complaints in points of error that comply with the requirements of Tex. RApp.P. 74(d). It is clear from their brief, however, they believe the trial court erred in granting the hospital’s motion for summary judgment because issues of material fact exist concerning whether the hospital retained sufficient control over Dr. Robinson’s practice in the hospital so as to be vicariously liable for her negligence, and whether the hospital exercised proper care in carrying out its statutory duties.

Vicarious liability

The general rule is that a hospital is not liable for the negligent acts or omissions of independent physicians. Jeffcoat v. Phillips, 534 S.W.2d 168, 172 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1976, writ refd n.r.e.). No respondeat superior liability attaches where the physician is an independent contractor and not an employee or servant of the hospital. Id. A doctor who has been selected by the patient is generally considered to be an independent contractor with regard to the hospital at which the doctor has staff privileges. Id. at 173. If it is shown that no employer-employee, principal-agent, partnership, or joint venture relationship exists between the hospital and the doctor, the hospital is not liable for the negligence of a doctor who has been chosen by the patient. See id.

If, however, a hospital retains the right to control the details of the work to be [24]*24performed by a contracting party, a master-servant relationship exists that will authorize the application of the doctrine of respondeat superior. Gladewater Mun. Hosp. v. Daniel, 694 S.W.2d 619, 621 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 1985, no writ). It is the right of control, not actual control, that gives rise to a duty to see that the independent contractor performs his work in a safe manner. Owens v. Litton, 822 S.W.2d 794, 797 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1992, writ denied).

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Bluebook (online)
881 S.W.2d 21, 1994 WL 69943, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/berel-v-hca-health-services-of-texas-inc-texapp-1994.