De May v. Roberts

9 N.W. 146, 46 Mich. 160, 1881 Mich. LEXIS 541
Michigan Supreme Court·Decided June 8, 1881·Published·Cited by 60 cases

Opinion

Marston, C. J.

The declaration in tbis case in tbe first count sets forth that the plaintiff was, at a time and place named, a poor married woman, and being confined in child-bed and a stranger, employed in a professional capacity defendant De May who was a physician; that defendant visited the plaintiff as such, and against her desire and intending to deceive her wrongfully, etc., introduced and . caused to be present at the house and lying-in room of the plaintiff anfl. while she .was in the pains of parturition the defendant Scattergood, who intruded upon the privacy of the plaintiff, indecently, wrongfully and unlawfully laid hands upon and assaulted her, the said Scattergood, which was well known to defendant De May, being a young unmarried man, a stranger to the plaintiff and utterly ignorant of the practice of medicine, while the plaintiff believed that he was an assistant physician, a competent and proper person to be present and to aid her in her extremity.

[162] The second and third counts while differing in form set forth a similar cause of action.

The evidence on the part of the plaintiff tended to prove the allegations of the declaration. On the part of the defendants evidence was given tending to prove that Scattergood very reluctantly accompanied Dr. De May at the urgent request of the latter; that the night was a dark and stormy one, the roads over which they had to travel in getting to the house of the plaintiff were so bad that a horse could not be ridden or driven over them; that the doctor was sick and very much fatigued from overwork, and therefore asked the defendant Scattergood to accompany and assist him in carrying a lantern, umbrella and certain articles deemed . necessary upon such occasions; that upon arriving at the house of the plaintiff the doctor knocked, and when the door was opened by the husband of the plaintiff, De May said to him, “that I had fetched a friend along to help carry my things ; ” he, plaintiff’s husband, said “ all right,” and seemed to be perfectly satisfied. They were bidden to enter, treated kindly and no objection whatever made to the presence of defendant Scattergood. That while there Scattergood, at Dr. De May’s request, took hold of plaintiff’s hand and held her during a paroxysm of pain, and that both of the defendants in all respects throughout acted in a proper and becoming manner actuated by a sense of duty and kindness.

Some preliminary questions were raised during the progress of the trial which may first be considered.

The plaintiff when examined as a witness was asked, what idea she entertained in' reference to Scattergood’s character and right to be in the house during the time he was there, and answered that she thought he was a student or a physician. To tliis there could be no good legal objection. It was not only important to know the character in which Scattergood went there, but to learn what knowledge the plaintiff had upon that subject. It was not claimed that the plaintiff or her husband, who were strangers in that vicinity, had ever met Scattergood before this time or had any knowledge or information concerning him beyond what they obtained on that evening, and it was claimed by the [163] defendant that both the plaintiff and her husband must have known, from certain ambiguous expressions used, that he was not a physician.

“VVe are of opinion that the plaintiff and her husband had a right to presume that a practicing physician would not, upon an occasion of that character, take with him and introduce into the house, a young man in no way, either by education or otherwise, connected with the medical profession; and that something moré clear and certain as to his non-professional character would be required to put the plaintiff and her husband upon their guard, or remove such presumption, than the remark made by De May that he had brought a friend along to help carry his things. The plaintiff was not bound however to rest her case upon this presumption, how- ■ ever strong it might be considered, but had a right to prove what she supposed was the fact, and this she could do by showing anything said at the time having such a tendency, or in the absence thereof what she actually believed to be the fact.

The question asked the plaintiff’s husband as to what he had stated under oath in an affidavit was properly overruled. This court has repeatedly pointed out the proper practice in such cases. Hamilton v. The People 29 Mich. 198, and cases cited.

The question asked the witness Dr. Monfort* as to the custom among physicians in such cases as to calling assistance was not objectionable; besides, the answer given could in no • way have injured the defendants. In either event therefore they cannot complain.

It yet remains to consider the principal questions raised in the case. They relate to the sufficiency of the declaration, to which the general issue was pleaded, and farther that [164] admitting the facts to be trae as claimed by the plaintiff she was not entitled to recover. We need not consider the question as to what the effect would be had the jury found that the plaintiff knew the non-professional character of the defendant Scattergood and made no objection or consented to his remaining in the house or rendering such assistance as was. demanded. Upon this branch of the case the court charged the defendants would be justified in doing what they did, if the plaintiff or her husband consented to Scatter-good being there, with a full understanding of, or with good reason to believe or know of the character in which he was there. This certainly was placing the matter in a sufficiently favorable position for the defendants.

A few facts which were undisputed may assist in more clearly presenting the remaining question. Upon the morning of January 3d Dr. De May was called to visit the plaintiff professionally which he did at her house. This house was fourteen by sixteen feet. A partition ran partly across one end thus forming a place for a bed or bedroom, but there was no door to this bedroom. Next to this so-called bedroom, and between the partition and side of the house, there was what is known and designated as a bed sink; here there was a bed with a curtain in front of it, and it was in this bed the doctor found Mrs. Eoberts when he made his first visit. On their way to the house that night De May told Scattergood, who knew that the plaintiff was about to be confined, “ how the house was; that she was in the bed sink back, and there was a curtain in front of her, and told him he need not see her at all.” When the defendants got to the house they found Mrs. Eoberts “had moved from the bed sink and was lying on the lounge near the stove.”

I now quote farther from the testimony of Dr. De May as to what took place :

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De May v. Roberts, 9 N.W. 146, 46 Mich. 160, 1881 Mich. LEXIS 541 (Mich. 1881).

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