Goodsell v. Seeley

46 Mich. 625
Michigan Supreme Court·Decided October 12, 1881·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

Cooley, J.

The defendant in error, an infant, brought suit against Goodsell, who is a physician, for malpractice in setting her arm. Goodsell had treated the injury as a fracture of the humerus, but after two or three weeks it was discovered that there was a dislocation at the elbow, and another physician was called in, by whom the dislocation was properly treated. There was a fair question on the evidence whether Goodsell had been laboring under any mistake in his treatment; whether the fracture for which he treated the child had not existed in fact, and whether the child had not caused the dislocation by engaging in rough and violent sports while her arm was progressing favorably under the physician’s treatment. The jury, however, found against him, and he brings error.

The printed record contains upwards of two hundred pages. Many exceptions are taken, some to the admission or rejection of evidence, but the majority to the instructions given or refused. I find no error in the rulings on evidence. The defendant offered in writing a number of requests for instructions, all of which were refused and the judge gave instructions which he evidently meant should cover the whole case. I think it proper to copy from the bill of exceptions the whole of these instructions, with the exceptions that were taken to them as there set forth:

[627]*627The said circuit judge then on his own motion instructed the jury as follows, to-wit:
“ There is no question made, in fact it is conceded, that the defendant was a professed and practicing physician and surgeon and that he held himself out to his neighbors and the country round about as a physician and surgeon. As-such he undertook to treat the plaintiff when called to-attend her, early in October, 187% for an accident which, had befallen her, resulting in an injury to her arm.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury :
“ And the plaintiff claims in her declaration she was not treated in a careful, skillful and proper manner, but that the doctor’s treatment of her was negligent, careless and unskillful, and she claims to have sustained injury by reason of such careless, unskillful and improper treatment, and she seeks to recover of the defendant damages for the injury she has thus sustained; the doctor denies that he has so treated her.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the defendant did then and there except.
" The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury :
The plaintiff’s case must be made out by a fair preponderance of proof, and all I can do to aid you in determining this matter is to give you such few general rules relative to the duties and obligations of the doctor as the law has prescribed, and these being given you, the facts in the light of these legal rules are for you to determine.
To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the. defendant did then and there except.
The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury :
1st. Then there was an implied promise on the part of the doctor that he himself possessed that reasonable degree of learning, skill and experience which is ordinarily possessed by members of the medical profession, and which is-ordinarily regarded by the community and by those conversant with the profession as necessary and sufficient to-qualify him to engage in the business.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the-defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury :
“ 2d. The doctor undertook and promised impliedly, at. least, to use reasonable and ordinary care and diligence and Ms best judgment in the exertion of Ms skill and the appli[628]*628cation, of his knowledge to accomplish the purpose for which he was employed. In determining what is ordinary skill, regard must be had to the improvements and advanced state of the profession at the time the patient was treated.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury:
“ If you shall conclude from all the evidence that this defendant did not use ordinary skill, care and diligence, and that damage has resulted to the girl on account of such want of ordinary skill, care and diligence, then you should find for the plaintiff; but if you conclude that the doctor did use ordinary skill, care and diligence in Iris treatment of the injury, then you should find for the defendant.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for thé defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury:
And if the injury to the plaintiff resulted from any ■other cause than the cause alleged in this case, as, for instance, from an accident after defendant’s care of the girl ■ceased, then, ot course, the defendaxrt is not liable; or, in ■other words, if the plaintiff recover, it must be for the cause alleged in the declaration, and not for any other or different cause.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury :
“ If you shall conclude that the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict, the amount will be such fair and reasonable sum not exceeding $5000, that being the amount claimed in the declaration, as will fairly compensate the plaintiff for her suffering, and the injury done her; and in determining the amount, you will take into account all that has been permitted to go to you by way of evidence. I do not choose to magnify any particular fact, but each and all are for you to consider.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the ■defendant did then and there except.
“ The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury:
The case is not one to be determined by sympathy or pity for one side or the other.
“ To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the defendant did then and there except.
The said circuit judge further instructed the said jury:
“ If the doctor, in his treatment of the girl, exercised reasonable and ordinary care, skill and diligence, he has [629]*629•done all that the law requires of him; if he has done less • than this he is liable for the damages resulting.
“To which opinion and instruction the counsel for the •defendant did then and there except.”

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Goodsell v. Seeley, 46 Mich. 625 (Mich. 1881).

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