Moure v. Raeuchele

563 A.2d 1217, 387 Pa. Super. 127
CourtSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJanuary 19, 1990
Docket707
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 563 A.2d 1217 (Moure v. Raeuchele) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moure v. Raeuchele, 563 A.2d 1217, 387 Pa. Super. 127 (Pa. 1990).

Opinions

POPOVICH, Judge:

This is an appeal from the order denying post trial motions entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County following a verdict in favor of the appellee Randall R. Raeuchele, D.O. In this medical malpractice suit, the appellant’s claims under theories of negligence and informed consent were rejected by the jury. Timely post trial motions for judgment n.o.v. and new trial were filed by the appellant and denied on September 7, 1988. We reverse and remand.

On appeal the appellant, Vicki Via, raises the following issues:

(1) Whether the lower court erred in denying her post trial motions for judgment n.o.v. on her informed consent claim where the defendant doctor testified that he did not inform her of or discuss with her alternative procedures concerning reproductive surgery then available to her.
(2) Whether the lower court erred in refusing her post trial motion for judgment n.o.v. where evidence at trial demonstrated that the doctor proceeded with the performance of a cuffed tuboplasty upon her without informing her of the material risk concerning her future fertility, alternative methods for performing the same or similar [129]*129surgery or the possible effects the surgery would have regarding her ability to become pregnant.

Briefly, the facts are these as stated by the lower court:

Vicki and her boyfriend with whom she is now married had been living together for approximately five years when they decided to marry, though no definite plans were made. During this time, they engaged in sexual intercourse, but never used contraceptives. Since having children was important to them, they contacted their family physician to determine their fertility. A sperm count revealed that if there was a problem, it was with Vicki. She was then referred to [Randall R. Raeuchele, D.O., the appellee], who was highly recommended by their physician.
Vicki first saw Dr. Raeuchele on March 8, 1982, at which time he performed a pelvic exam which revealed that she was normal. According to Vicki, the doctor discussed two procedures for determining whether she could conceive. (N.T. 202) The purpose of these tests were to determine Vicki’s “tubal patency” meaning whether her fallopian tubes were open and receptive to egg and sperm migration. (N.T. 264) One of the test was to inject air into the cervix, and if the tubes were open, the air would pass through the tubes and into the abdominal cavity. However, because of the pain associated with this test, the discussion centered on the laparoscopic examination. (N.T. 202, 265, 273)
A laparoscopy requires a small incision at or near the navel, the inflation of the abdomen with carbon monoxide, and the insertion of a lighted tube for the purpose of a visual examination of the patient’s abdominal region, including the reproductive organs. (N.T. 265-266) The patient is placed under anesthesia and, according to Vicki, the operation would take approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes. Barring complications, scarring was to be minimal. (N.T. 202-3, 272)
Vicki testified that the doctor never discussed microsurgery as an alternative to laparoscopic (macro) surgery, he [130]*130did not advise her of the risks to her fertility. She did indicate, however, that the doctor advised her of the risks associated with surgery and laparoscopy in general. (N.T. 206, 214) Indeed, Vicki insisted that the operation was exploratory only, and that she did not consent to corrective surgery. (N.T. 206, 214)
The doctor testified at great length and detail, in narrative form, concerning the events and discussions preceding the surgery. No where in his testimony is there an indication that he discussed microsurgery, risks to fertility, and the importance of timing. Further, on cross examination, he admitted that he did not discuss these matters. (N.T. 311-314) It was also undisputed that the surgery was not needed to save Vicki’s life as there was no emergency. (N.T. 314) ...
[During the surgery] the doctor observed that Vicki’s tubes were “clubbed” or closed. A blue “indigo carmine” dye was injected [into the tubes and it entered the right tube, but was unable to exit.] As to the left tube, there was no evidence of dye at any point. Consequently, the doctor tore a hole in the fimbriated end of the left tube, which allowed the escape of [fluids which indicated that the tube was badly diseased].
Reconstructive surgery was then attempted on the right tube. [The tube was cut] and immediately the dye advanced through the end of the tube. (N.T. 295) [The doctor believed the tube was] diseased as well and “flimsy”. (N.T. 303) ... In other words, the tissue was dead, and therefore, according to the doctor, its removal actually slightly improved Vicki’s chance of becoming pregnant. He testified that this procedure, known as a salpingostomy,1 is as statistically sound as microsurgery and that he did not consider Vicki to be a candidate for reconstructive miscrosurgery. (N.T. 358) ... The doctor’s expert testified that macro-surgery “carries exactly the same preg[131]*131nancy rate as microsurgery does in this section of the fallopian tube.” 2

On appeal the appellant contends that the lower court erred in not granting her post trial motion for judgment n.o.v. She avers that, based upon the Doctor’s testimony, she was not informed of alternative procedures, risks to her future fertility and the importance of the timing of his actions.

The standard of review for the denial of a judgment n.o.v. was outlined in Timbrook v. Foremost Insurance Co., 324 Pa.Super. 384, 471 A.2d 891 (1984):

The standard which we employ when reviewing the denial of a motion of directed verdict and a motion for judgment n.o.v. is the same. We will reverse the lower court when we find “an abuse of discretion or an error of law which controlled the outcome of the case.” McDevitt v. Terminal Warehouse Co., 304 Pa.Super. 438, 442, 450 A.2d 991, 993 (1982). In ruling upon these motions, the trial judge must consider “the evidence, together with all reasonable inferences that may be drawn therefrom ... in the light most favorable to the verdict winner.” Carrender v. Fitterer, 310 Pa.Super. 433, 436, 456 A.2d 1013, 1014 (1983).
Accepting as true all facts and proper inferences which tend to support the contention of the party against whom the motion has been made, and rejecting all testimony and inferences to the contrary, the trial judge must grant said motions when no two reasonable minds could differ that, as a matter of law, the party has failed to make out his case. Thomas v. Allegheny & Eastern Coal Co., 309 Pa.Super. 333, 455 A.2d 637 (1982).

Timbrook, supra, 324 Pa.Superior Ct. at 387, 471 A.2d at 892.

[132]*132Additionally, in Northwest Savings Ass’n v. Distler, 354 Pa.Super.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cosom v. Marcotte
760 A.2d 886 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2000)
Stover v. Association of Thoracic
635 A.2d 1047 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1993)
Free v. Ohl
17 Pa. D. & C.4th 218 (Adams County Court of Common Pleas, 1992)
Moure v. Raeuchle
604 A.2d 1003 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1992)
SINCLAIR BY SINCLAIR v. Block
594 A.2d 750 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
In re Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
595 A.2d 1290 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Application of MS Hershey Med. Ctr.
595 A.2d 1290 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Millard v. Nagle
587 A.2d 10 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)
Sanderson v. Frank S. Bryan, M.D., Ltd.
594 A.2d 353 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
563 A.2d 1217, 387 Pa. Super. 127, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moure-v-raeuchele-pa-1990.