Platta v. Flatley

227 N.W.2d 898, 68 Wis. 2d 47, 1975 Wisc. LEXIS 1575
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedApril 10, 1975
Docket331
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 227 N.W.2d 898 (Platta v. Flatley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Platta v. Flatley, 227 N.W.2d 898, 68 Wis. 2d 47, 1975 Wisc. LEXIS 1575 (Wis. 1975).

Opinions

Beilfuss, J.

Although the plaintiff-appellant raises several issues, the main thrust of her argument is that the defendant-respondent doctor was negligent as a matter of law. The doctor responds by asserting that there is a factual dispute in the evidence and that credible evidence clearly supports the jury finding of no negligence.

Because this is basically a sufficiency of the evidence question, a discussion of some of the evidence is necessary.

The plaintiff-appellant, a California resident, first sought the care of the defendant-doctor on December 10, 1968. At the initial consultation she related a history of foot trouble beginning with the development of calluses in 1934, when she was seventeen years of age. Additional calluses developed through the years which the plaintiff had trimmed and taped by chiropodists. By 1958, her toes took on a curved or claw-like shape, corns developed on them and she could be on her feet for only six or seven hours at a time. In 1959, a California doctor diagnosed her condition as hammer toe deformities and performed an operation involving the removal of bones known as the proximal phalanges of the lesser four toes.

Each toe has three phalanges. The proximal phalanges are adj acent to the metatarsal or large bone of the foot. The removal of the proximal phalanges also removes the joint between the toes and the main part of the foot and significantly changes the weight-bearing characteristics of the foot as a whole. With no bony connection between the toes and the metatarsal, the nor[50]*50mal function of the toes is changed and affects balance, walking and weight bearing.

Following the operation the condition of the plaintiff’s feet was somewhat better — she was able to straighten her toes and the corns disappeared; however, the calluses reappeared and she still experienced pain by the end of the day. The plaintiff’s toes became shorter and quite floppy. By 1968 she had developed a “duck-like” gait.

In 1963, the plaintiff started her own business described as a welcome-wagon-type promotion plan for local merchants. This business required her to be on her feet several hours a day, visiting stores in an effort to sell the advertising scheme. The plaintiff told the defendant that the more she walked the more pain she experienced and by the end of the workday she could not wait to get off her feet.

Based on the plaintiff’s medical history, X rays and a physical examination, Dr. Flatley diagnosed her condition as bilateral metatarsalgia and discussed possible treatments with her. He explained the alternatives of “conservative” or nonoperative treatment involving the wearing of special shoes with pads or bars, and surgical treatment involving the removal of the five metatarsal heads on the ball of each foot. Although Dr. Flatley recommended the surgical treatment, he explained to the plaintiff that a bilateral resection of the metatarsal heads was a painful operation and was warranted only if the plaintiff was experiencing considerable pain.

Dr. Flatley testified that he was aware that the plaintiff’s job required considerable walking, that she wanted to continue her business and that he took this into consideration in recommending the surgery; that his primary reason for suggesting surgery was to reduce the amount of pain suffered when she walked; that he told her the operation would not restore her feet to normalcy but that he anticipated, although he did not guarantee, [51]*51that she would be able to walk better; that he told her that the metatarsal heads of all ten toes would be. removed; that he warned the plaintiff that casts and crutches would be necessary for a period of time ■ and that it may take one year to recover from the effects of the surgery and that corrective shoes and padding would still be necessary.

He further testified that he did not recall specifically telling the plaintiff that the surgery could potentially increase the pain in her feet; that the bones to be removed formulated the weight-bearing portion of her forefeet; that there was a possibility that pain medication would be necessary; or that she might no longer be able to work at a job requiring extensive walking.

The plaintiff stated that she knew the operation was going to be painful but that defendant did not tell her that bone would be removed and did not discuss with her any risks or hazards of the operative procedure. She felt that corrective shoes and pads had not helped her in the past and that she experienced sufficient pain to warrant the surgery.

The plaintiff signed a consent form and the operation was performed without complications on December 28, 1968. The defendant next saw the plaintiff on January 20, 1969, when the casts were removed and satisfactory progress was noted. The plaintiff testified that upon returning to California her walking was somewhat improved, that she tried dancing on occasion, that she cut grass and that she attempted to play golf three or four times. The plaintiff corresponded with the defendant reporting on her condition and complaining of discomfort. In answer he wrote that she should wear low heeled shoes, that “aches and pains are not uncommon in the first six months following surgery,” and that he would like to see her later in the spring. The plaintiff traveled to Wisconsin and saw the defendant on August [52]*5213, 1969. An examination revealed a callus and the defendant provided rubber pads for her shoes and encouraged her to walk with a heel-and-toe gait.

The plaintiff testified that the last time she saw the defendant, in August of 1969, he told her to accept the fact that she was disabled. She stated that, at the time of the trial, she could only walk the distance of one block before having to sit down, that her feet hurt even when propped up and that because of this she could no longer carry on her business.

On March 81, 1970, the plaintiff consulted Dr. William Mclvor, an orthopedic surgeon practicing in California. At trial Dr. Mclvor, called as an expert witness by the plaintiff, testified with respect to the operation performed by the defendant as follows:

“. . . When this involves removal of the metatarsal heads it is my — it would be — it would, in my opinion, not be wise really based on my training and my experience. This is a matter of medical opinion. I personally would not resect metatarsal heads except in a rheumatoid patient.
((
. . I can simply state what the standard practice is in this community and in this area, and I would say that this is not the usual and accepted procedure for this particular problem in this geographic area.”

However, he admitted to not knowing what the standards of medical practice were in Milwaukee:

“. . . There are certaintly differences in the approach to any medical problem from one area to another. I have no personal experience in respect to Milwaukee, and therefore really can’t make any statement.”

Dr. Mclvor stated that he did not know the actual condition of the plaintiff’s feet as seen by the defendant in December of 1968, or the circumstances under which he was treating her, including the extent of her disability and pain.

[53]*53Dr. Henri Du Vries, a podiatrist who had practiced in Chicago and California, testified that he did not think there was any difference between orthopedic surgical standards in those two localities.

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Platta v. Flatley
227 N.W.2d 898 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1975)

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Bluebook (online)
227 N.W.2d 898, 68 Wis. 2d 47, 1975 Wisc. LEXIS 1575, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/platta-v-flatley-wis-1975.