WHOLE COURT
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. (Court of Appeals Rule 4 (b) and Rule 37 (b), February 21, 2008) http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/
November 27, 2012
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A12A1347. JOHNSON et al. v. OMONDI et al.
RAY, Judge.
The parents of Shaquille Johnson sued Price Paul Omondi, M.D., and
Southwest Emergency Physicians, P.C. (collectively “Omondi”), for professional
malpractice after their son, Shaquille Johnson, died following treatment by Omondi
in the emergency department at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Sheldon Johnson
and Thelma Johnson, individually as Shaquille’s surviving parents, and Thelma
Johnson, as administratrix of his estate (collectively “the Johnsons”), appeal from the
trial court’s grant of Omondi’s motion for summary judgment under OCGA § 51-1-
29.5. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the entry of summary judgment to
Omondi. The standard for summary judgment is familiar and settled: “Summary
judgment is warranted when any material fact is undisputed as shown by the
pleadings and record evidence, and this fact entitles the moving party to judgment as
a matter of law.”1 So, as we have explained before,
[w]hen a defendant moves for summary judgment as to an element of the case for which the plaintiff . . . will bear the burden of proof at trial . . . the defendant may show that he is entitled to summary judgment either by affirmatively disproving that element of the case or by pointing to an absence of evidence in the record by which the plaintiff might carry the burden to prove that element.2
We review an award of summary judgment de novo, viewing the evidence in the
record, as well as all inferences that might reasonably be drawn from that evidence,
in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.3
1 (Citation omitted.) Strength v. Lovett, 311 Ga. App. 35, 39 (2) (714 SE2d 723) (2011). 2 (Citation omitted.) Id. 3 (Citation omitted.) Cowart v. Widener, 287 Ga. 622, 624 (1) (a) (697 SE2d 779) (2010).
2 Viewed in that light, the following facts are undisputed.4 Thelma Johnson took
Shaquille to the emergency department at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital on
December 29, 2007. Shaquille had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery, performed
by Dr. James Mason, eight days earlier. Shaquille was complaining of pain on the left
side of his chest that was worse in a recumbent position. Upon arrival at the
emergency department, he was triaged by a nurse and taken to an exam room to be
seen by Omondi, the emergency department physician. Omondi spent several minutes
in the exam room with Shaquille and his mother, asked Shaquille’s mother why she
had brought him to the emergency department, and told them he was ordering a chest
x-ray and an electrocardiogram (EKG). These tests were performed while Shaquille
was in the emergency department. Omondi testified during his deposition that he
reviewed the triage nurse’s record and findings, inquired about past medical history
and family history, including any past diagnoses of pulmonary embolism or
pneumonia, and was aware of Shaquille’s recent knee surgery and chief complaint.
4 These facts are taken from the Plaintiffs’ Response to the Defendants’ Statement of Material Facts. Although the dissent admonishes us for “mimicking” the trial court’s recitation of the facts and analysis, it is clear that the trial court’s facts have also been taken from the Plaintiffs’ Response to the Defendants’ Statement of Material Facts, and these facts led both the trial court and this Court to the same conclusions based on the applicable law.
3 Although the parties disagree about some aspects of Omondi’s examination,
it is undisputed that Omondi noted in the record that Shaquille’s presentation to the
emergency department did not fit neatly into cardiac, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal
etiologies and was difficult to catagorize. The medical records reflect that a physical
exam was conducted of Shaquille, as well as exams of Shaquille’s systems, including
his pulmonary, cardiovascular, abdomen and flank, neurologic, dermatologic,
lymphatic and vascular, psychiatric and mental status, and musculoskeletal
conditions. After the chest x-ray was performed, Omondi interpreted it and found no
evidence of an enlarged heart, pneumothorax, pneumonia, or skeletal injury. He also
interpreted the EKG and determined it was normal, ruling out heart rhythm
disturbances, heart attack, and pericarditis. Omondi specifically testified that the EKG
was not suggestive of pulmonary embolism as the cause of the pain Shaquille
experienced on the left side of his chest. Regarding pulmonary embolism, Omondi
considered that Shaquille did not have shortness of breath, had normal vital signs, and
had perfect pulse oximetry, which measures oxygenation of the blood. Omondi
further considered that Shaquille responded positively to Toradol, a medication that
was administered under Omondi’s orders. Because the Toradol completely resolved
Shaquille’s pain, and because Toradol is an anti-inflammatory that would not treat
4 pain from a pulmonary embolism, Omondi concluded that this was further evidence
that there was no blood clot in Shaquille’s lungs.
Omondi concluded that Shaquille was suffering from pleurisy, and he
prescribed Naprosyn, an anti-inflammatory medication for pain, and discharged
Shaquille. The discharge nurse gave Shaquille’s mother discharge instructions,
including a verbal instruction to return to the emergency room if symptoms
continued. Shaquille’s mother testified by deposition that when Shaquille was
discharged from the hospital, she was satisfied with the care he had received. Two
weeks later, on January 13, 2008, Shaquille allegedly complained of chest pain and
difficulty breathing, and he was transported by ambulance to Phoebe Putney
Memorial Hospital, where he later died from a bilateral pulmonary embolism.
This case really does not involve a dispute regarding the relevant facts. The
Johnsons agree that Omondi examined, treated, and provided care to Shaquille.
Essentially what is disputed in this case, by opinion evidence, is the appropriateness
of the care and the treatment provided to Shaquille in the emergency department on
December 29, 2007. The Johnsons claim Shaquille’s care and treatment deviated from
the appropriate standard of care and was thus a proximate cause of Shaquille’s death.
Taken from the Plaintiffs’ Statement of Material Facts as to Which Genuine Issues
5 Exist for Trial, and viewing the disputed facts in the light most favorable to the
Johnsons as the non-moving party, the Johnsons and their experts contend that the
history taken by Omondi, the physical exam he conducted, and his interpretation of
the chest x-ray and EKG were all deviations from the standard of care. Furthermore,
the Johnsons contend that Omondi’s alleged failure to properly rule out a pulmonary
embolism, order a chest CT scan, and order an ultrasound of Shaquille’s surgical leg
constituted medical negligence and are issues for the jury to decide. Given the
circumstances of this case, we must disagree.
This case is governed by OCGA § 51-1-29.5, the emergency medical care
statute that was enacted in 2005.5 Under that statute,
[i]n an action involving a health care liability claim arising out of the provision of emergency medical care in a hospital emergency department . . . no physician or health care provider shall be held liable unless it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the physician or health care provider’s actions showed gross negligence.6
5 While the Johnsons argued below that OCGA § 51-1-29.5 did not apply because Shaquille’s trip to the Emergency Department did not constitute an emergency, on appeal they have accepted the trial court’s ruling that the emergency medical care statute applies. 6 OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c).
6 This statute clearly distinguishes the actions of emergency department physicians
from other healthcare providers in negligence cases, including medical malpractice
cases not involving emergency department care, by mandating (1) a higher
evidentiary standard (clear and convincing evidence), and (2) a lower standard of care
(gross negligence). The Supreme Court of Georgia has found this statute
constitutional, specifically finding that
[p]romoting affordable liability insurance for health care providers and hospitals, and thereby promoting the availability of quality health care services, are certainly legitimate legislative purposes. Furthermore, it is entirely logical to assume that emergency medical care provided in hospital emergency rooms is different from medical care provided in other settings, and that establishing a standard of care and a burden of proof that reduces the potential liability of the providers of such care will help achieve those legitimate legislative goals.7
The Supreme Court of Georgia went on to define “gross negligence”:
[G]ross negligence is the absence of even slight diligence, and slight diligence is defined . . . as that degree of care which every man of common sense, however inattentive he may be, exercises under the same or similar circumstances. In other words, gross negligence has been defined as equivalent to the failure to exercise even a slight degree of care, or lack of diligence that even careless men are accustomed to exercise.8
7 See Gliemmo v. Cousineau, 287 Ga. 7, 11-12 (3) (694 SE2d 75) (2010). 8 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Id. at 12-13 (4). See also OCGA § 51-1- 4.
7 That Court has also defined “clear and convincing evidence” as “an intermediate
standard of proof, greater than ‘the preponderance of evidence,’ but less than the
‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard applicable in criminal cases. . . .”9 It “requires
a greater quantum and a high quality of proof in plaintiff’s favor”10 and is
“substantially higher than that generally applicable to civil actions.”11 Accordingly,
the Johnsons are bound by the evidentiary standard and standard of care dictated by
the emergency medical care statute. In order to reach a jury trial, they must
demonstrate that a genuine issue of material fact existed not as to whether Omondi
exercised ordinary care (e.g., that degree of care and skill exercised by the medical
profession generally),12 but, rather, they must show the existence of “clear and
convincing” evidence that Omondi did not exercise even slight care.
9 (Citations omitted.) Clarke v. Cotton, 263 Ga. 861, 861 (440 SE2d 165) (1994). 10 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) In re: Estate of Lyndell Burton, 265 Ga. 122, 123 (453 SE2d 16) (1995). 11 Consolidated American Ins. Co. v. Spears, 218 Ga. App. 478, 480 (1) (462 SE2d 160) (1995). 12 Compare Smith v. Finch, 285 Ga. 709, 710-711 (1) (681 SE2d 147) (2009).
8 There is a paucity of case law on this statute. In fact, there is only one case
applicable to the facts of the instant action.13 In Pottinger, a patient filed a medical
malpractice action against an emergency room physician, seeking to recover damages
arising out of emergency medical care provided to him for a leg fracture incurred in
a motorcycle accident. The physician moved for summary judgment, asserting she
could not be held liable because there was no clear and convincing evidence that her
actions in providing emergency medical care to the patient showed gross negligence,
as required by OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c). Specifically, the evidence showed that the
physician ordered x-rays, then, relying on a radiologist’s finding that the x-rays did
not show a serious fracture, she discharged the patient without ordering an orthopedic
consultation. The patient subsequently saw an orthopedic surgeon who found that he
had a serious leg fracture requiring surgery. The fracture was shown on the
emergency room x-rays. The trial court denied summary judgment to the emergency
room physician, but we reversed, interpreting the evidentiary standard and standard
of care in OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c), and concluding that “there [was] no evidence, and
certainly no clear and convincing evidence, by which a jury could reasonably
conclude that [the emergency room physician] failed to exercise even slight care and
13 Pottinger v. Smith, 293 Ga. App. 626 (667 SE2d 659) (2008).
9 was therefore grossly negligent.”14 Because questions of negligence and diligence,
even questions of gross negligence and slight diligence, may be resolved by the trial
court in plain and indisputable cases, we found that the emergency room physician
was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.15 The same is true in the present
case, and, contrary to the Johnsons’ claim, the trial court did not err in interpreting
and applying Pottinger to this case.
While the dissent argues that the circumstances in this case are similar to those
found in Knight v. Roberts,16 the dissent acknowledges that the emergency medical
care statute was neither raised nor discussed in that case. Furthermore, the treating
physician in Knight admitted he never considered a thoracic aneurysm or an aortic
dissection, from which the patient ultimately died. In this case, however, Omondi not
only considered a pulmonary embolism, but concluded that this was not the cause of
14 Id. at 629. 15 Id.; accord Heard v. City of Villa Rica, 306 Ga. App. 291, 295 (1) (701 SE2d 915) (2010) (finding that a coach was immune from liability because parents could not prove he was grossly negligent for a child’s injuries). 16 __ Ga. App. __ (Case Nos. A12A0740, A12A0741, A12A0770, decided July 3, 2012).
10 Shaquille’s pain based on a number of tests and factors previously discussed in this
opinion.
Applying the facts and the law to this case, we find that the trial court properly
entered summary judgment in favor of Omondi. Although the Johnsons’ loss of their
young son is tragic, courts must follow the law as it applies to the case before them,
regardless of the outcome.17 While the Johnsons have introduced expert testimony in
an attempt to create a genuine issue of material fact, they have failed to focus on the
applicable standards under OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c).18 The Johnsons and the dissent
17 The Johnsons cite a 1913 case for the proposition that whether an emergency medical care provider is guilty of gross negligence “must be judged in relation to the degree of potential injury” to the patient. O’Dowd v. Newnham, 13 Ga. App. 220 (80 SE 36) (1913). In O’Dowd, the Court held that a driver of an automobile is bound to use a degree of reasonable care proportionate to the danger of the instrumentality which he operates. Id. at 228. Not only is this case inapplicable to the present situation, but the emergency medical care statute fails to legislate such a distinction, and the law is clear that “the occurrence of an unfortunate event is not sufficient to authorize an inference of negligence. Nor can it support an inference of gross negligence.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Wolfe v. Carter, 314 Ga. App. 854, 859 (2) (b) (726 SE2d 122) (2012). 18 Indeed, if an expert affidavit is all that is needed to preclude summary judgment, then OCGA § 51-1-29.5 would be rendered meaningless. To give the emergency medical care statute the meaning necessary to achieve its constitutionally valid purpose of “[p]romoting affordable liability insurance for health care providers and hospitals” and “the availability of quality health care services,” see Gliemmo, supra at 11 (3), the actual facts of the case (indicating whether slight care was provided) must be paramount in determining whether a claimant will reach a jury. As
11 both focus on what Omondi did wrong, rather than on what he did right and whether
he provided a “slight degree of care,” which he clearly did in this case.19 Contrary to
the Johnsons’ arguments, this case is appropriate for summary judgment because it
is plain and undisputable that
[e]ven assuming there was evidence sufficient to create a jury issue as to whether [Omondi’s] actions were negligent, there is no evidence, and certainly no clear and convincing evidence, by which a jury could reasonably conclude that [Omondi] failed to exercise even slight care and was therefore grossly negligent.20
It is undisputed that Omondi was present in the exam room, inquired why Shaquille
had been brought into the emergency department, spent several minutes with
Shaquille and his mother, inquired about past medical history and family history,
including any past diagnoses of pulmonary embolism or pneumonia, ordered a chest
x-ray and EKG, personally interpreted the test results, and considered and discarded
Emory Healthcare, Inc. correctly notes in its amicus curiae brief, in order to carry out the Legislature’s intent, the gross negligence standard must preclude liability for emergency medical care where slight care is provided, even if such care arguably could be deemed negligent under the ordinary negligence standard. 19 While it is obvious that the dissent does not agree with the General Assembly’s decision to mandate a lower standard of care and a higher evidentiary standard for emergency department physicians, it is not the duty of this Court to second guess the Legislature. 20 Pottinger, supra at 629.
12 a number of medical diagnoses, including the possibility of a pulmonary embolism,
based on a number of tests, symptoms, and Shaquille’s responses to the medication
he received while in the emergency room. These facts do not indicate that Omondi
was grossly negligent in his treatment of Shaquille. In fact, they show quite the
opposite.
While the Johnsons’ experts criticized the care rendered to Shaquille, those
experts never opined that Omondi failed to “exercise even a slight degree of care.”21
In addition, even if some of the Johnsons’ allegations of negligence could somehow
be construed as approaching gross negligence, any such allegations fall far short of
providing evidence that is “substantially higher” than a preponderance of the
evidence.22 The facts in this case just are not sufficient to establish that Omondi acted
21 Id. at 628. The Fulton DeKalb-Hospital Authority correctly notes in its amicus brief that even if the Johnsons’ experts had used “the magic words” and opined that Omondi’s conduct was “grossly negligent” or that his conduct did not constitute even “slight” diligence, the trial court would have been compelled to determine whether such an opinion met the stringent requirements for admissibility set forth in OCGA § 24-9-67.1. See Morgan v. Horton, 308 Ga. App. 192, 198 (3) (a) (707 SE2d 144) (2011) (“[a] mere conclusory expert opinion with respect to the existence of gross negligence does not create a jury issue; rather, there must be facts sufficient for a jury to find gross negligence.”) (citation and punctuation omitted); accord Heard, supra at 294 (1). 22 See Consolidated American Ins. Co., supra at 480 (1).
13 with gross negligence. Because it is undisputable that the Johnsons cannot prove by
clear and convincing evidence that Omondi failed to exercise even slight care in
treating Shaquille, the trial court properly granted Omondi’s motion for summary
judgment.23
Judgment affirmed. Andrews and Branch, JJ., concur. Doyle, P. J., and Boggs,
J., concur in judgment only. Miller, P. J., and Phipps, P. J., dissent.
23 The dissent criticizes us for incorporating language used by the trial court in its ruling in this case, but if the trial court is correct, as we have so found, then the dissent’s criticism is misplaced. It is not the origin of the language used in conveying this Court’s ruling that is important, but the law and logic underlying the analysis. In this case, the trial court did an excellent job with its analysis, and we incorporated portions of the order that we found particularly compelling.
14 A12A1347. JOHNSON et al. v. OMONDI et al.
MILLER, Presiding Judge, dissenting.
I dissent from the majority’s opinion because the record evidence presents a
jury question as to whether the medical defendants were entitled to immunity under
OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c), and thus, the entry of summary judgment was erroneous.
OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c) provides, in pertinent part, that
[i]n an action involving a health care liability claim arising out of the provision of emergency medical care in a hospital emergency department . . . no physician or health care provider shall be held liable unless it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the physician or health care provider’s actions showed gross negligence.
(Punctuation omitted.)
Here, the evidence presents a question of fact as to whether Dr. Omondi’s
actions showed gross negligence. Significantly, the Johnsons presented competent
medical expert affidavits and testimony from two experienced emergency room physicians,1 who had explicitly set forth facts supporting their opinions as to how Dr.
Omondi’s actions failed to comport with the minimum standard of care that applied
to emergency physicians under the circumstances; had opined that Dr. Omondi’s
treatment of Shaquille constituted gross negligence as a result of those failures; and,
had reflected that Dr. Omondi’s gross negligence and misdiagnosis were the
proximate cause of Shaquille’s death. Specifically, the medical experts stated that:
(1) Dr. Omondi’s physical examination was incomplete and failed to integrate
the key pieces of historical information that were available to him, which presented
1 Dr. Peter Rosen and Dr. Steven Gabaeff served as medical experts in this case. Dr. Rosen had been a licensed physician since 1962, and he was the author and editor of numerous textbooks on the subject of emergency medicine, including a text and reference book entitled, “Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice.” Dr. Rosen had maintained teaching faculty privileges at Harvard University Medical School’s teaching hospital; had maintained hospital staff privileges at several hospitals where he served as an emergency physician; had diagnosed the condition of pulmonary embolism hundreds, if not thousands, of times during his career as an emergency physician; and had taught medical students, interns, and residents how to properly consider, rule out, and diagnose the presence of a pulmonary embolism. Dr. Gabaeff had been an emergency physician for 35 years, and he had considered, ruled out, and diagnosed the condition of pulmonary embolism hundreds of times. Dr. Gabaeff had also been a faculty physician at the University of California Medical School in San Diego, and had taught medical students, interns, and residents on how to properly consider, rule out, and diagnose the pulmonary embolism condition. Based upon these qualifications, the trial court denied Dr. Omondi’s motion to exclude the medical expert’s testimony, and ruled that the medical experts were qualified to give expert opinion testimony in this case pursuant to OCGA § 24-9-67.1 (c).
2 a classic case of pulmonary embolism incidental to post-operative deep vein
thrombosis (“DVT”);
(2) Dr. Omondi erroneously interpreted the EKG results and failed to recognize
the Q3 and T3 abnormalities in the EKG results, which evidenced a right ventricular
hypertrophy and was a classic sign of pulmonary embolism;
(3) Dr. Omondi failed to order a CT scan of Shaquille’s lungs, which was the
necessary test to detect the existence of a pulmonary embolism;
(4) Dr. Omondi failed to perform a lung scan, D-dimer, or ultrasound to rule
out a thrombi in Shaquille’s lungs or in his surgical leg;
(5) Dr. Omondi failed to recognize the high risk history of Shaquille to develop
DVT and pulmonary embolism conditions based upon his recent leg surgery and
immobilization;
(6) Dr. Omondi erroneously interpreted the chest x-ray as being normal, despite
the presence of an enlarged heart that rendered it abnormal;
(7) Dr. Omondi failed to recognize that Shaquille’s pleuritic chest pain was a
classic symptom of pulmonary embolism;
(8) Dr. Omondi’s physical examination was grossly deficient, as evidenced by
his erroneous notation that Shaquille’s gait, strength, tone, reflexes, and range of
3 motion in his extremities were normal, which were impossible in light of Shaquille’s
recent leg surgery; and
(9) The manner in which Dr. Omondi purported to rule out a diagnosis of
pulmonary embolism was grossly improper, egregious, and contrary to well-known
and fundamental medical principles.
The medical experts opined that Dr. Omondi’s failures amounted to gross
deviations from the required standard of care and proximately caused Shaquille’s
death. A medical expert further attested that but for Dr. Omondi’s misdiagnosis and
mistreatment, Shaquille’s pulmonary embolism condition could have been treated
through anticoagulant therapy that more than likely would have saved Shaquille’s
life.
In addition to the evidence provided by the Johnsons’ medical experts, Dr.
Omondi himself acknowledged that he misinterpreted the EKG by failing to note the
Q3 abnormality and that the left ventricular hypertrophy shown in the EKG was a
condition that could reflect a pulmonary embolism. Dr. Omondi further
acknowledged that a pulmonary embolism can not be identified on an x-ray, and that
the best way to identify a pulmonary embolism is through a CT scan. Dr. Omondi
testified that he could have ordered a CT scan, and that a CT scan is the only test that
4 is needed to diagnose a patient who may have a pulmonary embolism. Dr. Omondi
expressed no opinion as to whether Shaquille’s death would have been prevented if
he had only ordered the CT scan, but he agreed that a pulmonary embolism can be
fatal and would require admission to the hospital for treatment using anticoagulant
therapy. The evidence showed, however, that Dr. Omondi discharged Shaquille from
the emergency room with a final diagnosis of pleurisy, without performing a CT scan
to detect a pulmonary embolism or to confirm whether a pulmonary embolism was
the overall cause of the pleurisy symptom.
The foregoing evidence was certainly sufficient to present a jury question as
to Dr. Omondi’s alleged gross negligence in the instant case. The trial court had
previously ruled that the Johnson’s medical experts were qualified to give opinion
testimony in this case, and thus, their testimony was admissible under OCGA § 24-9-
67.1. The medical experts gave testimony regarding the standard of care based upon
their knowledge of the customs and duties that apply to emergency room physicians
under similar circumstances, and the medical experts further testified that Dr.
Omondi’s actions amounted to gross negligence under those standards. In doing so,
the medical experts referenced specific facts showing the manner in which Dr.
Omondi’s actions departed from the standard of care. While it is recognized that “[a]
5 mere conclusory expert opinion with respect to the existence of gross negligence does
not create a jury issue,” see Morgan v. Horton, 308 Ga. App. 192, 198 (3) (a) (707
SE2d 144) (2011), the principle does not apply here since the medical experts’
opinions were based upon sufficient facts for a jury to find gross negligence.
[W]hen facts alleged as constituting gross negligence are such that there is room for difference of opinion between reasonable people as to whether or not negligence can be inferred, and if so[,] whether in degree the negligence amounts to gross negligence, the right to draw the inference is within the exclusive province of the jury.
(Citation and punctuation omitted.) McFann v. Sky Warriors, Inc., 268 Ga. App. 750,
758 (4) (603 SE2d 7) (2004).
Nevertheless, the trial court and the majority opinion have failed to give due
consideration to the medical expert evidence and opinions in reaching their erroneous
conclusion that no genuine issues of fact exist for jury determination. The failure to
consider all of the admissible evidence of record is improper and contravenes the
longstanding principles that must be consistently applied when ruling upon a motion
for summary judgment.
To prevail at summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to
6 the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law. . . . If, and only if, no disputed issue of material fact remains is the trial court authorized to grant summary judgment.
(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Montgomery v. Barrow, 286 Ga. 896, 898 (1)
(692 SE2d 351) (2010). “Conflicts in the evidence are to be resolved by the jury.”
(Citation omitted.) Aleman v. Sugarloaf Dialysis, LLC, 312 Ga. App. 658, 660 (1)
(719 SE2d 551) (2011).
More importantly,
[s]ummary judgments enjoy no presumption of correctness on appeal, and an appellate court must satisfy itself de novo that the requirements of § 9-11-56 (c) have been met. In our de novo review of the grant of a motion for summary judgment, we must view the evidence, and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, in the light most favorable to the nonmovant.
(Citations omitted.) Cowart v. Widener, 287 Ga. 622, 624 (1) (a) (697 SE2d 779)
(2010). Although the majority opinion recites our mandatory standard of review, it
is obvious that the majority opinion has failed to apply this standard in its analysis.
Rather than conducting a de novo review of the evidence presented in the record as
required, the majority opinion merely mimics the trial court’s recitations of the facts
and analysis. As appellate judges, we can not ignore conflicting evidence of record
7 in order to reach a particular result. The majority opinion’s approach undermines the
requirement that must be applied in summary judgment appeals to ensure that a party
is not erroneously deprived of his right to a trial on the merits.
Notably, while both the trial court’s order and the majority opinion purport to
set forth undisputed facts based upon the Defendants’ Statement of Material Facts and
Plaintiffs’ Responses thereto, they have misinterpreted the plaintiffs’ responses and
fail to acknowledge the material disputes raised by the evidence. For example, the
majority opinion reflects that it is undisputed that Dr. Omondi “noted in the record
that Shaquille’s presentation to the emergency department did not fit neatly into
cardiac, pulmonary, or gastrointestinal etiologies and was difficult to categorize.”
Although it is undisputed that Dr. Omondi noted his opinion in the medical record,
Dr. Omondi’s note is not dispositive in resolving the issue in this case. Significantly,
there was contrary medical expert testimony stating that Shaquille presented to the
emergency department with severe chest pain that was worse upon inspiration, “which
is a classic symptom of [p]ulmonary [e]mbolism, particularly in a patient who had
recently undergone knee surgery and had limited mobility” that would give rise to a
suspicion of DVT leading to the development of a pulmonary embolism. (Emphasis
supplied.) In light of the evidence reflecting that Shaquille’s symptoms and history
8 presented a classic case of a pulmonary embolism, that Dr. Omondi had
misinterpreted the results of the tests he had performed, and that Dr. Omondi had
failed to perform the necessary CT scan to detect or rule out a pulmonary embolism,
there was a genuine issue for jury determination as to whether Dr. Omondi had been
grossly negligent in his treatment.
In addition, the trial court’s order and the majority opinion only briefly
acknowledge that the facts regarding Dr. Omondi’s examination are disputed.
Shaquille’s mother, who was present during the examination, stated that Dr. Omondi
“never laid hands on [Shaquille]” and never asked Shaquille any questions.
Shaquille’s mother claimed that Dr. Omondi had only communicated with her during
their three-minute encounter in the ER. The medical experts pointed to Dr. Omondi’s
limited examination as being grossly deficient, and they stated that his lack of
attentiveness to Shaquille’s symptoms violated the standard of care and led to the
misdiagnosis. This evidence is material to the consideration of the gross negligence
claim and cannot be disregarded.
Likewise, I disagree with the majority opinion’s analysis, to the extent that it
improperly expands the gross negligence standard under OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c). In
this regard, the suggestion that immunity applies as long as some care is provided is
9 patently incorrect. In this context, the term “gross negligence” has the same meaning
as the general definition provided under OCGA § 51-1-4. See Gliemmo v. Cousineau,
287 Ga. 7, 12-13 (4) (694 SE2d 75) (2010).
Under OCGA § 51-1-4, gross negligence is the absence of even slight diligence, and slight diligence is defined in the Code section as “that degree of care which every man of common sense, however inattentive he may be, exercises under the same or similar circumstances.” In other words, gross negligence has been defined as “equivalent to the failure to exercise even a slight degree of care”, or “lack of the diligence that even careless men are accustomed to exercise.”
(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Id., quoting Pottinger v. Smith, 293 Ga. App.
626, 628 (667 SE2d 659) (2008). This definition of gross negligence, however, does
not require the entire absence of care or the provision of merely some degree of care.
See Caskey v. Underwood, 89 Ga. App. 418, 422 (4) (79 SE2d 558) (1953); Hennon
v. Hardin, 78 Ga. App. 81, 84 (50 SE2d 236) (1948). Indeed, this Court has
previously ruled that “[i]t is . . . well settled that one may fail to exercise the whole
degree of slight diligence and still be in the exercise of some care. Where this
condition exists, gross negligence is present.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.)
Caskey, supra, 89 Ga. App. at 422 (4). In other words, “one may be guilty of gross
10 negligence and still be in the exercise of some degree of care.” (Emphasis in original.)
Hennon, supra, 78 Ga. App. at 84.
Furthermore, applying the clear and convincing evidence standard does not
mandate summary adjudication of the gross negligence issue. The Supreme Court of
Georgia has ruled that “although OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c) raises the burden of proof in
certain cases, it does not deprive [plaintiffs] of the right to a jury trial or any other
fundamental right.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Gliemmo, supra, 287 Ga. at
11 (3). In fact, the statute contemplates the right to a jury trial on the liability issue
by expressly providing that “the court shall instruct the jury to consider, together with
all other relevant matters,” certain designated considerations.2 (Emphasis supplied.)
2 According to OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (d),
[i]n an action involving a health liability claim arising out of the provision of emergency medical care in a hospital emergency department . . . the court shall instruct the jury to consider, together with all other relevant matters:
(1) Whether the person providing care did or did not have the patient’s medical history or was able or unable to obtain a full medical history, including the knowledge of preexisting medical conditions, allergies, and medications;
11 See OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (d). Contrary to the majority’s erroneous suggestion, I do not
disagree with the standards set forth in OCGA § 51-1-29.5. A proper resolution of
this case does not require this Court to second guess the Legislature. Notably, the
Legislature also enacted the provisions of subsection (d) of OCGA § 51-1-29.5,
which provides direction for jury trials in cases where, as here, the evidence
establishes a genuine dispute for trial. Although it is recognized that the court may
solve the question of gross negligence as a matter of law in plain and indisputable
cases, see Pottinger, supra, 293 Ga. App. at 629, the evidence in the instant case does
not present a plain and indisputable case for summary resolution. Rather, as
contemplated by OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (d), a jury must serve as the fact finder and
resolve the evidentiary conflicts presented in this case.
(2) The presence or lack of a preexisting physician-patient relationship or health care provider-patient relationship;
(3) The circumstances constituting the emergency; and
(4) The circumstances surrounding the delivery of the emergency medical care.
(Emphasis supplied.)
12 Contrary to the majority’s view, the decision in Pottinger does not definitively
support the entry of summary judgment in the instant case. A careful review of the
facts and evidence cited in Pottinger show that the case is distinguishable. In
Pottinger, the physician who provided emergency medical care to the patient for a leg
fracture complied with the applicable duty of care by ordering the proper diagnostic
x-rays. See Pottinger, supra, 293 Ga. App. at 626, 629. The x-rays were interpreted
by a radiologist, and the physician relied upon the radiologist’s finding that the x-rays
did not show a serious fracture. Id. at 629. The emergency room x-rays were later
examined by an orthopedic surgeon, who observed a serious fracture that was not
noted by the radiologist. Id. at 627. This Court held that under OCGA § 51-1-29.5,
the physician was entitled to summary judgment in the medical malpractice lawsuit
since there was no clear and convincing evidence by which a jury could reasonably
conclude that the emergency room physician failed to exercise even slight care. Id.
at 629.
Here, unlike in Pottinger, there is evidence indicating that Dr. Omondi failed
to comply with the applicable duty of care since he did not order the proper
diagnositic test, a CT scan, that was necessary to detect Shaquille’s condition. Dr.
Omondi acknowledged that a pulmonary embolism can not be identified on an x-ray,
13 and that the best way to identify a pulmonary embolism is through a CT scan, which
he did not order. Dr. Omondi testified that a CT scan was available to him, and that
his failure to order a CT scan was not due to any time limitations. A CT scan was not
ordered simply because Dr. Omondi did not believe that a pulmonary embolism
condition was indicated, which the medical experts explained was based upon his
failures to properly assess and recognize the classic symptoms of the condition.
Moreover, unlike in Pottinger, Dr. Omondi did not rely upon a radiologist’s findings
in his assessment; rather, he read and misinterpreted Shaquille’s x-ray and EKG
results himself. Dr. Omondi acknowledged that he failed to note the abnormality
shown in the EKG results, which could have reflected a pulmonary embolism
condition.
Notably, the circumstances in this case are similar to those found in this
Court’s recent decision of Knight v. Roberts, __ Ga. App. __, * 84-86 (1) (Case Nos.
A12A0740, A12A0741, A12A0770, decided July 3, 2012), where we ruled that an
emergency physician was not entitled to summary judgment in a malpractice lawsuit
based upon evidence that he had failed to consider and obtain a CT scan to diagnose
14 the patient’s aortic dissection condition.3 Although the emergency physician had
obtained a chest x-ray as a part of his examination of the patient, medical experts
explained that a chest x-ray was not the proper diagnostic test to be used in order to
rule out the patient’s condition. Id. at 84 (1) (a). The experts further opined that the
patient’s subsequent death could have been prevented if the emergency physician had
properly complied with the standard of care during his examination of the patient in
the emergency room. Id. at 85 (1) (a).
In sum, I do not believe that a physician who renders treatment in an
emergency room is afforded immunity under OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c) as long as he
performs some acts that purport to provide care. A physician’s duty to comply with
the standard of care governing the circumstances is not entirely eliminated simply
because treatment is rendered in an emergency room. Patients who seek treatment in
an emergency room setting are nonetheless entitled to receive competent medical
3 I fully recognize that the element of causation was the primary issue presented and resolved in Knight, supra, __ Ga. App. at 83-86 (1) (a), (b), and the parties did not raise the issue of immunity under OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (c). Nevertheless, Knight highlights that emergency physicians who provide medical treatment to patients in the ER are not exempt from complying with the applicable standard of care, and their duty to order proper tests for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Here, as in Knight, Dr. Omondi failed to order the required tests to diagnose Shaquille’s classic symptoms, which allegedly deprived Shaquille of the ability to receive treatment that could have prevented his death.
15 care. In our review of the evidence in this case, we cannot simply disregard the
medical experts’ affidavits and testimony which clearly set forth the standard of care
and the manners in which Dr. Omondi’s treatment allegedly failed to meet the
standard. Based upon this evidence, Dr. Omondi’s decision to discharge Shaquille
from the emergency room, without performing the required diagnostic tests to identify
the source of his complaints and to rule out the possibility of a life-threatening
condition, could be considered as gross negligence. Ultimately, the issue of Dr.
Omondi’s alleged gross negligence must be resolved by a jury after hearing the
totality of the evidence and instructions to consider all relevant matters, including
those designated under OCGA § 51-1-29.5 (d). In light of the record evidence in this
case, summary judgment was not authorized.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge Phipps joins in this dissent.