A. Battery Or Negligence? a Battery Action
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Informed Consent By Mark S. O’Connor, Esq. and C. Lincoln Combs, Esq. Before engaging in any type of invasive can be no informed consent liability even procedure which was completely unauthor- procedure, a doctor or healthcare provider if the patient has an unfavorable outcome ized. When a doctor obtains a patient’s must have the patient’s consent to pro- from occurrence of the known risk. (Hales, consent, but fails to make appropriate dis- ceed, and the consent must be “informed.” 118 Ariz. at 309, 576 P.2d at 497.) But if closures including risks and benefits of the Failure to follow an appropriate consent the healthcare provider does not properly procedure such that the consent was not procedure may serve as a basis of liability inform the patient about a procedure, or “informed,” a doctor may be found liable for medical negligence. does not inform the patient and obtain under a negligence theory. Many courts regard the relationship consent for a procedure at all, then the In Arizona, for example, claims involv- between a physician and his patient as one provider can be held liable under either a ing “lack of consent,” that is, when a of trust and confidence. This relation- negligence or intentional tort theory. physician fails to operate within the limits ship requires the physician to exercise the of the patient’s consent, may give rise to utmost good faith in dealing with his or A. Battery or Negligence? a battery action. On the other hand, true her patient. (Hales v. Pittman, 118 Ariz. Initially, many courts characterized “informed consent” claims involving a phy- 305, 308, 576 P.2d 493, 496 (1978).) a lack of consent claim under the inten- sician’s obligation to provide appropriate A civil liability claim involving tional tort of battery. However, a modern information so that the patient’s consent informed consent arises out of a healthcare trend recognizes claims involving lack of to a procedure is “informed” are brought provider’s breach of his or her obligation informed consent as sounding in negli- as a negligent action. (Duncan, 205 Ariz. at to provide appropriate information about gence. (e.g., Saxena v. Gaffney, 159 Cal. 310 ¶¶ 11-13, 70 P.3d at 439.) a procedure to the patient. Physicians have App. 4th 316, 324 (2008); Curran v. Buser, to reasonably disclose all available choices 711 N.W.2d 562, 568 (Neb. 2006).) B. Lack of Valid Consent to a and alternative treatments and also the Confusion over the distinction between Procedure or Treatment May dangers inherently and potentially involved the two types of claims has been a problem Constitute Battery. in each of the procedures. (Cobbs v. F.P. at times. (See Duncan v. Scottsdale Medical A patient’s valid consent is essential Grant, 8 Cal. 3d 229, 243, 502 P.2d 1 Imaging, Ltd., 205 Ariz. 306, 310 ¶¶ before a physician or healthcare provider (1972).) 11-13, 70 P.3d 435, 439 (2003) (discuss- may perform an invasive procedure. There If a physician properly informs the ing inconsistent use of term “informed are some exceptions to the consent require- patient of the nature and probable out- consent”).) Most courts now understand ment including cases involving a minor, comes of a procedure, and the patient that a battery claim arises from factual emergency situations, or where a patient consents then, absent malpractice, there settings where a physician performs a in mentally incompetent. However, when continued on page 28 MARCH/APRIL 2015 FACTS & FINDINGS 27 Informed Consent continued from page 27 the exceptions do not apply, an action existed as to whether a patient consented makes a “substantial mistake concerning based upon battery will arise when a doctor to an operation and whether the operation the nature of the invasion of [her inter- or medical professional has unauthorized received was “substantially similar” to the est] or the extent of harm to be expected contact with a person during examination, operation to which the patient consented from it.” (Duncan, 205 Ariz. at 312 ¶ treatment or surgery. so as to be within the scope of the consent. 25, 70 P.3d at 441 (citing Restatement § The Restatement (Second) of Torts If the procedure actually performed varies 892B(2).) (“Restatement”) requires that consent, to from what the patient consented to then Duncan is an example of the implemen- be effective, must be “to the particular the healthcare provider may be liable for tation of many of these rules governing conduct, or substantially the same con- battery. (Hales, 118 Ariz. at 310, 576 P.2d informed consent. In Duncan, a patient duct.” (Restatement § 892A (2)(b).) The at 498.) When a patient gives a limited or receiving an MRI consented to a pre- circumstances of the consent discussion, the conditional consent, liability for battery imaging injection, but explicitly told the nature of the procedure to be performed, may arise if the healthcare provider acted medical imaging staff that she did not want and the reasonable implications inherent with willful disregard of the consent given. to receive fentanyl. The nurse then told the in granting consent, determine the scope (Duncan, 205 Ariz. at 311 ¶ 18.) patient that orders were changed to mor- of the particular conduct covered by the Fraud or misrepresentation on the part phine, but secretly injected the patient with patient’s consent. (Restatement § 892A of a healthcare provider may render a con- fentanyl. The Arizona Supreme Court held cmt. d.) What exactly the patient did and sent invalid. Therefore, a patient’s consent that the medical imaging provider could did not consent to is a fact question to be which is obtained by a healthcare provider’s be liable for battery because the patient decided at trial. (See Duncan, 205 Ariz. fraud or misrepresentation will give rise to explicitly conditioned her consent to an at 311 ¶ 16, 70 P.3d at 440; Cathemer v. a battery action. (See Duncan, 205 Ariz. MRI only if morphine or Demerol were Hunter, 27 Ariz. App. 780, 785, 558 P.2d, at 311 ¶ 20, 70 P.3d at 440.) “A patient’s provided and that the misrepresentation by 975, 980 (1976).) Holding a jury question consent is also ineffective when he or she the nurse vitiated the patient’s consent. 28 FACTS & FINDINGS MARCH/APRIL 2015 (Id. at 311-12 ¶¶ 15-26, 70 P.3d at 440- Ohio App.3d 355, 688 N.E. 274, 275 terrorist attacks to the Victim’s Compensation 41. But see Rice v. Brakel, 233 Ariz. 140, (App. 1996). While a patient can consent Fund. He is currently listed in the 2013 edition of 144 ¶ 13, 310 P.3d 16, 20 (App. 2013) to risks of surgery, a patient “does not “The Best Lawyers in America,” and the 2013 edi- tion of “Southwest Super Lawyers.” In September (holding that battery action will not serve consent to negligence.” See Wright v. Kaye, 2014, Mark was elected by his peers as a Fellow as an alternative cause of action when 267 Va. 510, 529, 593 S.E.2d 307, 317 of the International Society of Barristers. “a patient claims that a doctor failed to (2004).) disclose, without specific inquiry from [email protected] the patient, indeterminate factors before D. Conclusion. Lincoln Combs is a shareholder with Gallagher performing a procedure, arguably creating Informed consent is a fundamental & Kennedy in Phoenix, Arizona, and works in a mistake of fact or misrepresentation that principle of medical care. The informed the personal injury vitiates the patient’s consent.”) consent process promotes dialogue and practice group. Lincoln communication between a physician and was designated as a C. The Standard for an patient. When obtained correctly, informed 2015 “Rising Star” by Superlawyers for per- Informed Consent Claim consent is conducive to patient safety and sonal injury attorneys in Based in Negligence. improved medical outcomes since it opens the Southwest. Lincoln Under a negligence theory, the plaintiff dialogue between the patient and physi- has experience and suc- must show that but for the defendant’s fail- cian and the patient knows what to expect cess in a wide range of during and after the procedure. But if litigation and appellate ure to properly inform her of the nature of matters. He specializes the treatment, its risk and alternatives, the informed consent is not obtained, a physi- in plaintiffs’ catastrophic plaintiff would not have consented to the cian or healthcare provider can be exposed personal injury and treatment. In general, a physician should to civil liability. Performing an invasive wrongful death litigation, including consumer disclose only those risks which he knows or procedure without a patient’s consent is advocacy, elder abuse, motor vehicle accidents, professional negligence, products liability, and a battery, an intentional tort. And when reasonably should know are associated with insurance bad faith litigation. Lincoln is committed the proposed treatment. Many jurisdictions a physician fails to inform the patient to serving his clients with the passion, empathy, recognize that a physician’s duty regarding about risks of a procedure and alternative and integrity that injured victims of wrongdoing disclosure is set by prevailing practice in treatments, he or she may be liable for and their loved ones deserve. the community. Under the “professional” negligence should harm befall the patient. [email protected] theory, expert medical testimony is required to establish the professional custom and Mark O’Connor is a shareholder with Gallagher & Kennedy in Phoenix, Arizona. Mark is a certified practice. (See, e.g., Curran, 711 N.W.2d specialist in personal at 568.) injury and wrongful Other jurisdictions follow the “material death with the State risk” theory.