{ "id": 8527999, "name": "ALTON RAY MOZINGO, JR., by his Guardian Ad Litem, ALLEN G. THOMAS; and ALTON RAY MOZINGO v. PITT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC., MELINDA WARREN, RICHARD JOHN KAZIOR", "name_abbreviation": "Mozingo ex rel. Thomas v. Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Inc.", "decision_date": "1991-02-19", "docket_number": "No. 903SC438", "first_page": "578", "last_page": "593", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "101 N.C. App. 578" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "37 ALR3d 420", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "322 S.E.2d 560", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 496", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4749056, 4754596, 4756693, 4752378, 4751742 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0496-03", "/nc/312/0496-05", "/nc/312/0496-04", "/nc/312/0496-02", "/nc/312/0496-01" ] }, { "cite": "316 S.E.2d 318", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319" }, { "page": "319", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "69 N.C. App. 164", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525893 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "165" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/69/0164-01" ] }, { "cite": "363 S.E.2d 203", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "204", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 N.C. App. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8358281 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "383", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "383-84" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/88/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "347 S.E.2d 457", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 715", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4779554, 4776469 ], "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0715-01", "/nc/317/0715-02" ] }, { "cite": "343 S.E.2d 188", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "191" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "80 N.C. App. 383", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523953 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/80/0383-01" ] }, { "cite": "398 S.E.2d 889", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "890", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "101 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527191 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "3-4", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/101/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "365 S.E.2d 898", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "902", "parenthetical": "when unemancipated minor is injured by another's negligence, parent has claim for loss of child's services during minority and for medical expenses reasonably necessary to treat minor's injuries" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "321 N.C. 706", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2566622 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "713", "parenthetical": "when unemancipated minor is injured by another's negligence, parent has claim for loss of child's services during minority and for medical expenses reasonably necessary to treat minor's injuries" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/321/0706-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 A.L.R.3d 704", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 3d", "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "705", "parenthetical": "as a general rule, physicians \"may not contract against the effect of their own negligence\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 S.E.2d 350", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "353" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4725743 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "491" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "87 S.E.2d 893", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "897", "parenthetical": "duty may arise by statute or by operation of law" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "242 N.C. 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8615106 ], "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "362", "parenthetical": "duty may arise by statute or by operation of law" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/242/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 S.E.2d 469", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "475" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4757989 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "633" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "267 S.E.2d 685", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 374", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561700, 8561638, 8561752, 8561723, 8561662 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0374-03", "/nc/300/0374-01", "/nc/300/0374-05", "/nc/300/0374-04", "/nc/300/0374-02" ] }, { "cite": "263 S.E.2d 313", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "318" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "45 N.C. App. 400", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8549063 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/45/0400-01" ] }, { "cite": "99 A.L.R.2d 1398", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1400-03", "parenthetical": "physician's negligence in \"[pjredelivery diagnosis and treatment\" and during delivery" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "259 S.E.2d 911", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "298 N.C. 295", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8570627, 8570535, 8570503, 8570473, 8570575 ], "year": 1979, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/298/0295-05", "/nc/298/0295-03", "/nc/298/0295-02", "/nc/298/0295-01", "/nc/298/0295-04" ] }, { "cite": "255 S.E.2d 580", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "584" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "41 N.C. App. 661", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551418 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "666" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/41/0661-01" ] }, { "cite": "273 S.E.2d 454", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citing Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 324A (1965)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 527", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8568586, 8568497, 8568466, 8568434, 8568722, 8568538, 8568634 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citing Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 324A (1965)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0527-05", "/nc/301/0527-03", "/nc/301/0527-02", "/nc/301/0527-01", "/nc/301/0527-07", "/nc/301/0527-04", "/nc/301/0527-06" ] }, { "cite": "268 S.E.2d 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "15", "parenthetical": "citing Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 324A (1965)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 N.C. App. 518", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8550747 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "522", "parenthetical": "citing Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 324A (1965)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/47/0518-01" ] }, { "cite": "329 S.E.2d 391", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 508", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4726657, 4719746, 4722222, 4725303, 4719804 ], "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0508-03", "/nc/313/0508-04", "/nc/313/0508-01", "/nc/313/0508-02", "/nc/313/0508-05" ] }, { "cite": "321 S.E.2d 588", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "594" }, { "page": "594" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "71 N.C. App. 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523687 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "26" }, { "page": "27" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/71/0020-01" ] }, { "cite": "366 S.E.2d 862", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "negligence action \"for failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting the installation of\" a rubber membrane roof" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "321 N.C. 744", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2570853, 2570349, 2567695, 2568946, 2569780 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "negligence action \"for failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting the installation of\" a rubber membrane roof" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/321/0744-04", "/nc/321/0744-03", "/nc/321/0744-02", "/nc/321/0744-01", "/nc/321/0744-05" ] }, { "cite": "363 S.E.2d 367", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "371-72", "parenthetical": "negligence action \"for failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting the installation of\" a rubber membrane roof" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 N.C. App. 315", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8358177 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "322", "parenthetical": "negligence action \"for failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting the installation of\" a rubber membrane roof" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/88/0315-01" ] }, { "cite": "158 S.E. 744", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1931, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "746", "parenthetical": "\"ultimate test of liability would depend upon whether the physician actually accepted [a] . . . person as a patient and undertook to treat him\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "201 N.C. 42", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622052 ], "year": 1931, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "45", "parenthetical": "\"ultimate test of liability would depend upon whether the physician actually accepted [a] . . . person as a patient and undertook to treat him\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/201/0042-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 Ariz. 597", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ariz.", "case_ids": [ 722427 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ariz/141/0597-01" ] }, { "cite": "126 Ariz. 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ariz.", "case_ids": [ 1598711 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "610-12" }, { "page": "776-78" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ariz/126/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "17 A.L.R.4th 132", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "315 S.E.2d 698", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 631", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2402561 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0631-01" ] }, { "cite": "310 S.E.2d 90", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "94" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "65 N.C. App. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525436 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "631-32" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/65/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "395 S.E.2d 85", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "95", "parenthetical": "when obstetrician agrees to treat pregnant woman, obstetrician owes duties to both woman and baby" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "327 N.C. 283", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2497384 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "300-01", "parenthetical": "when obstetrician agrees to treat pregnant woman, obstetrician owes duties to both woman and baby" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/327/0283-01" ] }, { "cite": "365 S.E.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "321 N.C. 473", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2570563, 2567951, 2571154, 2571737, 2569151 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/321/0473-05", "/nc/321/0473-04", "/nc/321/0473-01", "/nc/321/0473-03", "/nc/321/0473-02" ] }, { "cite": "359 S.E.2d 505", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "507" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "87 N.C. App. 88", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8357912 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "91" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/87/0088-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 S.E.2d 754", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1956, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "757", "parenthetical": "when person consults physician for treatment, a \"status\" or \"relation\" is created as opposed to a contract in the ordinary sense of the term \"contract\"; nevertheless, the agreement between physician and patient imposes upon physician a duty of care" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "243 N.C. 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624921 ], "year": 1956, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "360", "parenthetical": "when person consults physician for treatment, a \"status\" or \"relation\" is created as opposed to a contract in the ordinary sense of the term \"contract\"; nevertheless, the agreement between physician and patient imposes upon physician a duty of care" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/243/0355-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 S.E.2d 861", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "864", "parenthetical": "duty physician owes patient determined by contract by which physician's services are engaged" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 N.C. 245", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560111 ], "year": 1966, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "247", "parenthetical": "duty physician owes patient determined by contract by which physician's services are engaged" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/266/0245-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 S.E.2d 762", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "765" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "242 N.C. 517", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8618023 ], "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "521-22" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/242/0517-01" ] }, { "cite": "311 S.E.2d 571", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "580" }, { "page": "576-77" }, { "page": "576-77" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2396078 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "199" }, { "page": "192-93" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "324 S.E.2d 294", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "298", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "72 N.C. App. 306", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526633 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "311", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/72/0306-01" ] }, { "cite": "364 S.E.2d 728", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "729-30" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 N.C. App. 746", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8359114 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "748" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/88/0746-01" ] }, { "cite": "267 S.E.2d 656", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "296 N.C. 410", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566628, 8566481, 8566586, 8566555, 8566526 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/296/0410-05", "/nc/296/0410-01", "/nc/296/0410-04", "/nc/296/0410-03", "/nc/296/0410-02" ] }, { "cite": "247 S.E.2d 720", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "722" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "38 N.C. App. 190", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8552897 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "192" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/38/0190-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1289, "char_count": 36134, "ocr_confidence": 0.771, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.53706923693746e-07, "percentile": 0.9240930648852501 }, "sha256": "df0adb1eca0678b9efa6b0046d7a3c78905046308517b36d35c087fdf512409e", "simhash": "1:8b14d22f56d70853", "word_count": 5880 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:54:53.681770+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judge Phillips concurs.", "Judge ORR dissents." ], "parties": [ "ALTON RAY MOZINGO, JR., by his Guardian Ad Litem, ALLEN G. THOMAS; and ALTON RAY MOZINGO v. PITT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC., MELINDA WARREN, RICHARD JOHN KAZIOR" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "GREENE, Judge.\nThe plaintiffs appeal the trial court\u2019s order filed 27 March 1990 granting the defendant\u2019s motion for summary judgment.\nViewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, Alton Ray Mozingo, Jr. [Mozingo, Jr.] and his father, the evidence tends to show the following: At some time before 2:00 p.m. on 5 December 1984, Sandra Dee Mozingo [Mozingo] was admitted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital [Hospital] for the delivery of her second child, Mozingo, Jr. She received medical care from the residents and nurses at the Hospital. At the time of her admission Mozingo did not have a private physician.\nThe Hospital was the teaching hospital for the East Carolina University Medical School [Medical School]. The residents who rendered care to Mozingo were licensed physicians undergoing postgraduate specialty training in obstetrics at the Hospital under the Medical School\u2019s residency program. This residency program at the Hospital under which the residents trained was conducted by the Medical School. To provide supervision for the residents, the Medical School contracted with Eastern OB/GYN Associates [Eastern], a private medical practice group in Greenville, North Carolina. Under their contract, Eastern agreed to provide its own physicians for \u201con call\u201d supervision of the residents training under the residency program. The contract stated that Eastern\u2019s employee-physicians could provide supervision by remaining at home during \u201con call\u201d hours so long as the physicians were immediately available by telephone to respond to the chief resident\u2019s requests for assistance regarding obstetric patients admitted to the Hospital. Eastern and the Medical School entered into this contract before Eastern hired Dr. Richard Kazior [defendant] as one of its physicians.\nOn 5 December 1984, the defendant was a physician employed by Eastern. While the defendant had unrestricted privileges at the Hospital as a \u201cstaff physician,\u201d he was not employed by either the Hospital or the Medical School. As one of Eastern\u2019s physicians, the defendant supervised residents at the Hospital pursuant to Eastern\u2019s contract with the Medical School. At 5:00 p.m. on 5 December 1984, the defendant came \u201con call.\u201d By stipulation, the defendant admitted that \u201che was the Attending Physician on Call for the OB/GYN Service of Pitt County Memorial Hospital with the responsibility for supervision of the OB/GYN residents and interns at the time of the birth of Alton Ray Mozingo, Jr.\u201d\nAfter coming \u201con call,\u201d the defendant remained at his home with an open telephone line. The defendant lived approximately two miles from the Hospital. At some time in the early evening, the residents providing care to Mozingo began experiencing difficulties in Mozingo\u2019s delivery. One of the residents, Dr. Melinda Warren, telephoned the defendant and informed him that they had encountered a birthing problem called shoulder dystocia. According to the defendant, a shoulder dystocia occurs when \u201ca shoulder of the infant in process of delivery becomes wedged or stuck in the pelvic cavity and constitutes an obstacle to the completion of the delivery.\u201d Upon receiving the call, the defendant immediately went to the Hospital. However, by the time he arrived, Mozingo had completed her delivery. The defendant\u2019s first contact of any kind with Mozingo and the plaintiffs occurred after the delivery. The defendant talked to the Mozingos, observed Mozingo, Jr., and ordered a hemoglobin A one C. The defendant never billed Mozingo or the plaintiffs for any services. The record is silent as to whether Eastern ever billed Mozingo or the plaintiffs for any services.\nAccording to the plaintiffs\u2019 expert, Dr. William Dillon, Mozingo \u201cwas a known gestational diabetic with extreme obesity and no established estimated fetal weight notwithstanding sonography. As such, there was a known significant risk of a macrosomic baby [a very large baby, weighing over 4,000 grams at birth]. Therefore, there were very significant known risk factors for this pregnancy which included a known significant risk factor of shoulder dystocia.\u201d As stated previously, the residents encountered a shoulder dystocia in Mozingo\u2019s delivery. Dr. Dillon testified that \u201cthis was an extremely severe shoulder dystocia,\u201d and that as a result of it, Mozingo, Jr. was born with many disabilities, including but not limited to Erb\u2019s palsy and phrenic nerve paralysis.\nOn 3 December 1987, the plaintiffs filed a complaint against the defendant alleging that the defendant\u2019s medical malpractice caused the damages suffered by Mozingo, Jr. See Bolkhir v. North Carolina State Univ., 321 N.C. 706, 713, 365 S.E.2d 898, 902 (1988) (when unemancipated minor is injured by another\u2019s negligence, parent has claim for loss of child\u2019s services during minority and for medical expenses reasonably necessary to treat minor\u2019s injuries). More particularly, the plaintiffs allege that the defendant \u201cwas negligent in that he deviated from the legally acceptable standards of practice in his lack of supervision of Defendant Melinda Warren and in that his care and case management of Mrs. Mozingo\u2019s labor and delivery failed to meet legally acceptable standards of practice.\u201d The defendant answered the complaint and filed a motion for summary judgment on 6 October 1989 supported by four affidavits, the pleadings, and other material obtained during discovery. The plaintiffs responded with a sworn affidavit and the transcript of Dr. Dillon\u2019s deposition. The trial court granted summary judgment for the defendant on 29 December 1989 and the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal. However, the trial court later rescinded its prior order, received into evidence the defendant\u2019s stipulation discussed above, and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant, which judgment was filed 27 March 1990.\nThe issues are (I) whether the defendant met his burden of proving that he did not owe Mozingo, Jr. a duty of care (A) arising from a physician-patient relationship or (B) arising absent a physician-patient relationship; and (II) whether the defendant met his burden of proving the applicable standard of care and that his supervision of the residents administering care to Mozingo conformed to the applicable standard of care.\nAs we have recently stated,\n[s]ummary judgment is proper where there is no genuine issue of any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(c). \u2018[A]n issue is genuine if it can be maintained by substantial evidence. ... A fact is material if it would establish any material element of a claim or defense.\u2019... \u2018Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.\u2019 ... \u2018In ruling on a motion for summary judgment the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.\u2019 . . . The movant \u2018has the burden of showing at least one of the three grounds justifying summary judgment in his favor: (1) \u201can essential element of plaintiff\u2019s claim is nonexistent... (2) plaintiff cannot produce evidence to support an essential element of his claim, or . . . (3) plaintiff cannot surmount an affirmative defense which would bar the claim.\u201d \u2019\nRaritan River Steel Co. v. Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, 101 N.C. App. 1, 3-4, 398 S.E.2d 889, 890 (1990) (citations omitted). \u201cThe burden rests on the movant to make a conclusive showing; until then, the non-movant has no burden to produce evidence.\u201d Virginia Elec. and Power Co. v. Tillett, 80 N.C. App. 383, 385, 343 S.E.2d 188, 191, cert. denied, 317 N.C. 715, 347 S.E.2d 457 (1986). \u201cOnce the moving party meets this burden, the burden is then on the opposing party to show that a genuine issue of material fact exists. ... If the opponent fails to forecast such evidence, then the trial court\u2019s entry of summary judgment is proper.\u201d White v. Hunsinger, 88 N.C. App. 382, 383, 363 S.E.2d 203, 204 (1988) (citation omitted). Summary judgment is such a drastic remedy that it should rarely be granted in negligence cases. Southern Watch Supply Co. v. Regal Chrysler-Plymouth, 69 N.C. App. 164, 165, 316 S.E.2d 318, 319, disc. rev. denied, 312 N.C. 496, 322 S.E.2d 560 (1984). This is true because \u201c \u2018[e]ven where there is no substantial dispute as to what occurred, it usually remains for the jury to apply the . . . [appropriate standard of care] to the facts of the case.\u2019 \u201d Id. at 166, 316 S.E.2d at 319 (citation omitted) (emphasis added).-\nWe note initially that the plaintiffs argue in their reply brief that this Court should not consider the terms of the contract between the Medical School and Eastern as testified to by the defendant because the contract was not made a part of the record on appeal and because the defendant has no knowledge of the terms of the contract. We disagree. First, the terms of the contract are a part of the record because the defendant testified to them in an affidavit which has been made a part of the record. Second, although N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(e) provides that \u201c[supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein,\u201d the \u201c[fjailure to make a timely objection to the form of affidavits supporting a motion for summary judgment is deemed a waiver of any objections. . . . Technical objections based on G.S. 1A-1, Rule 56(e) are not timely made when they are first raised on appeal.\u201d North Carolina Nat. Bank v. Harwell, 38 N.C. App. 190, 192, 247 S.E.2d 720, 722 (1978), disc. rev. denied, 296 N.C. 410, 267 S.E.2d 656 (1979) (citations omitted). See also Whitehurst v. Corey, 88 N.C. App. 746, 748, 364 S.E.2d 728, 729-30 (1988). The record discloses no prior objection to the defendant\u2019s affidavit on the grounds of a lack of personal knowledge or upon the possible grounds that the defendant\u2019s affidavit testimony violated the best evidence rule. Therefore, because the plaintiffs did not make a timely objection to the defendant\u2019s affidavit, they have waived any objection they may have had regarding it.\nI\nIn a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff must prove \u201cthat defendant was negligent in his care of plaintiff and that such negligence was the proximate cause of plaintiff\u2019s injuries and damage. . . . The defendant physician\u2019s negligence must be established by showing the standard of care owed to plaintiff and that defendant violated that standard of care.\u201d Beaver v. Hancock, 72 N.C. App. 306, 311, 324 S.E.2d 294, 298 (1985) (citation omitted) (emphasis added). See also Wall v. Stout, 310 N.C. 184, 199, 311 S.E.2d 571, 580 (1984). The proper standard of care is found in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 90-21.12 (1990). See also Wall at 192-93, 311 S.E.2d at 576-77 (\u201cG.S. 90-21.12 did not abrogate the common law standards of care required of a physician\u201d as set forth \u201cmost succinctly\u201d in Hunt v. Bradshaw, 242 N.C. 517, 521-22, 88 S.E.2d 762, 765 (1955)).\n(A)\nDuty Arising From A Physician-Patient Relationship\nWhen a physician and a patient enter into a consensual physician-patient relationship for the provision of medical services, a duty arises requiring the physician to conform to the statutory standard of care. Galloway v. Lawrence, 266 N.C. 245, 247, 145 S.E.2d 861, 864 (1966) (duty physician owes patient determined by contract by which physician\u2019s services are engaged); Kennedy v. Parrott, 243 N.C. 355, 360, 90 S.E.2d 754, 757 (1956) (when person consults physician for treatment, a \u201cstatus\u201d or \u201crelation\u201d is created as opposed to a contract in the ordinary sense of the term \u201ccontract\u201d; nevertheless, the agreement between physician and patient imposes upon physician a duty of care); Ledford v. Martin, 87 N.C. App. 88, 91, 359 S.E.2d 505, 507 (1987), disc. rev. denied, 321 N.C. 473, 365 S.E.2d 1 (1988), overruled on other grounds, 327 N.C. 283, 300-01, 395 S.E.2d 85, 95 (1990) (when obstetrician agrees to treat pregnant woman, obstetrician owes duties to both woman and baby); Willoughby v. Wilkins, 65 N.C. App. 626, 631-32, 310 S.E.2d 90, 94 (1983), disc. rev. denied, 310 N.C. 631, 315 S.E.2d 698 (1984) (stating that a physician-patient relationship between physician and patient \u201cmust be shown before any duty of care may be imputed to\u201d the physician, Court held that there was sufficient evidence of such relationship where physician \u201cevaluated plaintiff\u2019s physical condition and rendered medical advice to her\u201d); 61 Am. Jur. 2d Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7 158 (1981) (physician-patient relation is consensual; person knowingly seeks physician\u2019s assistance and physician knowingly accepts person as patient; relation may result from express or implied contract; relation exists \u201cbetween the person actually giving the treatment and the patient receiving it\u201d); 61 Am. Jur. 2d Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7 202 (duty of physician to patient \u201cis predicated by the law on the relation which exists between physician and patient, which, ... is the result of a consensual transaction, and not necessarily one of contract, and the existence of which is a question of fact\u201d); see also Annotation, What Constitutes Physician-Patient Relationship For Malpractice Purposes, 17 A.L.R.4th 132 (1982); cf. Hiser v. Randolph, 126 Ariz. 608, 610-12, 617 P.2d 774, 776-78 (Ct. App. 1980), overruled on other grounds, 141 Ariz. 597, 688 P.2d 605 (1984) (where physician assented to hospital\u2019s bylaws and was paid by the hospital to be an \u201con call\u201d physician in charge of the hospital\u2019s emergency room, \u201cthe lack of a consensual physician-patient relationship [between the \u2018on call\u2019 physician and the emergency room patient] before a duty to treat can arise\u201d was waived). Whether the defendant and Mozingo or Mozingo, Jr. established a physician-patient relationship depends upon whether the defendant actually accepted Mozingo or Mozingo, Jr. as patients and undertook to treat them. Childers v. Frye, 201 N.C. 42, 45, 158 S.E. 744, 746 (1931) (\u201cultimate test of liability would depend upon whether the physician actually accepted [a] . . . person as a patient and undertook to treat him\u201d).\nThe defendant\u2019s evidence shows that the defendant never accepted Mozingo or Mozingo, Jr. as patients or undertook to treat them, and therefore there was no consensual relationship between the defendant and Mozingo or Mozingo, Jr. In his affidavit, the defendant stated that \u201c[a]t no time prior to or during the delivery of Alton Ray Mozingo, Jr., did a physician/patient relationship exist between this affiant and Alton Ray Mozingo, Jr., or either of his parents.\u201d The defendant, Mozingo, and the plaintiffs had no contact whatsoever prior to 5 December 1984. In fact, the only contact they had took place after any negligence was alleged to have occurred. Furthermore, this case does not present the special circumstances of Hiser such that the consensual relationship requirement is deemed to have been waived by the defendant. Because the defendant has shown an absence of a physician-patient relationship, the defendant has shown that an essential element of the plaintiffs\u2019 claim does not exist, thereby shifting the burden to the plaintiffs to come forward with evidence establishing the physician-patient relationship. The plaintiffs produced no additional evidence on this issue and therefore have failed to meet their burden in this regard. Accordingly, summary judgment on this issue was appropriate.\n(B)\nDuty Arising Absent A Physician-Patient Relationship\nA duty to meet the statutory standard of care may arise absent a consensual physician-patient relationship. Cf. Olympic Prod. Co. v. Roof Sys., Inc., 88 N.C. App. 315, 322, 363 S.E.2d 367, 371-72, disc. rev. denied, 321 N.C. 744, 366 S.E.2d 862 (1988) (negligence action \u201cfor failing to exercise reasonable care in inspecting the installation of\u201d a rubber membrane roof). In Olympic, this Court stated that while \u201c[a] duty of care may arise out of a contractual relationship,\u201d \u201c \u2018[i]t is well settled in North Carolina that privity of contract is not required in order to recover against a person who negligently performs services for another and thus injures a third party.\u2019 \u201d Id. (quoting Ingle v. Allen, 71 N.C. App. 20, 26, 321 S.E.2d 588, 594 (1984), disc. rev. denied, 313 N.C. 508, 329 S.E.2d 391 (1985)). \u201cThe duty of vigilance to prevent injury has its source in the law applicable to human relations rather than in a narrow conception of privity.\u201d 57A Am. Jur. 2d Negligence \u00a7 93 (1989).\n\u201cAs a general proposition of the law of torts, it is settled that, under certain circumstances, one who undertakes to render services to another which he should recognize as necessary for the protection of a third person, or his property, is subject to liability to the third person, for injuries resulting from his failure to exercise reasonable care in such undertaking.\u201d Quail Hollow East Condominium Ass\u2019n v. Donald J. Scholz Co., 47 N.C. App. 518, 522, 268 S.E.2d 12, 15, disc. rev. denied, 301 N.C. 527, 273 S.E.2d 454 (1980) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 324A (1965)). \u201cThis duty to protect third parties from harm arises under circumstances where the party is in a position so that \u2018anyone of ordinary sense who thinks will at once recognize that if he does not use ordinary care and skill in his own conduct with regard to those circumstances, he will cause danger of injury to the person or property of the other.\u2019 \u201d Olympic, 88 N.C. App. at 323, 363 S.E.2d at 372 (quoting Davidson & Jones, Inc. v. County of New Hanover, 41 N.C. App. 661, 666, 255 S.E.2d 580, 584, disc. rev. denied, 298 N.C. 295, 259 S.E.2d 911 (1979)); see also Annotation, Liability of Physician or Surgeon for Injury to Child in Pregnancy and Childbirth Cades, 99 A.L.R.2d 1398, 1400-03 (1965) (physician\u2019s negligence in \u201c[pjredelivery diagnosis and treatment\u201d and during delivery); 61 Am. Jur. 2d Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7 279 (physician\u2019s predelivery negligence and negligence during childbirth may render physician liable to child).\nWhether the defendant has placed himself in the position where his supervision of the residents at the Hospital pursuant to his contract with Eastern may be expected to affect the interest of patients receiving care from the residents, such that tort law will impose upon him the duty to act in such a way that the patients will not be injured by the residents, requires a balancing of various factors by the court. Ingle, 71 N.C. App. at 27, 321 S.E.2d at 594. This Court recognized six factors in United Leasing Corp. v. Miller, 45 N.C. App. 400, 263 S.E.2d 313, disc. rev. denied, 300 N.C. 374, 267 S.E.2d 685 (1980). They include:\n(1) the extent to which the transaction was intended to affect the other person; (2) the foreseeability of harm to him; (3) the degree of certainty that he suffered injury; (4) the closeness of the connection between the defendant\u2019s conduct and the injury; (5) the moral blame attached to such conduct; and (6) the policy of preventing future harm.\nId. at 406-07, 263 S.E.2d at 318. Another factor in the nonexclusive list of factors is the \u201cextent of burden to defendant and the consequences to the community of imposing a duty to exercise care with resulting liability for breach . . . .\u201d W. Prosser & W. Keeton, The Law of Torts \u00a7 53 at 359 n. 24 (5th ed. 1984); see also 57 A Am. Jur. 2d Negligence \u00a7 87 (other factors). Additionally, a duty of care on physicians like the defendant must be consistent with the purpose and spirit of N.C.G.S. \u00a7\u00a7 90-21.11 to -21.14 (1990), the medical malpractice act, which is \u201cto decrease the number and severity of medical malpractice claims in an effort to decrease the cost of medical malpractice insurance.\u201d Black v. Littlejohn, 312 N.C. 626, 633, 325 S.E.2d 469, 475 (1985).\nWhen there is no dispute as to the facts or when only a single inference can be drawn from the evidence, the issue of whether a duty exists is a question of law for the court. Pinnix v. Toomey, 242 N.C. 358, 362, 87 S.E.2d 893, 897 (1955) (duty may arise by statute or by operation of law); Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 328B(b) (1965) (in negligence action the court must determine whether the facts \u201cgive rise to any legal duty\u201d); 57 A Am. Jur. 2d Negligence \u00a7 86 (question of duty is \u201can issue of law for the court rather than for the jury\u201d). However, when the facts are in dispute or when more than a single inference can be drawn from the evidence, the issue of whether a duty exists is a mixed question of law and fact. The issues of fact must first be resolved by the fact finder, and then whether such facts as found by the fact finder give rise to any legal duty must be resolved by the court. See Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 328B(b) comment e.\nAs the facts regarding the issue of duty are not in dispute at this point in the litigation, we conclude from the evidence presented to the trial court with regard to the defendant\u2019s motion for summary judgment that the defendant failed to prove that he did not owe a duty of care to Mozingo, Jr. The defendant was responsible on 5 December 1984 for the supervision of the residents at the Hospital. He had undertaken a responsibility as an employee of Eastern to render supervisory medical services to the Medical School\u2019s residency program and thereby to the residents training under it and, at least indirectly, to the patients under the residents\u2019 care. These residents, though licensed physicians, were still undergoing training in obstetrics, and therefore the Medical School provided these residents with experienced supervision for difficult or problematic cases. Such supervision was thus necessary for the protection of patients, like Mozingo and Mozingo, Jr., receiving care under the Medical School\u2019s residency program. On the facts as presented to the trial court, the defendant was in such a position that if a person of \u201cordinary sense\u201d were to think about the circumstances, the person would at once recognize that if the defendant were to fail to use the amount of care required of him for the proper supervision of the residents, he would cause danger of injury to the patients under the care of the residents. Finally, although the imposition of a duty upon physicians such as the defendant may have negative consequences for the community, such as increased medical costs, we are not convinced that these potential consequences outweigh the policy of preventing harm to patients like Mozingo and Mozingo, Jr. arising from the supervision of residents by physicians like the defendant. Because the defendant failed to prove on the evidence presented to the trial court that he did not owe a duty of care to Mozingo, Jr., summary judgment was not appropriate on this issue.\nII\nThe second issue concerns the appropriate standard of care owed, if any, to Mozingo, Jr. by the defendant. In support of his summary judgment motion, the defendant submitted his own affidavit and deposition transcript, and the affidavits of three physicians, Doctors Frank C. Greiss, Robert C. Cefalo, and Charles Hammond. The defendant argues that the affidavits demonstrate' the applicable standard of care owed to Mozingo, Jr. and that the defendant did not breach that standard.\nWhen ruling on a motion for summary judgment, a court must \u201ccarefully scrutinize\u201d the movant\u2019s papers and \u201cresolve all inferences against him.\u201d Pembee Mfg. Corp. v. Cape Fear Constr. Co., 313 N.C. 488, 491, 329 S.E.2d 350, 353 (1985). For the defendant to prove that essential elements of the plaintiffs\u2019 claim do not exist, namely, the standard of care owed to Mozingo, Jr. and its breach, the defendant\u2019s affidavits must conclusively show the standard of care and that the defendant did not breach it. To prove this by affidavit, in addition to the requirements of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 1A-1, Rule 56(e), an affiant must aver that he is familiar \u201cwith the standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and experience [to that of the defendant] situated in the same or similar communities at the time of the alleged act giving rise to the cause of action,\u201d and that the \u201cdefendant acted in accordance with those standards . . . .\u201d See Hunsinger, 88 N.C. App. at 383-84, 363 S.E.2d at 204 (affiants in support of defendant\u2019s motion \u201caverred that they were familiar with the standards of practice\u201d and that defendant acted accordingly); N.C.G.S. \u00a7 90-21.12; see also Wall, 310 N.C. at 192-93, 311 S.E.2d at 576-77 (applicable standard of care which fully explains \u201c[t]he scope of a physician\u2019s duty to his patient\u201d combines \u201cin one test the exercise of \u2018best judgment,\u2019 \u2018reasonable care and diligence\u2019 and compliance with the \u2018standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and experience situated in the same or similar communities\u2019 \u201d) (emphases in text).\nHere, the defendant has not met his burden. Dr. Greiss averred that he was familiar with \u201cthe protocol of Bowman Gray School of Medicine in December of 1984 which applied to the supervision of interns and residents in obstetrics at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine . . . .\u201d Dr. Cefalo averred that he was familiar with \u201cthe protocol of The North Carolina Memorial Hospital in December of 1984 which applied to the supervision of interns and residents in obstetrics at The North Carolina Memorial Hospital ....\u201d Dr. Hammond averred that he was familiar with \u201cthe protocol of Duke University Medical Center in December of 1984 which applied to the supervision of interns and residents in obstetrics at Duke University Medical University. . . .\u201d The defendant\u2019s affidavit set forth the protocol of the Medical School and Hospital in Pitt County, North Carolina. However, neither the defendant nor the doctors averred that they were familiar with the standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and experience to that of the defendant situated in Pitt County or a similar community at the time of the alleged negligence giving rise to this suit. Furthermore, while the defendant averred that he acted according to his contractual duty with Eastern, none of the affiants averred that the defendant acted in accordance with the appropriate standard of care. See Annotation, Validity and Construction of Contract Exempting Hospital or Doctor from Liability for Negligence to Patient, 6 A.L.R.3d 704, 705 (1966) (as a general rule, physicians \u201cmay not contract against the effect of their own negligence\u201d). Therefore, because the defendant failed to meet his burden with regard to his motion for summary judgment, genuine issues of material fact exist as to the appropriate standard of care and as to whether the defendant acted in accordance with that standard. Accordingly, the trial court\u2019s entry of summary judgment for the defendant is\nReversed and remanded.\nJudge Phillips concurs.\nJudge ORR dissents.", "type": "majority", "author": "GREENE, Judge." }, { "text": "Judge ORR\ndissenting.\nI respectfully dissent solely on the grounds that my review of the evidence before this Court indicates that defendant did not owe Mozingo, Jr. a duty of care in the absence of a physician-patient relationship. Without establishing a duty of care, there can be no negligence, and therefore, summary judgment in defendant\u2019s favor was proper.\nWhile the majority\u2019s recitation of the law on this issue is correct, I do not agree that \u201cdefendant failed to prove that he did not owe a duty of care to Mozingo, Jr.\u201d I find that defendant provided sufficient evidence that he did not owe such duty to Mozingo, Jr., and further find that Mozingo, Jr. did nothing to rebut defendant\u2019s evidence on this issue.\nThe determination of any question of duty \u2014 that is, whether the defendant stands in such a relation to the plaintiff that the law will impose upon him an obligation of reasonable conduct for the benefit of the plaintiff \u2014 has been held to be an issue of law for the court rather than for the jury, to be determined by reference to the body of statutes, rules, principles, and precedents which make up the law.. . . the evidence and scope or range of the duty .... [OJnce a duty has been found to exist, the question of whether the duty was properly performed is ordinarily a question to be decided by the trier of fact.\n57A Am. Jur. 2d Negligence \u00a7 86.\nThe undisputed evidence of record regarding defendant\u2019s alleged duty establishes that defendant, as an employee of Eastern, met all of his contractual obligations to provide supervision to the Medical School\u2019s residency program. Defendant began his \u201con call\u201d supervision duties pursuant to the contract at 5:00 p.m. on 5 December 1984. He remained at home (as he was permitted to do under the contract) with an open telephone line. Immediately upon receiving the request for assistance from Dr. Melinda Warren, defendant went to the hospital to assist the resident physicians in Mozingo, Jr.\u2019s delivery. By the time he arrived, the baby had been delivered.\nDr. William Dillon, M.D., an expert physician, testifying for plaintiff, stated in his deposition that \u201cit was incumbent upon the chief resident to inform the staff physician of the presence of this patient.\u201d Dr. Dillon was speaking in terms of informing the staff physician (defendant) at the time the patient was admitted to the hospital. It is undisputed that the patient was admitted to the hospital before 5:00 p.m., but that defendant was not notified of such until he received the call at his home later in the evening.\nDr. Dillon later contradicted himself on this point when he stated:\nTherefore, I think in at least a minimum sense a supervising physician needs to make contact sometimes, preferably at the beginning [of his on call service], and maybe a few times in between, as to what is occurring on his service.\nDr. Dillon testified as to his opinion on what the supervising physician should do. However,' the defendant was not required by the contract under which he worked nor was the accepted practice at all of the teaching hospitals in North Carolina any different from what he in fact did. We find no evidence that defendant in any way breached his contract for providing on call services on 5 December 1984, or acted or failed to act in a manner which would establish a duty of care under the facts of this case. While defendant could have called the residents on duty at the hospital at the beginning of his on call service, he was under no obligation to do so, pursuant to the contract or otherwise, and as such no duty existed as a matter of law to the plaintiff Mozingo, Jr.\nI therefore dissent, and would hold that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in defendants\u2019 favor.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Judge ORR" } ], "attorneys": [ "Narron, Holdford, Babb, Harrison & Rhodes, P.A., by William H. Holdford and Elizabeth B. McKinney, for plaintiff-appellants.", "Young, Moore, Henderson & Alvis, P.A., by Jerry S. Alvis, for defendant-appellee Kazior." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ALTON RAY MOZINGO, JR., by his Guardian Ad Litem, ALLEN G. THOMAS; and ALTON RAY MOZINGO v. PITT COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC., MELINDA WARREN, RICHARD JOHN KAZIOR\nNo. 903SC438\n(Filed 19 February 1991)\n1. Appeal and Error \u00a7 329 (NCI4th); Rules of Civil Procedure \u00a7 56.3 (NCI3d)\u2014 malpractice action \u2014 contract between medical school and doctor\u2019s employer \u2014 consideration by court on appeal proper\nThere was no merit to plaintiffs\u2019 argument that the court on appeal should not consider the terms of the contract between East Carolina Medical School and defendant doctor\u2019s employer because the contract was not made a part of the record on appeal and because the defendant had no knowledge of the terms of the contract since the terms of the contract were a part of the record because defendant testified to them in an affidavit which was made a part of the record, and there were no timely objections to defendant\u2019s affidavit on the ground of a lack of personal knowledge or upon the possible ground that the defendant\u2019s affidavit violated the best evidence rule.\nAm Jur 2d, Appeal and Error \u00a7\u00a7 429, 528.\n2. Physicians, Surgeons, and Allied Professions \u00a7 11 (NCI3d) \u2014 malpractice action \u2014 no physician-patient relationship \u2014 consensual relationship requirement not waived\nIn an action to recover for medical malpractice where plaintiff alleged that defendant was negligent in his care and case management of plaintiff\u2019s wife\u2019s labor and delivery, plaintiff failed to show a physician-patient relationship from which a duty of care arose where the evidence tended to show that defendant was employed by a company to provide supervision for residents in the East Carolina Medical School; defendant, plaintiff, and plaintiff\u2019s wife had no contact prior to delivery of the minor plaintiff; the only contact they had took place after any negligence was alleged to have occurred; and the circumstances of this case were not such that the consensual relationship requirement was deemed to have been waived by defendant.\nAm Jur 2d, Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7 158.\n3. Physicians, Surgeons, and Allied Professions \u00a7 11 (NCI3d| \u2014 malpractice action \u2014 consensual physician-patient relationship absent \u2014 duty of defendant doctor to injured plaintiff\nDefendant doctor failed to prove that he did not owe a duty of care to the minor plaintiff in the absence of a consensual physician-patient relationship where the evidence tended to show that defendant was responsible for the supervision of the residents in the hospital where the minor plaintiff was born; he had undertaken a responsibility as an employee of a private medical practice group to render supervisory medical services to the Medical School\u2019s residency program and thereby to the residents training under it and, at least indirectly, to the patients under the residents\u2019 care; such supervision was necessary for the protection of patients receiving care under the Medical School\u2019s residency program; defendant was in such a position that if a person of \u201cordinary sense\u201d were to think about the circumstances, the person would at once recognize that if the defendant were to fail to use the amount of care required of him for the proper supervision of the residents, he would cause danger of injury to the patients under the care of the residents; and although the imposition of a duty upon physicians such as the defendant may have negative consequences for the community, these potential consequences do not outweigh the policy of preventing harm to patients arising from supervision of residents by physicians like defendant.\nAm Jur 2d, Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7\u00a7 286, 299.\n4. Physicians, Surgeons, and Allied Professions \u00a7 17 (NCI3d) \u2014 malpractice \u2014 failure to show standard of care \u2014 failure to demonstrate standard not breached\nIn a medical malpractice action defendant failed to demonstrate the applicable standard of care owed to the minor plaintiff and failed to demonstrate that defendant did not breach that standard, though defendant offered affidavits of doctors who averred that they were familiar with standards for supervision of interns and residents at three hospitals other than the one in which the alleged injury occurred, but none of the doctors averred that they were familiar with the standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and experience to that of the defendant situated in Pitt County or a similar community at the time of the alleged negligence giving rise to this suit; furthermore, while defendant averred that he acted according to his contractual duty with his employer, none of the affiants averred that defendant acted in accordance with the appropriate standard of care.\nAm Jur 2d, Physicians, Surgeons, and Other Healers \u00a7\u00a7 354, 356.\nMalpractice testimony: Competency of physician or surgeon from one locality to testify, in malpractice case, as to standard of care required of defendant practicing in another locality. 37 ALR3d 420.\nJudge ORR dissenting.\nAppeal by plaintiffs from order filed 27 March 1990 in Pitt County Superior Court by Judge William C. Griffin, Jr. Heard in the Court of Appeals 28 November 1990.\nNarron, Holdford, Babb, Harrison & Rhodes, P.A., by William H. Holdford and Elizabeth B. McKinney, for plaintiff-appellants.\nYoung, Moore, Henderson & Alvis, P.A., by Jerry S. Alvis, for defendant-appellee Kazior." }, "file_name": "0578-01", "first_page_order": 606, "last_page_order": 621 }