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Home My WebLink About96-05157 t ., " 11 ~ ~ ~ ~ .. .!! ~ i I L ~ ; , I I i I 1 I I I I . , I ! ", '~. \ '; , , , ! of ,/ ,F / , i I I . .... f-;: -~ " , .. . 'H~ , .< , O~ -'" :,~ :~ rF' <: ~~. :s; "- ~.t) ~1 u.; ." G: -"" ;~ll . . .. :l.. I . t! '0 '.i <..j <';;',- u " . .. ~ SHBLVA SPITZ, Bxecutrix of the Bstate of HBRMAN SPITZ, Deceased, IN THB COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBBRLAND COUNTY, PBNNA. CIVIL ACTION .- LAW Plaintiff, VS. HAROLD G. KRETZING, M.D., B.M.C. FAMILY PRACTICE, and BELVEDBRB MEDICAL CORPORATION, Defendants. DOCKET NO. CV-96-S1S7 JURY TRIAL DEMANDED ORDBR AND NOW, this day of , 1996, upon consideration of the Preliminary Objections of Defendants, Harold G. Kretzing, M.D., and Belvedere Medical Corporation, to the Plaintiff's Complaint, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: (1) the language "acts, omissions and other tortious conduct of the above named defendnats, generally and in the following particular respects" contained in paragraph 28, and .other tortious conduct" contained in paragraph 29 are stricken for failure to plead with the factual specificity required by Pa. R. Civ. P. 10191a); 121 paragraph 28(fl of Plaintiff'. Complaint is stricken for failure to plead an action in infOrmed consent in compliance with rule of law; (l) alternatively, paragraph Ulfl of Plaintiff's Complaint is stricken for failure to allege a battery cause of action in compliance with rule of law: 2. Plaintiff's Complaint generally alleges that Harold G. Kretzing, M.D., and Belvedere Medical Corporation lhereinafter referred to as "Dr. Kretzing" I were negligent in the failure to timely diagnose Plaintiff's decedent's lung carcinoma. I. PRBLDlINAJlY OBJECTION IN THE NATtJRB OP A MOTIOII TO STRIltB PORStJDI'l'TO PA. It. CIV. P. 1028181131 ILACJ: OP PACTtJAL SPBCIPICITY -- PA. It. CIV. P. 10191all. 3. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth fully at length. 4. The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure require that the material facts upon which a cause of action is based be stated in a concise and summary form. Pa. R. Civ. P. l019(a). 5. In paragraphs 28 and 29 of Plaintiff's Complaint, Plaintiff alleges that the damages sustained by Plaintiff's decedent were caused by the conduct of Dr. Kretzing through "acts, omissions and other tortious conduct . . . both generally and in the following particular respects: ..." and through "other tortious conduct .. " 6. The averments noted above with the language "generally and in the following respects" and "other tortious conduct" constitute non.specific and inconsistent general allegations of negligence that fail to set forth the material facts upon which it is based, in violation of Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 10191al. . : . 7. The aforesaid averments are general allegations and do not inform and provide Dr. Kretzing with notice of the manner in which he allegedly breached the applicable standard of care. ~ Connor v. Alleqhenv General HosDital, 501 Pa. 306, 461 A.2d 600 (1983); Kitzmiller v. Riverton, 38 CUmb. L. J. 33 119871. 8. If the allegations set out above are allowed to remain, then Plaintiff may have the opportunity to amend her Complaint to introduce new theories of negligence after the applicable statute of limitations has run, all to the severe prejudice of Or. Kretzing. WHEREFORE, Defendants, Harold G. Kretzing, M.D., and Belvedere Medical Corporation, request an Order pursuant to Pa. R. Civ. P. 10281a) (3) striking the aforesaid language from paragraphs 28 and 29 of Plaintiff's Complaint. II . PRJrLDJT1IUY OBJBCTIOIf III TO HA'l'UllB OP A KOTIOIf TO snIU PUAanPII 28 If) OP PLAINTIPP' S CCIlPLAIHT POll PAILUU TO CCIlPLY 1IITB 1lULI: OP LAW. 9. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth fully at length. 10. In paragraph 28(f) of Plaintiff's Complaint, Plaintiff contends Dr. Kretzing was negligent by: If) Failure to inform Mr. Spitz of the significance of the abnormal chest x-ray report and failing to alert him of the necessity of follow.up chest x-rays and other diagnostic studie.. - } - 11. Pennsylvania case law is clear that allegations centered on a lack of informed consent lie in a cause of action in battery, and not negligence. 12. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to state a cause of action or a claim upon which relief can be granted. WHEREFORE, Defendants, Harold G. Kretzing, M.D., and Belvedere Medical Corporation, request this Honorable Court to enter an Order striking paragraph 28(f) of Plaintiff's Complaint for failure to comply with rule of lav. III. AM'lnltlATIVE PULIXIHART OBJECTION Dr THB NATmlB OF A MOTION TO STUD PARAG1lAPB 211ft OF PLAINTIFF'S CCMPLAINT. 13. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth fully at length. 14. In paragraph 281f) of Plaintiff's Complaint, Plaintiff sets forth a claim against Belvedere Medical Corporation for: If) Failure to inform Mr. Spitz of the significance of the abnormal chest x-ray report and failing to alert him of the necessity of follow,up chest x.rays and other diagnostic studies. 15. In this paragraph, Plaintiff purports to allege a battery action against Dr. Kretzing and Belvedere Medical Corporation, a professional corporation. 16. A battery action exlsts when a surgeon tr..ts an individual without that person'. consent. ~ Gray Y. Grunahle, 4~1 Pa. 144, 241 A.2d 661 il"'l. 4 17. Pennsylvania law does not recognize an independent duty of a non-surgeon or non-physician to obtain a patient's informed consent. ~ Marqotta v. Lancaster General HosDital, 47 D&C2d 300 (1987). 18. Furthermore, as a corporation, Belvedere Medical Corporation cannot physically commit a battery. WHEREFORE, Defendants, Harold G. Kretzing, M.D., and Belvedere Medical Corporation, request this Honorable Court to dismiss paragraph 281f) of Plaintiff's Complaint for failure to state a cause of action upon which relief can be granted. IV. PULDlIHAJlY OBJBC'l'IOH IX TBB HATmlB OP A D~1I1n1 TO P'....TV'I'IPF'S CLAIM FOR DBCKDDrl"S LOSS OP TBB purllmTII~!:l AHD IDlJOYPU'I' OP LI". 19. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated herein by reference as though set forth fully at length. 20. In Count II of Plaintiff's Complaint, a survival action brought pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S.A. 58302, Plaintiff contends the Plaintiff's decedent's estate has suffered damages a. a result of decedent'. death 'including the decedent's pain, suffering, inconvenience. loss of life'. Dleasures and loss of earnings' lemphasis addedl. 21. Pennsylvania's Survival Act does not allow for the recovery of a decedent'. loss of life'. pleasure. or inconvenience. 42 Pa. C.S.A. 18302. . S . "VIA BEASLEY. CASEY & ERBSTEIN By: SLADE H. McLAUGHLIN IDENTIFICATION NO. 36653 1125-35 Walnut Street Philadelphia. PA 19107-4997 215-592-1000 r ATIORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFFS IN THF. COURT OF COMMON pr.F-AS OF CUMRERI.ANn COUNTY. PA. SHELVA J. SPITZ, Executrix of THE Estate of Herman F. Spitz. Deceased v. HAROLD G. KRETZING, M.D., B.M.C. FAMILY PRACflCE. and BELVEDERE MEDICAL CORPORATION No. 96-5157 CIVIL CIVIL ACTION C') -0 f; 0'\ 0 " "1::' 0 .-:.1 "'C" ., -' . - ,;, :!l "'" cill. ~ r- ..,m ...... <:) "6 ,.. , 'J -' ~' ::... -< --, !'::~ r '- c~~ .;.. - ..... .,.~ ~. If? l~m .. :.11'" ~ '- CIVn. ACTION COMPI..AINI' "NOTICE" v.. .... _ _ ia -... If,... _.. _...... dol! do,..... _10 dol! ~ pop.,... _lib...... -~(:IO)daya"'lIIia__"IlId_... -...,.............. _-...-u, or'" .nonooy IlId filial ia """iaI _ dol! _ ,.... dcfalot or ....,..,_ .. dol! dt...... _ ......,... v....._ ..... or,... fail.. do... dIt _ ma, ,.- _ ,... .... .,..... ma, Iot_ ....... you'" dIt ___ Iun!oor _ far lily -, ..._ io dIt L....."'.. or far uy _ dtila or Idicf ~.., dol! p1t1Oli1f. V....., 1.>00 -, or ~ or _ ..... ...... to ,... '00 SftOl,1.JI TUJ: T1IIS rAftJI TO Vot,'a U1II'lT.. .\T ONCL II' YOU no NOT ,"\'1: .\ U""'_ 011 (.",,,,,0Ii0T oU1'OaD ~ GO TO 011 nun'OI"1: no: IlfTlCI; SET fU1111t ULOW 1n fN) O\,T 1II1II:u. tfll, C"'''' GaT LEG4I. tlI:lJ'. ow..:. .11-. C-.n A k .. .........""""'.c...of(___ , C-IIo.- ..... c_..\ 1101, fY11'\ :...~ -AV1SO- Le"'~ .. ._..._ Si_qoicR r r . _...... . .... '_In"'" '.1.' --.....(:IO)......pllMtlplItIt... ................,....... .... Ha.ltllt__ _......_o._._...........,~. II cane - fonaa ...... ........ . .. ..r-.-.-. la. .._~ ....... .. CGaiIr1" III penDnI. Sea.~ que ti nted no .-........ -*-.,....._ Ie ..... . CGIIII'I Illy. .. previo IWiao . AOtdw:ecm ,...... la.................... r._ 40:1 . . y .........-....,sa... -. Its __..._ ....... u..t.....,..,...... e ..,..~ .h..k!. cMmI -- .-.-pon- tUft ar...1l0......1lD4... t,'N UOG.\IlO....~ T"''IDln. 51 i'iO TlL'd: UOG.ux11l1l i'iO 11INJ: n IlINIllO sunca."iTl" r4GU T4I.5I:.\'1('IO. "...'" r:N l'USONA 0 u...u.a: .011 nufONO" LA 0rtC1NA ct;"... ~ 51: lNnl:Nn..\ ucur... .\I.AJO rUA UUIGLU llUN1l€ 51: "-'IlII ~'"'\U utn1:!'iCL\ LEGAL om. .. .. c~ .. ~MJ t1t4Pf '- n"",. C_. ...~___ I c-....... ___ c._.._ 1'1>11 1.1t1. z..~...,"t~ ., ....- '- BEASLEY. CASEY llr ERBSTEIN since January I, 1994. 14 Ibs. of which were lost in the two weeks prior to the office visit. A history was also given of persistent cough and bringing up quantities of brownish sputum. IS. Dr. Robison's differential diagnosis on August II, 1994 included rule out neoplasm, rule out pneumonia versus bronchitis. and rule out recurrence of tuberculosis. 16. Dr. Kretzing admitted the patient to Carlisle Hospital in isolation from August 12, 1994 through August 18, 1994 for suspected tuberculosis. 17. Subsequently. Dr. Kretzing referred Mr. Spitz to a cardio-pulmonary specialist, Dr. Leon Sweer. 18. Dr. Sweer referred Mr. Spitz for a li Scan of the chest. which revealed a mus-like density. 19. Sublcquently, a ftbcrqltic broncholCtlpy wid! transbronchial needle aspiration was perfOl.ued on September 21, 1994, which did not prove to be diqllOltic of the mus in Mr. Spitz' left upper lobe. 20. ^ limited thoraootomy wid!ltft pIIIItmlal incision was performed at Carlisle HoIpital on Stpwmber l6. 1994 with the elpCCtllion of makiD& a definitive diqnosis. This procedure did not prove to be diq....ic of the palimt's condition, and Mr. Spitz was tIIen tranlfcmd to Ilmhey MedqJ Ceftttf for more cumpl'CbcnsM latina. 21. On ..l\bct )0. 1'*. Mr. SpIU IiftllaWllt bn.-.hu...py and left upper ~)'. The........ ftum thew ptn.'fdum .-eft d.,oostlt of luna CIftC:tf. ~ ,,*'faRy ....,'dt ('lklflllmll u{ dw atft ~ klbc. J1 Mr. Spu dwtulWt .........dl ~uant, ldltlI his" 011 May 1. 199$. H f'\aillllf1'\' 6t.ltIIfrl. "'IW"". ... ncmwat dmtt lIOflt pl'lMitMtrly allied by tbe ..