Joe Mata v. Joseph Simpson, M.D.--Appeal from 225th Judicial District Court of Bexar County

No. 04-99-00499-CV
Joe MATA,
Appellant
v.
Joseph SIMPSON, M.D.,
Appellee
From the 225th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 96-CI-05260
Honorable Robert L. Eschenberg, Judge Presiding

Opinion by: Phil Hardberger, Chief Justice

Dissenting opinion by: Paul W. Green, Justice

Sitting: Phil Hardberger, Chief Justice

Alma L. L pez, Justice

Paul W. Green Justice

Delivered and Filed: July 12, 2000

REVERSED AND REMANDED

Joe Mata ("Mata") appeals a summary judgment granted in favor of Joseph Simpson, M.D. ("Simpson") in a medical malpractice action. The sole issue presented in this appeal is whether Mata's action is barred by limitations. The critical question in addressing this issue is determining when Simpson's medical treatment of Mata was completed. We hold that Simpson's medical treatment ended on April 15, 1994; therefore, Mata's suit was filed within the two-year limitations period. The trial court's judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded for trial.

Background

In September of 1992, Mata was admitted to a hospital for treatment of a drug addiction. Simpson saw Mata on the day of his discharge to approve the discharge. Simpson continued to treat Mata after his discharge. Mata had three office visits with Simpson: in November of 1992, September of 1993, and October of 1993. Simpson prescribed medication for Mata monthly, on October 18, 1993, October 25, 1993, November 12, 1993, December 5, 1993, December 30, 1993, January 23, 1994, February 15, 1994, March 11, 1994, and April 4, 1994. Simpson increased Mata's medication on three of these occasions: on October 25, 1993, November 12, 1993, and February 15, 1994.

Simpson stated in his deposition that the medication he prescribed for Mata, Doxepin, had several side effects. Simpson monitors his patient's side effects by asking his patient about them over the phone. Simpson stated that he does not authorize refills without phone contact. Simpson's practice was never to authorize refills in advance because he expected his patients to come back, presumably to monitor their side effects.

Mata stated that he would have returned to Simpson for additional refills if he had not experienced a seizure. This accords with the testimony of Simpson, who stated that he expected Mata to return for further treatment. The expected return visit, however, was interrupted when Mata had the seizure on April 15, 1994. The seizure was eleven days after Simpson authorized Mata's last refill. On the same day as the seizure, Mata was taken to the emergency room where he was treated by a new physician: Dr. Martin Guerrero. On April 18, 1994, Mata had follow-up treatment with Dr. Guerrero. Dr. Guerrero's notes indicate that Mata was taking the Doxepin prior to the seizure but stopped taking the Doxepin since the seizure. Mata was given a different prescription (Dilantin) and was told not to take any more Doxepin. Dr. Guerrero's notes contain a plan of treatment, which included increasing Mata's Dilantin dosage and prescribing Phenobarb. Mata was to return in three weeks for CBC, Phenobarb and Dilantin levels, and Mata was to be reevaluated in four weeks. Dr. Guerrero's notes conclude, "The patient is advised not to take any of the Doxepin." Mata was never treated again by Simpson once his new treatment began with Dr. Guerrero.

Mata filed suit against Simpson on April 11, 1996. Simpson moved for summary judgment contending Mata's lawsuit was barred by the two-year statute of limitations. Simpson alleged that the limitations period began running on April 4, 1994. Mata filed a response contending that Simpson's medical treatment was not completed until April 15, 1994. The trial court granted summary judgment in Simpson's favor, and Mata timely filed this appeal.

Standard of Review

Section 10.01 of the Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act of Texas sets forth the statute of limitations for health care liability claims. See Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. 10.01 (Vernon Supp. 2000). The two year statute of limitations runs from "the occurrence of the breach or tort or from the date the medical or health care treatment that is the subject of the claim or the hospitalization for which the claim is made is completed." Id. In this case, it is undisputed that the limitations period began to run from the date Simpson's medical treatment of Mata was completed. "[D]etermining when treatment has concluded for purposes of section 10.01 simply amounts to deciding when a plaintiff's cause of action accrues, and the question of when a claim accrues is one of law and not fact." See Chambers v. Conaway, 883 S.W.2d 156, 159 (Tex. 1993); Estate of Magness v. Hauser, 918 S.W.2d 5, 7 (Tex. App.--Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied). We review questions of law de novo. See Willis v. Maverick, 760 S.W.2d 642, 644 (Tex. 1988); Swift v. Seidler, 988 S.W.2d 860, 861 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1999, pet. denied).

Discussion

A plaintiff who takes medication significantly beyond the period contemplated in a physician's prescription, without further attention from the physician, is not being treated by the physician but is engaged in self-treatment. See Rowntree v. Hunsucker, 833 S.W.2d 103, 106 (Tex. 1992). However, a physician may establish a course of treatment by enlisting the aid of a patient to self-administer a medication, but only if the physician controls the treatment and continues to render medical services. See id.

In Rowntree v. Hunsucker, the plaintiff did not allege that the medication prescribed by the defendant physician caused her injury, and after the plaintiff's initial consultation with the physician, there were no regular examinations or services, and no return appointment was scheduled. See id. at 510-21; Rowntree, 833 S.W.2d at 108. Based on the facts in Rowntree, the Court concluded that limitations barred the plaintiffs claim, asserting, "A single instance of prescription renewal does not demonstrate sufficient involvement by the physician to constitute a continuing course of treatment." Rowntree, 833 S.W.2d at 108.

In Gross v. Kahanek, the Court distinguished Rowntree, noting that evidence was presented that the defendant physician had a duty to monitor the effects on his patient while she was taking the prescribed medication. 3 S.W.3d 518, 521 (Tex. 1999). The Court asserted that based on the evidence that the physician was required to monitor the patient, the defendant physician maintained a continuing course of treatment for his patient so long as he was prescribing the medication for her. See id. The course of treatment ended only after the physician ceased prescribing refills for the patient so that he was no longer responsible for monitoring her condition. See id.

A similar result was reached by the Houston court of appeals in In re Estate of Magness, 918 S.W.2d 5 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied). In that case, a patient was under the psychiatric care of the defendant psychiatrist for depression from May 1986 through July 1989. See id. at 8. Throughout this course of treatment, the psychiatrist prescribed medication for the patient. See id. The patient's last office visit with the defendant was on July 13, 1989, and the defendant last prescribed medication for the patient on July 15, 1989. See id. The patient last filled that prescription on July 24, 1989. See id. On July 28, 1989, the patient hung herself, leaving her brain-dead and comatose. See id. The patient died two days later. See id. The Houston court held, as a matter of law, that the patient's cause of action accrued against the defendant psychiatrist on July 28, 1989. See id.

The seizure in the instant case is similar to the suicide in the Magness case. If not for the seizure, there is evidence that the monthly pattern of treatment established by Simpson would have continued. Simpson testified that he anticipated Mata returning, and Mata stated that he intended to return but for the seizure. Similar to the facts in Kahanek, Simpson testified that he monitored his patients monthly to review and consider possible medication adjustments based on reported side effects. The course of treatment and Simpson's duty to monitor Mata's side effects only ended when Mata experienced the seizure and another physician took control of Mata's treatment.

Simpson argues that treatment ended on April 4, 1994, the date of his last prescription. However, the Texas Supreme Court has rejected this position in Kahanek. In that case, the defendant doctor last ordered a refill of the plaintiff's prescription on August 10, 1992. See Kahanek, 3 S.W.3d at 519. A different doctor began authorizing refills in September of 1992. See id. The Court held that the defendant doctor's course of treatment with the plaintiff ended in September of 1992, not August 10, 1992. See id. at 521.

Conclusion

Simpson's medical treatment of Mata ended on April 15, 1994. Mata's lawsuit is not barred by limitations. The trial court's judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded for trial.

PHIL HARDBERGER,

CHIEF JUSTICE

PUBLISH