(PC) Morales v. Anastassiou et al, No. 2:2020cv00704 - Document 64 (E.D. Cal. 2022)
Court Description: ORDER and FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 11/29/2022 RECOMMENDING that 48 Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment be GRANTED as to plaintiff's federal law claim and DISMISS the state law claim wi thout prejudice in light of the dismissal of plaintiff's federal claim. DENYING [50-2], 58 Request for Judicial Notice and DENYING 59 Plaintiff's Motion for leave to file a Sur-reply. Referred to Judge Dale A. Drozd. Objections due within 14 days after being served with these findings and recommendations. (Rodriguez, E)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
(PC) Morales v. Anastassiou et al Doc. 64 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RALPH MORALES, 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. 14 No. 2:20-cv-00704 DAD KJN P ORDER AND FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS PETER ANASTASSIOU, 15 Defendant. 16 17 I. Introduction Plaintiff Ralph Morales, a state prisoner proceeding with counsel, filed a civil rights action 18 19 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In his second amended complaint, Morales alleges that defendant 20 Peter Anastassiou acted with deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs in violation of 21 the Eighth Amendment and committed medical malpractice under state law when he refused to 22 conduct a bronchoscopy to test for tuberculosis and removed part of Morales’s lung and 23 surrounding lymph nodes. (ECF No. 31.) Pending before this Court are Anastassiou’s summary 24 judgment motion (ECF No. 48), Morales’s requests for judicial notice (ECF Nos. 50-2 & 58), and 25 Morales’s motion for leave to file a sur-reply in opposition to the summary judgment motion 26 (ECF No. 59.). 1 For the reasons stated below, this Court recommends granting Anastassiou’s 27 28 1 On April 28, 2022, this Court granted the parties’ stipulation for dismissal of defendant Wong, dismissed Wong from this action with prejudice, and dismissed as moot Wong’s motion for 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 motion for summary judgment and dismissing Morales’s state law claim without prejudice. (ECF 2 No. 48). This Court denies Morales’s requests for judicial notice (ECF Nos. 50-2 & 58) and 3 motion for leave to file a sur-reply in opposition to the summary judgment motion (ECF No. 59). 4 II. 5 Background Morales filed a second amended complaint against Anastassiou on April 5, 2021, alleging 6 Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference and state law medical malpractice claims. (ECF No. 7 31.) Specifically, he claims that around April 2018 while he was incarcerated at Mule Creek 8 State Prison, he experienced a worsening cough and chest pain. (Id. at 3.) He was taken to San 9 Joaquin General Hospital for evaluation, x-rays, CT, and PET scans. (Id.) The scans showed a 10 mass in his lungs, and Morales indicated that he had tuberculosis 20 years ago. (Id. at 3-4.) 11 Despite knowing the prevalence of tuberculosis in prisons and his medical history, doctors did not 12 order a tuberculosis test. (Id. at 4.) Instead, doctors diagnosed him with lung cancer, but did not 13 verify the diagnosis with a bronchoscopy or biopsy. (Id.) Dr. Wong referred Morales to Dr. 14 Anastassiou, whom he consulted with on October 31, 2018. (Id. at 5.) “Despite the request from 15 a pulmonologist and the doctor’s orders, Dr. Anastassiou refused to do a bronchoscopy with a 16 biopsy because he insisted it was lung cancer and will be removing Plaintiff’s lung and 17 surrounding lymph nodes.” (Id. at 5 (claiming that Anastassiou knew that tuberculosis could be 18 mistaken for lung cancer.)) Morales also claims that he has uncontrolled diabetes, diabetes can 19 increase the risk of developing tuberculosis, and Anastassiou knew the possible effects and 20 increased surgical risk of operating on persons with diabetes. (Id. at 6.) 21 On November 28, 2018, Anastassiou operated on Morales and removed the upper part of 22 Morales’s right lung. (Id. at 8.) After the surgery, Anastassiou told Morales he had tuberculosis, 23 not lung cancer. (Id.) Morales was treated and placed in isolation until December 10, 2018, and 24 was later transferred back to Mule Creek State Prison. (Id.) As a result of the surgery, Morales 25 was depressed and had damaged vocal cords and pain “under his right arm.” (Id.) 26 On May 29, 2021, Anastassiou answered the operative complaint. (ECF No. 35.) 27 28 summary judgment. (ECF No. 56.) Anastassiou is the only remaining named defendant in this action. 2 1 Anastassiou subsequently moved for summary judgment. (ECF No. 48.) Morales filed an 2 opposition to the motion for summary judgment and a request for judicial notice. (ECF Nos. 50- 3 53, 55.) In response, Anastassiou filed a reply. (ECF No. 57.) Morales filed a second request for 4 judicial notice and a motion for leave to file a sur-reply. (ECF Nos. 58 & 59.) Anastassiou filed 5 an objection to both requests. (ECF No. 61.) 6 III. 7 Legal Standards for Summary Judgment “The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine 8 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. 9 Civ. P. 56(a). 2 Under summary judgment practice, the moving party 10 always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,” which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. 11 12 13 Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986) (quoting then-numbered Fed. R. Civ. P. 14 56(c)). “Where the non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, the moving party need 15 only prove that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” In re 16 Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 17 325); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 advisory committee’s note to 2010 amendment (recognizing that 18 “a party who does not have the trial burden of production may rely on a showing that a party who 19 does have the trial burden cannot produce admissible evidence to carry its burden as to the fact”). 20 Indeed, summary judgment should be entered, “after adequate time for discovery and upon 21 motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an 22 element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at 23 trial.” Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322. “[A] complete failure of proof concerning an essential 24 element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 323. 25 Consequently, if the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to 26 27 28 2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 was revised and rearranged effective December 10, 2010. However, as stated in the Advisory Committee Notes to the 2010 Amendments to Rule 56, “[t]he standard for granting summary judgment remains unchanged.” 3 1 the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually exists. See 2 Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 585-86 (1986). In attempting to 3 establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the allegations 4 or denials of its pleadings and is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of 5 affidavits or admissible discovery to support its contention that a dispute exists. See Fed. R. Civ. 6 P. 56(c); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11. The opposing party must demonstrate that the fact in 7 contention is material, i.e., a fact that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing 8 law, see Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. 9 Pacific Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987), and that the dispute is 10 genuine, i.e., the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving 11 party, see Wool v. Tandem Computs., Inc., 818 F.2d 1433, 1436 (9th Cir. 1987). 12 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not 13 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “‘the claimed 14 factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the 15 truth at trial.’” T.W. Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 630 (quoting First Nat’l Bank of Arizona v. Cities 16 Serv. Co., 391 U.S. 253, 289 (1968)). “The very mission of the summary judgment procedure is 17 to pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for 18 trial.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e) advisory committee’s note on 1963 amendments; see also Matsushita, 19 475 U.S. at 587. 20 In resolving a summary judgment motion, the court examines facts cited by the parties 21 from the record including “depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or 22 declarations, stipulations (including those made for the purposes of the motion only), admissions, 23 interrogatory answers, or other materials.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The evidence of the opposing 24 party is to be believed. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. The court must draw all reasonable 25 inferences from the underlying facts in favor of the nonmoving party. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. 26 at 587. Nevertheless, inferences are not drawn out of the air, and it is the opposing party’s 27 obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be drawn. See Richards 28 v. Neilsen Freight Lines, 602 F. Supp. 1224, 1244-45 (E.D. Cal. 1985), aff’d, 810 F.2d 898, 902 4 1 (9th Cir. 1987). Finally, to demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party “must do more than 2 simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita, 475 U.S. 3 at 586. “Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the 4 non-moving party, there is no ‘genuine issue for trial.’” Id. (citation omitted). 5 IV. 6 Request for Judicial Notice Morales makes two requests for judicial notice. Federal Rule of Evidence 201(b) provides 7 that a federal court may take judicial notice of an adjudicative fact “that is not subject to 8 reasonable dispute” if the fact “(1) is generally known within the trial court’s territorial 9 jurisdiction; or (2) can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot 10 11 reasonably be questioned.” First, Morales asks this Court to take judicial notice of Medicare reimbursement rates for 12 an upper lobectomy and a mediastinoscopy and liens against Dr. Anastassiou by the Franchise 13 Tax Board, Employment Division, and the Internal Revenue Service. (ECF Nos 50-2.) Morales 14 argues that this evidence shows that Anastassiou was in financial distress, and therefore had a 15 financial motive to operate on Morales for higher reimbursement amount. (ECF No. 53 at 12-13.) 16 Anastassiou objects to this request on the grounds that the evidence is not appropriate for judicial 17 notice and is irrelevant. (ECF No. 57 at 10-11.) This Court agrees with defendant. There is no 18 evidence in the record to confirm that the Medicare reimbursement data accurately reflects the 19 medical procedures at issue in this case. Additionally, although the lien information appears to be 20 related to Dr. Anastassiou, ECF No. 57 at 11, there is insufficient information for this Court to 21 verify the accuracy or substance of the information. Morales also fails to explain how a list of 22 notice of liens and release of tax liens proves that Anastassiou made medical decisions based on 23 reimbursement rates. See, e.g., Bryant v. Mickelsen, 551 F. App’x 348, 349 (9th Cir. 2014). 24 While the two may be correlated, there is no evidence that one caused the other. And without 25 additional evidence proving their relationship, the evidence is not relevant to this action. This 26 Court denies Morales’s first request for judicial notice. 27 28 Second, Morales makes a duplicative request for judicial notice of the liens, this time including the lien documentation. (ECF No. 58.) Anastassiou argues that this request should be 5 1 stricken as untimely and filed in violation of the local rules. (ECF No. 61.) Setting aside the 2 timeliness issue, this Court denies Morales’s request because he has not shown that this 3 information is relevant to the case at hand. 4 V. 5 Undisputed Facts 3 Morales was diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis in 1997. (ECF No. 48-4 at 22-23.) 6 On April 15, 2019, Morales had an annual tuberculosis evaluation and testing and denied any 7 symptoms of tuberculosis. (Id. at 55.) 8 On August 16, 2018, Morales complained of sharp chest pain lasting 15-20 minutes and 9 was transferred to Triage and Treatment Area for further evaluation. (Id. at 38, 50.) Dr. Justesen 10 noted that his symptoms may be consistent with angina and referred him for further tests. (Id. at 11 51.) That same day, Morales was taken to the emergency department at San Joaquin General 12 Hospital. (Id. at 70-83.) Dr. Fei Lu Ye ordered an x-ray, which showed “[m]ild nodularity in 13 both lungs of uncertain etiology. These could reflect calcified granulomas. Consider further 14 evaluation with contrast-enhanced chest CT.” (Id. at 82.) On September 18, 2018, Morales had a CT of the chest without contrast. (Id. at 53-54.) 15 16 The results showed 2.5 x 1.8 cm mass-like capacity within the right upper lobe with several 17 groundglass opacities scattered around the right upper lobe. (Id. at 53.) “This could represent a 18 malignant or infectious process. If there is clinical concern for malignancy, a PET CT scan 19 would be recommended for further evaluation. If an infectious process is suggested, radiographic 20 follow-up would be recommended.” (Id. at 53-54.) 21 Morales had a scheduled nurse line appointment on September 27, 2018. (Id. at 38.) The 22 nurse reported that Morales denied being short of breath and having chest pain and noted that his 23 breathing was even and unlabored and lungs were clear. (Id.) The medical notes also indicate 24 that Dr. Wong spoke to patient in detail regarding the CT scan results, and patient agreed to 25 undergo further tests and evaluation. (Id.) In medical notes dated October 2, 2018, Dr. Wong 26 3 27 28 For purposes of summary judgment, the Court finds these facts are undisputed following its review of ECF document numbers 48-2 to 48-5, 51-53, 55-57 and documents referenced therein. Where plaintiff has failed to properly address defendant’s assertion of fact as required, this Court considers the fact undisputed. See Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(e)(2). 6 1 wrote that Morales “refused this visit for follow-up abnormal CT scan of the chest,” but Morales 2 was already informed that “abnormal CT scan of the chest right upper lobe may represent 3 malignancy or infection. PET CT scan ordered and follow-up with hematology oncologist 4 urgently also ordered.” (Id. at 49.) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 On October 4, 2018, Morales had a PET CT scan. (Id. at 122.) The results showed the following: 1. The RIGHT lung central upper lobe perihilar irregular nodular lesion (about 1.8 x 1.6 cm) is abnormally focally intensely hypermetabolic. Because of the focal intense hypermetabolic activity, findings are therefore highly suspicious for malignancy. 2. However, posterior lateral peripheral RIGHT upper lobe patchy irregular opacities (overall area roughly 2.4 x 1.6 cm) are only irregularly mildly metabolically active and more suggestive of an inflammatory process. 3. Otherwise, there is no definite hypermetabolic abnormalities elsewhere to suggest a pattern of primary or metastatic malignancy. Gastric and bowel diffuse radiotracer activity can be within physiologic limits. 14 (Id. at 123.) On October 9, Dr. Wong noted that “PET CT scan of the chest show right lung 15 central upper lobe focal intense hypermetabolic activity highly suspicious for malignancy. 16 Posterior-lateral peripheral right upper lobe mildly metabolic activity suggestion of inflammatory 17 process.” (Id. at 48.) He noted there was an urgent referral to hematology oncology dated 18 October 7 and requested to expedite the urgent referral to further evaluate the patient. (Id.) 19 Morales was seen by hematologist/oncologist Dr. Amandeep Gill on October 10, 2018. 20 (Id. at 84-87.) She noted that “[t]aking patient’s smoking history, CT scan appearance, PET scan 21 with high standard uptake value [consistent] with lung cancer. Taking location biopsy may be 22 risky but can be considered.” (Id. at 86.) Dr. Gill recommended alpha-fetoprotein should be 23 done, patient should be referred to pulmonary for pulmonary function and consideration for 24 bronchoscopy and referred to cardiothoracic surgeon because he may be a candidate for resection. 25 (Id.) On October 11, Morales saw Dr. Wong and denied chest pain and reported no shortness of 26 breath, headache, dizziness, or cough. (Id. at 45.) He had another medical visit with Dr. Wong 27 on October 22 and again denied cough or shortness of breath. (Id. at 43-44.) 28 On October 29, 2018, Morales had a consultation with Dr. Deepak Shrivastava. (Id. at 7 1 88.) The medical notes from that visit state the alpha-fetoprotein levels were normal. (Id.) 2 “Patient had a pulmonary function test done at San Joaquin General Hospital PFT lab on 3 10/24/2018 which was essentially normal spirometry lung volumes and diffusion capacity.” (Id.) 4 The doctor suspected that the lung mass was bronchogenic carcinoma and referred Morales for 5 the pulmonary evaluation and for scheduling of bronchoscopy. (Id. at 89.) 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Dr. Anastassiou evaluated Morales on October 31, 2018. (Id. at 92-93.) In a letter from Dr. Anastassiou to Dr. Wong, Morales’s primary care doctor, he stated This is a gentleman who has a relatively good lung function who clearly has a suspicious lesion which is hypermetabolic in the right upper lung. Although a diagnosis has not been established by pathology, this lesion is suspicious enough to warrant surgical resection. I do not think a needle biopsy by percutaneous routes will be terribly helpful and might even be harmful since this lesion is adjacent to a major pulmonary vein. In the same respect, I do not think that a bronchoscopy is necessarily going to assist us in determining whether or not we should proceed on with surgical removal. My recommendation is that he should undergo a mediastinoscopy and right upper lobectomy with thoracic lymph node dissection. This can be accomplished through minimally invasive video-assisted techniques. I have outlined these recommendations to the patient. He is in agreement to proceed on with surgery as discussed…. 17 (Id. at 93.) Dr. Anastassiou testified that the likelihood of it being a malignancy was 70 to 95 18 percent. (Id. at 135, 138; see also ECF No. 52-1 at 34-35 (“Admit Dr. Anastassiou was aware 19 tuberculosis cannot always be distinguished from lung cancer in imaging.”); id. at 31-32 (admit 20 that Dr. Anastassiou knew that Morales had diabetes and that diabetes may increase the risk of 21 getting tuberculosis); id. at 37 (Anastassiou knew that Morales had tuberculosis in the past and 22 that prisoners have an increased risk of acquiring tuberculosis in prison.); id. at 38-39 (Morales 23 was not tested for tuberculosis before surgery.)) Morales testified that Dr. Anastassiou reviewed 24 the scan results with him during the appointment. (ECF No. 48-4 at 24.) Dr. Anastassiou told 25 Morales that he did not believe a bronchoscopy would impact whether or not he did the surgery. 26 (Id. at 29.) The doctor also told him the biopsy was risky because the lung mass was close to a 27 major pulmonary vein and that the biopsy results may not provide additional information to 28 determine if the mass was cancerous. (Id. at 30-31.) Morales agreed to the surgery. (Id. at 31.) 8 1 A day later, Morales met with Dr. Wong. The medical notes from that appointment state 2 “[p]atient deny any chest pain no short of breath no headache no dizziness. He is agreeable and 3 was told by the specialists that he will be scheduled for thoracic surgery for the treatment of lung 4 cancer.” (Id. at 41.) Dr. Wong saw Morales five days later, on November 6, regarding pain from 5 post right inguinal hernia repair two years ago, and Morales denied cough, shortness of breath, 6 congestion, dyspnea on exertion, wheezing or hemoptysis. (Id. at 39.) 7 On November 27, 2018, Morales was admitted to California Pacific Medical Center for a 8 planned right VATS lobectomy, mediastinoscopy, and lymph node dissection. (Id. at 96.) Dr. 9 Xin Amy Liao noted that Morales had not had any recurrent chest pain since August 2018. (Id. at 10 11 99.) Morales signed the consent to surgery form. (Id. at 117-20.) On November 28, 2018, Dr. Anastassiou operated on Morales. (Id. at 109-10.) The 12 doctor first performed a mediastinoscopy, removing a level 7 lymph node. (Id. at 110.) A frozen 13 section of this node, read during surgery, showed no malignancy, but identified a granuloma. (Id. 14 at 110; ECF No. 52-1 at 22 (Anastassiou testified that although granuloma is not usually 15 associated with cancer, it can coexist in patients with cancer.)) Because he was concerned that 16 the lesion was “representing an infectious process as opposed to a tumor,” Dr. Anastassiou 17 proceeded with a right video-assisted thoracoscopy. (ECF No. 48-4 at 110.) With palpation, he 18 could see the lesion was deep and there was a firm mass adjacent to the right upper lobe bronchus 19 and in the distal aspect of the right mainstem bronchus. (Id. at 111.) “Despite multiple attempts 20 to encircle and identify where this mass was present, we could not safely get around this lesion 21 and get a tissue biopsy.” (Id.) Dr. Anastassiou converted to right thoracotomy and took a direct 22 approach to the mass. (Id.) He still could not get to the mass itself “without further compromise 23 of the vasculature to the right upper lobe.” (Id.) As a result, he proceeded with right upper 24 lobectomy and lymph node dissection. (Id. (“This was conducted in a routine manner although 25 the dissection was quite difficult due to the degree of inflammation around the hilum.”)) On 26 November 30, Dr. Jennifer Ling, infectious disease specialist, noted Morales testified positive for 27 tuberculosis and started him on treatment. (Id. at 113.) Plaintiff testified that as a result of the 28 surgery, he suffered mental and physical health issues. (ECF No. 52-1 at 11-14, 16.) 9 1 VI. 2 3 Disputed Facts Plaintiff and defendant both submitted expert reports to support their positions. On behalf of defendant, Dr. Robbin Cohen provided the following opinions: 4 a) Morales’s history made him high-risk for lung cancer, and his recent history did 5 not suggest tuberculosis. 6 b) His evaluation was completely within the standard of care for all of the physicians 7 involved in his case. 8 c) Anastassiou’s preoperative evaluation of Morales was within the standard of care. 9 d) Anastassiou’s surgical procedure on Morales was also within the standard of care. 10 e) Although Morales’s pathology report showed granulomas, which are consistent 11 with tuberculosis and not lung cancer, Anastassiou did not fall below the standard 12 of care by performing a lobectomy for a lesion that was not lung cancer. 13 f) Morales’s postoperative complications are not known to the procedure and are not 14 15 evidence that the doctor’s fell below the standard of care. (ECF No. 48-3 at 6-8.) 16 On behalf of plaintiff, Dr. Robert Blais opined that Anastassiou breached the standard of 17 care. (ECF No. 53-2 at 10.) He states that knowing the patient’s prior history, Anastassiou 18 should have searched for a tuberculosis diagnosis. (Id. at 10-11.) After finding the granuloma, 19 Dr. Blais opines that Anastassiou should have ended the surgery and ordered a culture to 20 determine the best course of treatment. (Id. at 11.) Even if the results showed cancer, 21 Anastassiou “still should have ended the surgery because the cancer would have already 22 metastasized from the lung and should be treated with chemotherapy and radiation, not 23 resection.” (Id.) The difficulty of the procedure due to inflammation should have also clued 24 Anastassiou into the idea that Morales had inflammatory disease, not cancer. (Id. at 12.) 25 VII. 26 27 28 Discussion A. Eighth Amendment Deliberate Indifference Claim Morales alleges that Anastassiou was deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs when he removed part of Morales’s lung and lymph nodes before performing a biopsy or other 10 1 test to rule out tuberculosis. (ECF No. 31 at 9-12.) Anastassiou argues that summary judgment is 2 appropriate on this claim because “[n]egligence is a lower standard than deliberate indifference, 3 and since Mr. Morales will not be able to disprove this lower standard, he will not be able to 4 provide evidence to support the heightened standard required to prove deliberate indifference.” 5 (ECF No. 48-1 at 14-17.) 6 The treatment a prisoner receives while incarcerated and the conditions of his confinement 7 are subject to the Eighth Amendment. Helling v. McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 31 (1993); see also 8 DeShaney v. Winnebago Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 489 U.S. 189, 198-200 (1989). A prison 9 official violates the Eighth Amendment when he acts with “deliberate indifference” to the serious 10 medical needs of an inmate. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 828 (1994); Wilson v. Seiter, 11 501 U.S. 294, 297 (1991); Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976); Doty v. County of Lassen, 12 37 F.3d 540, 546 (9th Cir. 1994). To state a claim, the prisoner must show that (1) objectively, 13 the prison official’s deprivation was sufficiently serious, and (2) subjectively, the prison official 14 acted with sufficiently culpable state of mind. See Wilson, 501 U.S. at 298-99. The Eighth 15 Amendment’s deliberate indifference standard is a “high legal standard.” See Toguchi v. Chung, 16 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 2004). 17 To meet the objective standard, the plaintiff must show that the medical need is serious. 18 A medical need is serious “if the failure to treat the prisoner’s condition could result in further 19 significant injury or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 20 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted), overruled on other grounds by WMX Techs., 21 Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir.1997) (en banc). If a prisoner establishes the existence of a 22 serious medical need, he must also meet the subjective standard, showing that prison officials 23 responded to the serious medical need with deliberate indifference. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 834. 24 “[T]he official must both be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn that a 25 substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Id. at 837. In 26 general, deliberate indifference may be shown when prison officials deny, delay, or intentionally 27 interfere with medical treatment, or in the way prison officials provide medical care. Hutchinson 28 v. United States, 838 F.2d 390, 394 (9th Cir. 1988). 11 1 The parties do not dispute that Morales’s condition presented a serious medical need. 2 (ECF No. 48-1 at 14-15; ECF No. 53 at 9.) If, as here, Morales has established a serious medical 3 need, he must also show that Anastassiou’s response to that need was deliberately indifferent. 4 Anastassiou argues that he acted “expeditiously and in consideration of Mr. Morales’ serious 5 medical condition.” (ECF No. 48-1 at 14-15.) Because he acted in accordance with the standard 6 of care, Anastassiou claims his acts do not rise to the level of deliberate indifference. (Id.) 7 Morales disagrees, contending that Anastassiou acted with deliberate indifference when he 8 removed the upper lobe of his lung despite his awareness of that it was likely inflammatory 9 disease. (ECF No. 53 at 11.) 10 “A showing of medical malpractice or negligence is insufficient to establish a 11 constitutional deprivation under the Eighth Amendment.” Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1060; see also 12 Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1334 (9th Cir. 1990) (“While poor medical treatment will 13 at a certain point rise to the level of a constitutional violation, mere malpractice, or even gross 14 negligence, does not suffice.”) To establish deliberate indifference, plaintiff “must show that the 15 course of treatment the doctors chose was medically unacceptable under the circumstances” and 16 that the doctors “chose this course in conscious disregard of an excessive risk to plaintiff’s 17 health.” Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 (9th Cir. 1996), overruled in part on other 18 grounds by Peralta v. Dillard, 744 F.3d 1076 (9th Cir. 2014) (en banc); see also Hamby v. 19 Hammond, 821 F.3d 1085, 1092 (9th Cir. 2016); Snow v. McDaniel, 681 F.3d 978, 987 (9th Cir. 20 2012)). “Accepted standards of care and practice within the medical community are highly 21 relevant in determining what care is medically acceptable and unacceptable.” Edmo v. Corizon, 22 Inc., 935 F.3d 757, 786 (9th Cir. 2019) (per curiam). A mere difference in opinion concerning the 23 appropriate medical treatment however cannot be the basis of an Eighth Amendment claim. 24 Jackson, 90 F.3d at 332. To determine whether the treatment was medically acceptable, this 25 Court must consider “the record, the judgments of prison medical officials, and the views of 26 prudent professionals in the field….” Edmo, 935 F.3d at 786. 27 First, to show deliberate indifference, Morales must demonstrate that Anastassiou’s course 28 of treatment was medically unacceptable. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the 12 1 nonmoving party, Morales has not made this showing. Throughout the relevant time period, 2 Morales was seen by numerous doctors and underwent various tests to determine the cause of his 3 chest pain. The medical tests did not reach a conclusive result; instead, they indicated either a 4 malignancy or infection. (See, e.g., ECF No. 48-4 at 82 (August 2018 x-rays results show “[m]ild 5 nodularity in both lungs of uncertain etiology. These could reflect calcified granulomas. 6 Consider further evaluation with contrast-enhanced chest CT); id. at 53-54 (September 2018 CT 7 scan without contrast shows mass in right upper lobe that “could represent a malignant or 8 infectious process. If there is clinical concern for malignancy, a PET CT scan would be 9 recommended for further evaluation. If an infectious process is suggested, radiographic follow- 10 up would be recommended.”); id. at 38, 49 (September 2018 visit with Dr. Wong, who noted 11 “abnormal CT scan of the chest right upper lobe may represent malignancy or infection. PET CT 12 scan ordered and follow-up with hematology oncologist urgently also ordered”); id. at 123 (PET 13 CT scan was suggestive of both malignancy and inflammatory process); id. at 48 (Dr. Wong 14 reviewed PET CT scan results and expedited the urgent referral to hematology oncology); id. at 15 84-87 (hematologist/oncologist said his results are consistent with lung cancer, recommended 16 alpha-fetoprotein test, and referred him to a pulmonologist for pulmonary function and 17 cardiothoracic surgeon for possible resection); id. at 88-89 (non-defendant doctor noted the right 18 lobe mass was likely cancer but referred him for a pulmonary evaluation and bronchoscopy); id. 19 at 93.) 20 After all these steps, Morales visited Dr. Anastassiou, a thoracic surgeon. Dr. Anastassiou 21 wrote that “[a]lthough a diagnosis has not been established by pathology, this lesion is suspicious 22 enough to warrant surgical resection.” (Id. at 93.) He reasoned that “a needle biopsy by 23 percutaneous routes” will not be helpful and could be harmful given the proximity to a major 24 pulmonary vein. (Id.) Nor would a bronchoscopy assist in determining the necessity of surgical 25 removal. (Id.) Dr. Anastassiou testified that the likelihood of the mass being a malignancy was 26 70 to 95 percent. (Id. at 135, 138.) He explained all of this to Morales, who agreed to the 27 surgery. (Id. at 31, 117-20.) During the surgery, Anastassiou performed a mediastinoscopy with 28 biopsy of level 7 lymph node which showed no malignancy, but a granuloma. He then proceeded 13 1 to a thoracoscopy, but he could not resect the mass given the vasculature structure of the right 2 upper lobe. (Id. at 111.) 3 Morales and Anastassiou disagree about whether Anastassiou’s course of treatment was 4 medically acceptable and submitted expert reports to support their position. Anastassiou’s expert 5 Dr. Cohen opined that Anastassiou’s course of treatment was within the standard of care. (ECF 6 No. 48-3 at 6-7.) He further opined that 7 8 9 10 11 12 The standard of care calls for thoracic surgeons to do their best to never miss the opportunity to remove and cure lung cancers, especially in their early stages when they are the most curable. This sometimes means surgically resecting a lesion that is not cancer in patients who are high risk for lung cancer. Observing pulmonary lesions or attempts at medical therapy in high risk patients runs the risk of allowing lung cancers to proceed to advanced disease and death. Mr. Morales’ smoking history, history of previous tuberculosis, and imaging studies made a diagnosis of lung cancer highly likely (easily more likely than not), making his surgical resection within the standard of care for a thoracic surgeon. 13 Id. at 7. In opposition, Morales submitted an expert report by Dr. Robert Blais, a cardiothoracic 14 and vascular surgeon, who concluded that “Dr. Anastassiou should have pursued a medical 15 workup, perhaps assisted by a pulmonary medicine consultant, to search for the diagnosis of 16 tuberculosis.” (ECF No. 53-2 at 10.) Although the medical tests results indicated malignancy 17 and inflammatory process, Dr. Blais claims that Anastassiou should have made a more “vigorous 18 attempt” to rule out cancer before surgery. (Id. at 11.) During the operation, Dr. Blais opines that 19 Anastassiou should have stopped the surgery regardless of whether the granuloma was positive or 20 negative for cancer. (Id.) If the granuloma was negative for cancer (as it was), Anastassiou 21 should have ended the surgery and ordered a culture test before deciding on the course of 22 treatment. (Id.) If it was positive, Dr. Blais states that surgery was inappropriate because the 23 “cancer would have already metastasized from the lung and should be treated with chemotherapy 24 and radiation, not resection.” (Id.) The difficulty of the surgery, Dr. Blais argues, should also 25 have alerted Anastassiou that the issue was inflammatory disease not cancer. (Id. at 12.) 26 These diverse findings merely reflect a difference of opinion on the necessity of the 27 surgery. “[A] mere disagreement about of medical opinion between experts does not demonstrate 28 deliberate indifference as a matter of law.” Porretti v. Dzurenda, 11 F.4th 1037, 1048 (9th Cir. 14 1 2021). The battle of experts here does not create a material issue of fact as to whether 2 Anastassiou chose a medically unacceptable course of treatment. 3 Second, even assuming that Anastassiou’s course of treatment was medically 4 unacceptable, this Court concludes that there is no genuine issue of material fact that Anastassiou 5 chose this treatment out of conscious disregard of an excessive risk to Morales’s health. In his 6 October 31, 2018 letter to Dr. Wong, Anastassiou explained that Morales “has relatively good 7 lung function who clearly has a suspicious lesion which is hypermetabolic in the right upper lung. 8 Although a diagnosis has not been established by pathology, this lesion is suspicious enough to 9 warrant surgical resection.” (ECF No. 48-4 at 93.) He considered a needle biopsy by 10 percutaneous routes and a bronchoscopy but rejected both courses of treatment because they were 11 unlikely to be helpful and might even be harmful. (Id.) Anastassiou recommended a 12 mediastinoscopy and right upper lobectomy with thoracic lymph node dissection through 13 minimally invasive video-assisted techniques. (Id.) Although he knew that Morales had 14 tuberculosis in the past, prisons increase a person’s risk of getting it, and Morales had not been 15 tested for tuberculosis, Anastassiou estimated that there was a 70 to 95 percent likelihood that the 16 mass was malignant. (Id. at 135, 138; see also ECF No. 52-1 at 31-32, 34-35, 37-39.) Morales 17 agreed to the procedure. (Id. at 31, 93, 117-20.) Anastassiou performed the mediastinoscopy and 18 thoracoscopy, and due to difficulty in dissecting the mass, he proceeded with the right upper 19 lobectomy and lymph node dissection. (Id. at 111.) The undisputed facts demonstrate that 20 Anastassiou thoughtfully considered the options and carefully performed the course of treatment. 21 The mere fact that his diagnosis of potential lung cancer diagnosis was incorrect is not enough to 22 rise to the level deliberate indifference. 23 Because there is no genuine issue of material fact on this claim, this Court recommends 24 granting Anastassiou’s motion for summary judgment on Morales’s Eighth Amendment claim. 25 26 B. State Law Medical Malpractice Claim Based on the above recommendation, this Court declines to exercise supplemental 27 jurisdiction over plaintiff's state law claim and recommends dismissing it without prejudice. 28 Wade v. Regional Credit Ass’n, 87 F.3d 1098, 1101 (9th Cir. 1996). 15 1 VI. Conclusion 2 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 3 1. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 48) be granted as to plaintiff’s 4 5 6 federal law claim; and 2. Dismiss the state law claim without prejudice in light of the dismissal of plaintiff’s federal claim. 7 Furthermore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 8 1. Plaintiff’s requests for judicial notice (ECF Nos 50-2 & 58) are denied; and 9 2. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file a sur-reply in opposition to the summary judgment 10 motion (ECF No. 59) is denied. 11 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 12 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days 13 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 14 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 15 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 16 objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 17 parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 18 appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 19 Dated: November 29, 2022 20 21 22 TAA/Mora0794.msj.kjn 23 24 25 26 27 28 16
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
