Stanley v. Chevathanarat.
Subject: Physicians (Cases)
Hysterectomy (Cases)
Medical personnel (Malpractice)
Medical personnel (Cases)
Pub Date: 07/01/2008
Publication: Name: West Virginia Medical Journal Publisher: West Virginia State Medical Association Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2008 West Virginia State Medical Association ISSN: 0043-3284
Issue: Date: July-August, 2008 Source Volume: 104 Source Issue: 4
Topic: Event Code: 970 Government domestic functions; 980 Legal issues & crime Advertising Code: 94 Legal/Government Regulation Computer Subject: Company legal issue
Product: Product Code: 8011000 Physicians & Surgeons NAICS Code: 621111 Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) SIC Code: 8011 Offices & clinics of medical doctors
Organization: Government Agency: West Virginia. Supreme Court of Appeals
Geographic: Geographic Scope: West Virginia Geographic Code: 1U5WV West Virginia
Accession Number: 201087005
Full Text: Stanley v. Chevathanarat

Appeal No. 33666

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Logan County to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals

ISSUE: Whether the Circuit Court properly denied patient's motion for judgment as a matter of law after a jury verdict in favor of the physician?

On April 24, 2008, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals rendered its decision in the Stanley v. Chevathanarat case. After reviewing the parties' briefs, oral arguments, and the entire trial transcript, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decided to uphold the Circuit Court of Logan County's denial of the patient's request that the Court reverse the jury's verdict for the physician.

In Stanley, the patient filed a medical malpractice suit against a physician, alleging that the physician failed to meet the standard of care in obtaining the patient's informed consent before her total abdominal hysterectomy. The patient claimed that the physician did not present any evidence that would allow a jury to find that the physician obtained informed consent from the patient. Therefore, the patient asked that the Court disregard the jury's verdict for the physician and rule on her behalf.

After a thorough review of the trial transcript, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals found that the physician did present sufficient evidence in regards to the informed consent issue that would allow the jury to decide on his behalf. Thus, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals sustained the jury's verdict, ruling in favor of the physician.
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