TCA examines insufficiency of medical expert's affidavit

REBECCA METTES v. J. THOMAS JOHN, JR., M.D. (Tenn. Ct. App. May 20, 2009)

In this medical malpractice action, patient appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of physician based on the insufficiency of the affidavit of the patient's expert. We affirm.

"Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 29-26-115(a)expert testimony must establish the recognized standard of medical practice, the defendant's breach of that standard, and causation. This was necessary in this case to rebut the Defendant's self-serving affidavit and motion for summary judgment which the trial court held was sufficient to shift the burden to the plaintiff." Id.

The full text of this opinion may be found at the TBA website:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2009/mettesr_052109.pdf