N.R. v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Ass'n
N.R. v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Ass'n
Opinion of the Court
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
The Cross-Appellant, Dr. Ezer Ojeda, has filed a motion for rehearing. We grant rehearing only as to the issue raised in Dr. Ojeda’s cross-appeal. We, therefore, withdraw our prior opinion and substitute the following in its place.
We affirm as to all issues raised by the parties in this appeal, except as to the notice issue raised by Dr. Ojeda in his cross-appeal under section 766.316, Florida Statutes (2011). Dr. Ojeda bases his motion for rehearing on Weeks v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological, 977 So.2d 616 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008), wherein this court specifically held that under section 766.316, “the formation of the provider-obstetrical patient relationship is what triggers the obligation to furnish the notice.” Id. at 618-19. This court further made it clear that “[t]he determination of when this relationship commences is a question of fact” and concluded that “[wjhen the patient first becomes an ‘obstetrical patient’ of the provider and what constitutes a ‘reasonable time’ are issues of fact. As a result, conclusions might vary, even where similar situations are presented.” Id. at 619, 620.
Our analysis of the Order under review does reveal, as correctly stated in Dr. Oje-da’s brief, that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) did not make a finding as to when the relationship commenced between N.R. (the patient) and Dr. Ojeda, and this
Accordingly, we reverse that part of the Order under review relating to Dr. Ojeda and remand this case for further proceedings. On remand, the ALJ should make a specific finding relating to the timing of the formation of the provider-obstetrical patient relationship between N.R. and Dr. Ojeda.
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; REMANDED.
. As Dr. Ojeda states in pertinent part in his reply brief, "the proper evaluation as to Dr. Ojeda, individually, would have been for the ALJ to ascertain when the provider-obstetrical relationship was established between Dr. Oje-da and N.R. This is mandated by Weeks. While the AU specifically made a finding as to when Dr. Maki formed a professional relationship with N.R., the ALJ did not do so as to Dr. Ojeda.”
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.