Youngstown Park & Falls Street Railway Co. v. Kessler
Youngstown Park & Falls Street Railway Co. v. Kessler
Opinion of the Court
It is contended on the part of counsel for plaintiff in error that by the provisions of Section 4983, Revised Statutes, the limitation
It is sufficient to say with reference to this contention that a railroad company cannot be guilty of malpractice. It is not authorized to practice medicine or surgery, and, therefore, any contract it might make to do so would be not only ultra vires, but in direct conflict with the laws of this state regulating the practice of medicine and surgery. Therefore, the statute limiting the time in which actions for damages for malpractice may be brought has no application to this suit. No such action will lie against a railroad company, and if that is the cause of action stated in this second amended petition, then it would be vulnerable to a demurrer, not only because of the statute of limitation, but also because it does not aver facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
It probably does appear from a reading of this, second amended petition that the pleader intended to state a cause of action for damages for malpractice, but the intention of the pleader does not necessarily control. If there are sufficient facts pleaded to constitute any cause of action it is not important whether the pleader intended to state
It is not the law that one who contract's to furnish or pay for medical or surgical aid and attention to another is liable at all events for the mistakes or incompetency of the physician or surgeon he may employ for that purpose. There must be some neglect or carelessness or misconduct on his part in the performance of his obligations arising under such contract. If he act in good faith and with reasonable care in the selection of the physician or surgeon, and has no knowledge of the incompetency or lack of skill or want of ability on the part of the person employed but selects one of good standing in his profession, one authorized under the laws of this state to practice medicine and surgery, he has filled the full measure of his contract and cannot be held liable in damages for any want of skill or malpractice. on the part of the physician or surgeon employed.
There is no averment in this petition that the surgeon employed by- this defendant railroad company was not in good standing in his profession; that he was not authorized to practice surgery, or that he was grossly incompetent and that the defendant had knowledge of his incompetency, or in the exercise of due care could have obtained such knowledge; that the plaintiff did not know and had not equal means of knowing the competency and ability of the person employed or that the company was guilty of any neglect or any carelessness in selecting this particular surgeon to perform this service, therefore, if this second
Judgment of the circuit court reversed and that of the common pleas affirmed.
Judgment reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.