From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Liles v. P.I.A. Medfield, Inc.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
Nov 3, 1995
681 So. 2d 711 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1995)

Summary

holding “not every wrongful act by a health care provider amounts to medical malpractice”

Summary of this case from Jane Doe v. Baptist Primary Care, Inc.

Opinion

No. 94-04519.

November 3, 1995.

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Richard A. Luce and Owen S. Albritton, JJ.

Francis R. Lakel, Tampa, for Appellant.

Patricia J. Kelly and Kenneth C. Deacon, Jr., of Harris, Barrett, Mann Dew, St. Petersburg, for Appellee P.I.A. Medfield.

Ted R. Manry, III, and H. Vance Smith of Macfarlane Ausley Ferguson McMullen, Tampa, for Appellee Permesly.


Granville Steven Liles, individually and as guardian of the property of Shawn Christopher Liles, appeals the dismissal with prejudice of his complaint against P.I.A. Medfield, Inc., and Dr. Scott Permesly. The circuit court determined that the complaint presented allegations arising out of the provision of medical care and dismissed the complaint based on Liles' failure to comply with the medical malpractice presuit screening requirements and the applicable two-year statute of limitations. Because the complaint alleges negligent acts and not medical malpractice, we reverse the dismissal.

Liles' complaint against the hospital and the doctor is premised on their alleged failure to comply with the involuntary commitment provisions of the Baker Act, chapter 394, Florida Statutes (1989). In dismissing the case, the circuit court relied on Doe v. HCA Health Services of Florida, Inc., 640 So.2d 1177 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). The Doe opinion states, in pertinent part, "that each of the several allegations of the complaint arose out of the rendering of medical care by licensed health care providers subject to the prevailing professional standard of care, and compliance with chapter 766 was required." 640 So.2d at 1178. However, the critical distinction between these cases is that in Doe, the plaintiff alleged compliance with the Baker Act. Liles' allegations are based on the defendants' failure to comply with the Baker Act. Our review requires us to determine whether compliance with the requirements of the Baker Act involves the rendering of medical care or services.

The test for determining whether a defendant is entitled to the benefit of the presuit screening requirements of section 766.106(1), Florida Statutes (1989), is whether the defendant is directly or vicariously liable under the medical negligence standard of care set forth in section 766.102(1). Weinstock v. Groth, 629 So.2d 835 (Fla. 1993) (citing NME Properties, Inc. v. McCullough, 590 So.2d 439 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991)). Under section 766.106(1)(a), a "claim for medical malpractice" is defined as "a claim arising out of the rendering of, or the failure to render, medical care or services." Not every wrongful act by a health care provider amounts to medical malpractice. See Stackhouse v. Emerson, 611 So.2d 1365 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993) (plaintiff was entitled to plead claims of intentional torts unrelated to, or independent of, medical diagnosis, care or treatment).

Liles' complaint includes a count alleging false imprisonment. A claim for the tort of false imprisonment can be asserted based on allegations that a person was involuntarily held without compliance with the Baker Act. See Everett v. Florida Institute of Technology, 503 So.2d 1382 (Fla. 5th DCA 1987). After examining the provisions of the Baker Act, we conclude that its involuntary commitment procedures do not involve the rendering of medical care or services. Although a medical diagnosis is necessary in order to involuntarily commit a patient, the process of complying with the statute does not require medical skill or judgment.

Because Liles was not required to comply with the medical malpractice screening requirements, the court erred in dismissing the complaint on that basis. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the trial court for further proceedings.

FRANK, A.C.J., and FULMER, J., concur.


Summaries of

Liles v. P.I.A. Medfield, Inc.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
Nov 3, 1995
681 So. 2d 711 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1995)

holding “not every wrongful act by a health care provider amounts to medical malpractice”

Summary of this case from Jane Doe v. Baptist Primary Care, Inc.

holding that plaintiff's claim that medical providers did not comply with Baker Act was not subject to medical malpractice statutes; “[a]lthough a medical diagnosis is necessary in order to involuntarily commit a patient, the process of complying with the statute does not require medical skill or judgment”

Summary of this case from Winter Haven Hosp., Inc. v. Liles

In Liles, the court reversed the trial court's dismissal of a complaint including a count for false imprisonment, alleging the health care providers' failure to comply with the involuntary commitment provisions of the Baker Act, chapter 394, Florida Statutes (1989).

Summary of this case from Paulk v. Nat'l Medical Enterprises
Case details for

Liles v. P.I.A. Medfield, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:GRANVILLE STEVEN LILES, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS GUARDIAN OF THE PROPERTY OF…

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District

Date published: Nov 3, 1995

Citations

681 So. 2d 711 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1995)

Citing Cases

Winter Haven Hosp., Inc. v. Liles

And while an autopsy requires the exercise of medical skill and judgment, Ms. Liles' claim is based on the…

Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida, Inc. v. Ashe

Respondent alleges ordinary negligence in petitioner's release of respondent's daughter in violation of…