Opinion
No. 41729.
March 13, 1961.
1. Workmen's compensation — hernia — protrusion prior to accident.
Showing of hernia protrusion prior to accident precluded benefits for death following operation for diaphragmatic hernia. Sec. 6998-12, Code 1942.
2. Workmen's compensation — hernia — act covers diaphragmatic hernia as well as other hernias.
Workmen's Compensation Act covers diaphragmatic hernias as well as all other hernias. Sec. 6998-12, Code 1942.
Headnotes as approved by McElroy, J.
APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Jackson County; LESLIE B. GRANT, Judge.
Laurel G. Weir, Philadelphia; Benton R. Gordon, Decatur; Roy N. Lee, Forest, for appellants.
I. The lower court erred in affirming the order of the Workmen's Compensation Commission holding that the injury sustained by deceased was a non-compensable hernia, and that his subsequent death was non-compensable.
A. The injury sustained by deceased was not a hernia as contemplated and covered by Section 8(f) of the Mississippi Workmen's Compensation Act.
B. The injury and subsequent death of deceased are compensable under the statute.
Collation of authorities: Coleman v. Phipps, 7 N.Y. Supp.2d 754; Dixie Pine Products Co. v. Bryant's Dependents, 228 Miss. 595, 89 So.2d 589; Gavila v. Sims Co. (Pa.), 38 A.2d 482; Lacy v. Employers Mutual Liability Ins. Co. of Wis. (La.), 82 So.2d 605; Prentiss Truck Tractor Co. v. Spencer, 228 Miss. 66, 87 So.2d 272; Schaefer v. Central News Co. (Pa.), 118 A.2d 268; Shivers v. Biloxi-Gulfport Daily Herald, 236 Miss. 303, 110 So.2d 359; Stone Webster Engineering Corp. v. Davis (Tenn.), 231 S.W.2d 376; Traders General Ins. Co. v. Routh (Texas), 268 S.W.2d 539; 99 C.J.S., Workmen's Compensation, Sec. 185; The Medical Dictionary for Lawyers (Maloy) pp. 254, 255.
White White, Gulfport, for appellees.
I. Neither aggravation, nor death as a result of an aggravation, of a pre-existing hernia is compensable under the Mississippi Workmen's Compensation Act. Fagan v. Wells Lamont, Inc., 228 Miss. 660, 89 So.2d 632; Flood v. NCO Mess, 238 Miss. 207, 118 So.2d 294; Ryan Supply Co. v. Brett, 222 Miss. 30, 75 So.2d 75.
II. Aside from the point raised by appellant, there is ample evidence in the record to support the order of the Commission. Highway Patrol v. Neal's Dependents, 239 Miss. 505, 124 So.2d 120; Insurance Dept. v. Dinsmore, 233 Miss. 569, 102 So.2d 691; Smith v. St. Catherine Gravel Co., 220 Miss. 462, 71 So.2d 221; Dunn, Mississippi Workmen's Compensation, Sec. 173.
III. Section 6998-12 of the Mississippi Code of 1942 is clear and unambiguous so there is no room for the construction of this statute by the Court. Deposit Guaranty Bank Trust Co. v. Williams, 193 Miss. 432, 9 So.2d 638; Havens v. Natchez Times Pub. Co., 238 Miss. 121, 117 So.2d 706; Myers v. Lamb-Fish Lumber Co., 106 Miss. 766, 64 So. 727; Oliphant v. Carthage Bank, 224 Miss. 386, 80 So.2d 63; Stone v. McKay Plumbing Co., 200 Miss. 792, 26 So.2d 349, 30 So.2d 91.
This is a workmen's compensation claim for death benefits arising from the death of an employee following an operation of a diaphragmatic hernia. The attorney-referee allowed the claim. The Workmen's Compensation Commission disallowed the claim and the Circuit Court of Jackson County affirmed the Commission.
The decedent J.T. Commans was an employee of the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi, during the latter part of the year 1957. He was at that time 55 years of age, and employed in the capacity of an electrician. He died on December 3, 1957, leaving as his sole dependent under the Workmen's Compensation Act his widow, Mrs. J.T. Commans. It was the testimony of the appellant, as well as her children, that the decedent's general health had deteriorated for a period of approximately one year prior to his death. Mr. Commans had worked for Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation for several years. It was the testimony of Dr. McIllwain that during the year 1956, when he first saw Mr. Commans, that he diagnosed Commans' troubles as disphragmatic hernia and advised an operation at that time. He further testified that decedent's work did not aggravate this hernia, and that it was a progressive disease. Dr. J. Gordon Dees operated on decedent in December 1957. He defined a diaphragmatic hernia as follows: "A hernia is an abdominal protrusion of a viscus or part of a viscus or a peritoneum found attached to or part of a viscus through the abdominal wall. Diaphragmatic hernia is protrusion of the organs mentioned through the diaphragm." He operated upon the decedent for the repair of this hernia and decedent expired on December 3, 1957. It was the doctor's opinion that decedent had a coronary thrombosis with myocardial infarction secondary to the operation. He was of the opinion that this could have been a congenital hernia. The general opinion of the doctors was that this operation was necessary a year before, and that decedent's work did not aggravate the hernia. The record discloses this pre-existing condition of hernia even prior to January 1956. There is no proof whatever in the record that this hernia was sustained at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation or that if it were so sustained that he complied with the provisions of Section 6998-12 of the Mississippi Code of 1942.
This Court has heretofore held that aggravation of a pre-existing hernia, or death as a result of an operation necessitated by the aggravation of a pre-existing hernia, is not compensable. Ryan Supply Co. v. Brett, 222 Miss. 30, 75 So.2d 75; Fagan v. Wells-Lamont, Inc., 228 Miss. 660, 89 So.2d 632; Flood v. NCO Mess, 238 Miss. 207, 118 So.2d 294.
The appellants contend that the Workmen's Compensation Act does not define hernia and in their brief cite from Medical Dictionary for Lawyers by Malloy, pages 254 and 255, some 47 definitions of hernia. They argue that we should make an exception as to this type of hernia. They contend that other states have made an exception and that the legislature did not intend to include this type of hernia. (Hn 1) The legislature seemed to be certain in Section 6998-12, Code of 1942, when it stated fully that "in all cases of claim of hernia" certain requirements must exist before the commission would be justified in allowing a claim. The act requires that the claimant must prove by preponderance of the evidence "that there had been no descent or protrusion of the hernia or rupture prior to the accident for which compensation is claimed". This record shows that there had been a previous protrusion of the hernia back in 1956, at which time the doctors advised an operation. Therefore, the appellants were unable to establish or negative the statutory prerequisites to recovery of hernia claim. In Fagan v. Wells-Lamont, Inc., supra, it was held: "The statute is clear and not subject to any other interpretation. Should we adopt appellant's contention, we would assume the right to amend the act." Citing Ryan Supply Co. v. Brett, supra.
(Hn 2) We feel that the exclusion of one type of hernia and inclusion of another type of hernia would be contrary to the intent of the legislature. Flood v. NCO Mess, supra, held: "The legislature by Section 6998-12, Code of 1942, has placed hernia claims under the compensation act in a different category and with this different criteria from those of other work-connected injuries. The workmen's compensation act constitutes a statutory privilege, and we are not authorized to alter the legislative requirements for the benefits conferred, even though the restrictions in hernia cases are exceptionally stringent."
The case is therefore affirmed.
Affirmed.
McGehee, C.J., and Arrington, Ethridge, and Rodgers, JJ., concur.