Summary
In Kyle v Fok, 18 Ohio St.2d 70; 247 N.E.2d 457 (1969), the Ohio Supreme Court, citing Bahm v Pittsburgh Lake Erie R Co, 6 Ohio St.2d 192; 217 N.E.2d 217 (1966), and Reep v Greyhound Corp, 171 Ohio St.2d 199; 168 N.E.2d 494 (1960), stated, in a wrongful death action based on medical malpractice" in which the trial court used the phrase "guilty of malpractice" in special instructions to the jury before argument, that "a majority of the court is of the opinion that such use of the word `guilty' in civil damage actions is reversible error.
Summary of this case from Vogler v. Henry Ford HospOpinion
No. 68-596
Decided May 7, 1969.
Charge to jury — Special instruction employing phrase "guilty of malpractice" — Wrongful death action alleging medical malpractice — Objection not made — Dismissal.
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Mahoning County.
Mr. Martin S. Goldberg, for appellant.
Messrs. Harrington, Huxley Smith and Mr. Eldon S. Wright, for appellees.
In this action for wrongful death as the result of alleged medical malpractice, the trial court, in special instructions before argument, employed the phrase "guilty of malpractice." The motion to certify was allowed because a majority of the court is of the opinion that such use of the word "guilty" in civil damage actions is reversible error. Cf. Bahm v. Pittsburgh Lake Erie Rd. Co. (1966), 6 Ohio St.2d 192; Reep v. Greyhound Corp. (1960), 171 Ohio St. 199.
In considering the cause upon the record before us, however, we are compelled to find that no objection to the prejudicial term was made. For this reason, the appeal is dismissed as having been improvidently allowed.
Appeal dismissed.
MATTHIAS, LEACH, HERBERT and DUNCAN, JJ., concur.
TAFT, C.J., and O'NEILL, J., concur in the judgment.
LEACH, J., of the Tenth Appellate District, sitting for SCHNEIDER, J.