Summary
holding that the trial court did not err in disallowing evidence of alleged previous act of medical malpractice against defendant, noting that “[t]he general rule in a suit for negligence is that evidence of similar acts or omissions on other and different occasions is not admissible.”
Summary of this case from Bair v. CallahanOpinion
64026.
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 10, 1982.
Medical malpractice. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Daniel.
Clifford H. Hardwick, for appellant.
Edgar H. Sims, Jr., for appellees.
Appellant-plaintiff brought suit against appellee-defendants for medical malpractice. The jury returned a verdict for appellees. Appellant appeals from the judgment entered on the jury verdict and the denial of his motion for new trial.
1. Appellant enumerates as error the sustaining of appellee's objection to a question propounded to one of appellant's expert witnesses. It appears that subsequent to the sustaining of appellee's objection to the question as "leading," appellant's counsel rephrased the question and the witness was allowed to give his answer. Under these circumstances, the error, if any, in the sustaining of the objection to the original question would be clearly harmless. See generally Ward v. Handley, 132 Ga. App. 412 (1) ( 208 S.E.2d 189) (1974).
2. Appellant enumerates as error the trial court's refusal to suppress in its entirety a deposition which appellee proposed to read into evidence. It appears that the trial court refused to suppress the entire deposition, informing appellant's counsel that he could object to "anything objectionable" in the deposition as it was being read. The objections of appellant's counsel to "objectionable" parts of the deposition were sustained. "The use of a deposition of a witness taken after notice to the opposite party and with counsel for both parties present lies within the sound discretion of the court. [Cit.]" Pembrook Management v. Cossaboon, 157 Ga. App. 675, 676 (2) ( 278 S.E.2d 100) (1981). See also Code Ann. § 81A-132 (b). For no reason urged on appeal do we find error in any ruling of the trial court with regard to the deposition. See generally International Assn. c. Local 387 v. Moore, 149 Ga. App. 431, 435 (9) ( 254 S.E.2d 438) (1979).
3. The trial court charged as follows: "[M]edical expert testimony showing a mere difference in views between doctors as to operating techniques or medical judgments is insufficient to show malpractice when it is shown that the procedure or judgment preferred by each doctor is an acceptable and customary medical approach." Appellant does not contend that the charge is an erroneous statement of the law. See Hayes v. Brown, 108 Ga. App. 360, 366 ( 133 S.E.2d 102) (1963). Appellant does assert that the charge was not adjusted to the evidence in this case. Our review of the transcript demonstrates no error.
4. Appellant's failure to object precludes consideration of his remaining assertion of error concerning the trial court's instructions to the jury. Ga. Code Ann. § 70-207 (a).
5. Appellant enumerates as error the failure of the trial court to take the ameliorative action requested after appellee's counsel allegedly misstated the evidence during closing argument. "In order for this court to pass on the correctness of the trial judge's ruling, it is necessary that this court be supplied with a complete transcript before his judgment may be reviewed. This has not been done. Absent the pertinent portions of the arguments, we cannot rule that the trial court erred. [Cits.]" Diana v. Monroe, 132 Ga. App. 669, 672 (3) ( 209 S.E.2d 70) (1974).
6. The trial court did not err in disallowing evidence of an alleged previous act of medical malpractice on the part of appellee. "The general rule in a suit for negligence is that evidence of similar acts or omissions on other and different occasions is not admissible. [Cit.]" Smith v. Greene, 144 Ga. App. 739, 742 ( 242 S.E.2d 312) (1978). Appellant apparently contends that such evidence was admissible for impeachment purposes. Our review of the transcript, however, fails to demonstrate that the excluded evidence would have been admissible for purposes of impeachment. Compare Richards v. Harpe, 42 Ga. App. 123 ( 155 S.E. 85) (1930); Johnson v. Myers, 118 Ga. App. 773 ( 165 S.E.2d 739) (1968).
7. Appellant enumerates as error the admission of certain evidence over the following objection: "It's totally inappropriate. It's designed solely to prejudice and inflame the jury and it's misleading in that we know what the situation is . . ." The trial court asked appellant's counsel if he had a "better reason" for objecting and counsel responded, "[n]ot at this time . . ." This objection is too general to present any question for decision by this court. See generally Perkins v. Edwards, 228 Ga. 470, 473 (4) ( 186 S.E.2d 109) (1971); Lanier v. Lee, 111 Ga. App. 876 (1) ( 143 S.E.2d 487) (1965).
8. Remaining enumerations of error not otherwise specifically addressed have been considered and found not to present any cause for reversal. Judgment affirmed. Quillian, C. J., and Shulman, P. J., concur.