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Miller v. Kennedy Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A patient sued his doctor after a kidney biopsy resulted in the loss of the kidney. The court ordered a new trial, establishing a patient-centric standard for informed consent that requires disclosure of all material risks a reasonable patient would want to know.
Legal Significance: This case is significant for adopting the modern, patient-centric standard for informed consent in Washington, moving away from the professional (doctor-focused) standard. It clarifies that the duty to disclose material risks is a matter of law, not dependent on medical custom.
Miller v. Kennedy Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The plaintiff, Richard Miller, was treated by the defendant, Dr. Kennedy, for a heart condition. Dr. Kennedy also identified a potential kidney issue and recommended a kidney biopsy to aid in diagnosis. The plaintiff consented to the procedure. During the biopsy, the needle was inserted incorrectly, causing severe and persistent bleeding that ultimately necessitated the surgical removal of the plaintiff’s previously healthy kidney. The plaintiff alleged he was not informed of the risk of losing the kidney and would not have consented had he known. Dr. Kennedy contended that he had informed the plaintiff of the risks. Expert testimony conflicted on whether the injury would have occurred absent negligence. The jury found for the defendant. The plaintiff appealed, challenging the trial court’s jury instructions on informed consent and its refusal to give an instruction on res ipsa loquitur.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Did the trial court err by instructing the jury on a subjective, professional standard for informed consent and by refusing to instruct the jury on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur?
Yes. The court reversed and remanded for a new trial, holding that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in vo
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Did the trial court err by instructing the jury on a subjective, professional standard for informed consent and by refusing to instruct the jury on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur?
Conclusion
This case established the modern, patient-centric standard for informed consent in Washington, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis
Legal Rule
A physician has a legal duty to disclose all material risks of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariat
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis centered on modernizing the doctrine of informed consent. It Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur s
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A res ipsa loquitur instruction is required in a medical malpractice