180 P. 423 | Utah | 1919
Plaintiff, as special administrator of the estate of Helen R. A. Grieve, deceased, brought this action to set aside a deed made by his intestate to the defendant. It is alleged in the complaint that deceased at the time of the execution of the deed, February 18, 1916, was eighty-one years of age, feeble in mind and body, had been for many years subject to epileptic fits, and at the time mentioned was nervous, weak, sick, childish, and not of disposing mind, and was unduly influenced and prejudiced against her two sons, plaintiff and John R. Grieve, and also her grandson Frank Howard: that said’ deed was procured by fraud, circumvention, and undue influence practiced upon deceased by defendant, or some one in his behalf, and that there was no consideration for the deed.
Defendant, by his answer, admitted the execution of the deed and formal matters, but denied the remaining allegations of the complaint. -
The ease was tried to the court. A jury was impaneled as advisory to the court, and special issues submitted for their consideration relating to the physical and mental condition of
Plaintiff called as a witness Dr. J. N. Harrison, who qualified as a medical expert, and also testified he had known the deceased, Helen R. A. Grieve, for seventeen or eighteen years, and during all of said time had been her physician; that her physical condition had not been good; that her mental condition varied; that she had her peculiarities during all of the time he had known her; that if the subject was religion she spoke with a great deal of feeling; that she had-her peculiar ideas of life, and also upon other subjects, especially astrology. After testifying generally as to her feebleness of mind, advanced age, and physical condition down to the time of her death, the following questions were propounded by appellant, all of which were objected to by respondent:
“(1) Probably you didn’t understand my question, Doctor. Now, I will say tbis, Do you know her mental condition? Or what was her mental state, say, from October, 1915, up to and including February, 1916?
“(2) What peculiarities did you notice, Doctor, with reference to Mrs. Grieve, prior to, for a year prior to, February 18, 1916,?
“(3) Doctor, the ailment of Mrs. Helen R. A. Grieve that you have described, what effect did that have upon her physical condition?
“(4) Did the deceased talk to you rationally or irrationally concerning astrology or any other subjects during the period of one year previous to February, 1916?
“(5) Did you observe, Doctor, in your treatments -and visits to Mrs. Grieve, any symptoms of melancholia?
“(6) Doctor, you may state whether or not in your judgment the deceased was in such an enfeebled condition of body and mind on or about the 18th day of February, 1916, and for a couple of months prior to that time, that she might have been unduly influenced, wrongfully prejudiced, by the assertions of persons having exclusive control over her, to such an extent that she would erroneously act contrary to her own judgment, and be materially inclined to do things that she would not do if left to her own*229 free will, and to disown her children, and deeding her property to a third party, on the suggestions of persons to he benefited thereby, and leaving her children out of the situation?
“(7) Now, Doctor, in your visits to Mrs. Grieve did you observe anything that would indicate childishness?
"(8) Doctor, a person of Mrs. Grieve’s physical condition and of her age, are they susceptible to influences of people that may be closely associated with them and' of stronger and freer nature than she was?
Tbe specific objection to eaeb question was tbat tbe answer would reveal matters which tbe witness had learned in tbe course of his treatment of tbe deceased, and tbat the deceased was privileged against tbe revelation of such matters, and the doctor could not waive tbe privilege. Tbe objections made invoked the statute (Comp. Laws Utah 1907, section 3414, subd. 4 [Comp. Laws 1917, section 7124]), which, as far as material here, reads as follows:
“There are particular relations in which it is the policy of the law to encourage confidence and to preserve it inviolate. Therefore a person cannot be examined as a witness in the following cases: * * *
“(4) A physician or surgeon cannot, without the consent of his patient, be examined in a civil action as to any information acquired in attending the patient which was necessary to enable him to prescribe or act for the patient.”
The objections were sustained. This, in our judgment, is by far the most importa.nt exception presented for our consideration on this appeal, not only because of its inherent importance as a question of practice, but because of the conflicting views of the parties litigant as to the meaning and effect of previous decisions of'this court relating to this and other questions somewhat analogous. But before considering the question upon its merits it is nécessary to dispose of one or two technical objections against considering the question at all.
Respondent contends that in any event the rulings of the court sustaining the objections were not prejudicial, for the reason that the witness had already testified concerning the same matters, and the answers to the questions objected to would only have been a reiteration of testimony already admitted. If the record fully sustained this contention the po
Respondent urges the further objection that the questions objected to did not indicate the answers expected, and that appellant should have stated what he expected to
For the foregoing reasons we deem it our duty to consider this assignment of error upon its merits. In order to avoid confusion, and perhaps an erroneous conception
Counsel for respondent, in challenging the validity of the questions propounded by appellant, relies for authority upon a former decision of this court in Re Estate of Van Alstine, 26 Utah, 193, 72 Pac. 942, and it may as well be admitted now as later on that, if the opinion in that case is a correct statement of the law and the doctrine therein enunciated is sound then appellant has no standing in this court as far as this particular question is concerned. So that, as before suggested, the question is one of the most vital importance to litigants, members of the bar, and courts of the state.
Appellant contends that the Van Alstine Case is not regarded as authority even by this court, and in support of his contention cites the opinion of the court in a later case. In re Young’s Estate, 33 Utah, 382, 94 Pac. 731, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 108, 126 Am. St. Rep. 843, 14 Ann. Cas. 596. These conflicting views, expressed, as we believe, in the utmost good faith by counsel, further emphasize the importance of the question to be determined A brief review, therefore, of these and one or two other decisions of this court is imperatively necessary to a thorough understanding of the contention. The Van Alstine Case and the present case, as far as the question before us is concerned, are on all fours. In that case the contestant sought to prevent the probate of a will; in this case plaintiff seeks to set aside a deed. The grounds relied on in each case are the same — mental incapacity and undue influence. In the Van Alstine Case the attending physician was prohibited from testifying for exactly the same reason
" * * * The statute in question, being remedial, should receive a liberal interpretation, and not be restricted by any technical rule. When it speaks of information, it means not only communications received from the lips of the patient, but such knowledge as may be acquired from the patient himself, from the statement of others who may surround him at the time, or from observation of his appearance and symptoms. 3 Jones, Ev. section 777; Renihan v. Dennin, 103 N. Y. 573, 9 N. E. 320, 57 Am. Rep. 770; Railroad Co. v. Mushrush, 11 Ind. App. 192, 37 N. E. 954, 38 N. E. 871; Keist v. Railroad Co. [110 Iowa, 32], 81 N. W. 181; Weitz v. Railway Co., 53, Mo. App. 39; Iron Co. v. Cummings [8 Colo. App. 541], 46 Pac. 875; Raymond v. Railway Co., 65 Iowa, 152, 21 N. W. 495; Grffiths v. Railroads Co. (Sup.) [63 App. Div. 86], 71 N. Y. Supp. 406."
Notwithstanding the court in the Van Alstine Case copied literally the excerpt above quoted from the Munz Case without comment or discussion, and let the opinion go at that, it is a significant fact that the questions presented were entirely different, and the decision in the one case could shed no possible light on the other. In the Munz Case there was no-question of waiver by a personal representative. It was a personal injury ease, in which the injured party herself brought suit for damages. At the trial the defendant offered as a witness the physician who attended her concerning her injuries, and he was asked by defendant to state what he saw and what was said and done. Plaintiff objected, claiming that the question, under the statute, was privileged. The objection was sustained. On appeal this court sustained the ruling of the court below. The decision of the court in the
In the Young Estate Case the question arose in the contest of a will, in which the grounds of contest were substantially the same as in the Van Alstine Case. The particular question, however, arose upon the refusal of the attorney who prepared the will to answer certain questions as to what was said and done by him, the deceased and the proponent of the will, during its preparation. The trial court did not compel the witness to answer the question, and . the failure of the court so to do was assigned as' error. This court — opinion by Mr. Justice Frick — sustained the assignment of error and reversed the judgment. Subdivision 2 of the statute above mentioned forbids an attorney, without the consent of his client, from testifying to communications made to him by his client or any advice given by him to such client. While the question presented was not exactly the same as the question in this or the Van Alstine Case, yet it was sufficiently analogous to justify reference to eases of this kind. The opinion referred to the fact that the court in deciding the Van Alstine Case did not discuss the real question involved, and that most of the authorities cited relate to a question entirely different. The opinion does, not expressly overrule the Van Al-stine Case, nor does it go so far as to hold that the question in the two eases is identical. It is plain to be seen, however, that the opinion in the Van Alstine Case is seriously discredited as an authority on the question which it purports to decide. So that, while respondent relies'on the 'Van Alstine Case as authority in the case at bar, and on appeal appellant rejects it as a binding precedent, the court is under the necessity of determining now, once for all, what the law is in respect to the question presented.
This brings us to a consideration of the question in the light
Respondent contends that the privilege conferred by the statute belongs to the patient alone; that it is a personal one, and cannot be waived by any one representing him after his decease. It must be admitted that, where the words of a statute are plain, unambiguous, and unequivocal, before anything can be added by way of intendment the reason for so doing should be strong, cogent, and convincing. It is upon this ground that the authorities relied on by respondent place upon statutes similar to ours a strict and narrow construction rather than a broad and liberal one.
The statute under consideration was adopted literally from the California Code of Civil Procedure as early as 1884. Session Laws Utah 1884, p. 359. California adopted its statute •from the New York Code. Our attention has not been called to any case decided by the California court prior to the adoption of our statute, which construes the statute of that state in respect to the right of the personal represenative of a deceased person to waive the privilege in question. The case of In re Flint, 100 Cal. 391, 34 Pac. 863, decided in 1893, relied on by respondent, is squarely in point to the effect that the privilege is personal to the patient, and after the death of the patient cannot be waived by his personal representative. The protestant of the will in that case was permitted, over the 'objection of proponent, to prove by the attending physician that during his visitation he prescribed for him for mental trouble. The grounds of contest were the same as here. The opinion refers to the New York statute, and assumes that it is practically the same as that of California, and then cites the following cases from the New York reports: Westover v. Ætna Life Ins. Co., 99 N. Y. 56, 1 N. E. 104, 52 Am. Rep. 1; Renihan v. Dennin, 103 N. Y. 573, 9 N. E. 320, 57 Am. Rep. 770; Loder v. Whelpley, 111 N. Y. 239, 18 N. E. 874. These cases unqualifiedly sustain the opinion in the Flint Case, the court in each state basing its decision upon the ground that under the terms of the statute the privilege is personal, and cannot be waived except by the patient while living.
“Tlie following persons shall he incompetent to testify: * * *
“Fifth, a physician or surgeon, concerning any information which he may have acquired from any patient while attending him in a professional character, and which information was necessary to enable him to prescribe for such patient as a physician, or do any act for him as a surgeon.”
A comparison between the language of this statute and that of the Utah statute indicates but little difference, except that the Missouri statute appears to be more restrictive, less liberal, in that it does not expressly provide that even the patient may consent to the testimony or otherwise waive the privilege. Notwithstanding this distinction, the Missouri court held that the representative of the deceased patient could waive the privilege and require the attending physician to testify to matters relating to the injury and death of the patient. To the same effect is the other Missouri ease cited, Thompson v. Ish.
In Morris v. Morris, supra, the Indiana case, decided in 1889, the same doctrine is announced. It is held that the attending physician is incompetent as a witness as to informa
“The following persons shall not be competent' as witnesses: * * *
“Physicians, as to matters communicated to them, as such, by patients in the course of their professional business, or advice given in such cases.”
As suggested by us when commenting on the Missouri statute, the Indiana statute appears to be less liberal than the Utah statute in that it does not expressly provide for either waiver or consent by the patient. Nevertheless the court held that the widow of the deceased, in an action to enforce a policy insuring his life, bore such a relation to the case as to enable her to either give or withhold her consent to the testimony of the attending physician.
In the Michigan case cited in the Flint Case (Fraser v. Jennison), opinion by Cooley, J., the same doctrine is maintained. The Michigan statute is quoted in the opinion, and reads:
“No person duly authorized to practice physic or surgery shall be allowed to disclose any information which he may have acquired in attending any patient in his professional character, and which information was necessary to enable him to prescribe for such patient as a physician, or to do any act for him as a surgeon.”
We indulge in the same comment concerning this statute as heretofore made concerning the statutes of Missouri and Indiana. It is apparently more restrictive than the Utah statute in respect to the matter of consent or waiver, for neither is expressly provided for. The court, however, holds that the privilege may be waived by the patient in his lifetime, and after his death by his personal representative. As the opinion, so far as this question is concerned, is exceedingly brief, and was' written by one of the most distinguished jurists this country has produced, we quote in its entirety all that is said on this question after repeating the statute:
"This statute, as we have held, covers information acquired by*237 observation while the physician is in attendance upon his patient, as well as communications made by the patient to him (Briggs v. Briggs, 20 Mich. 34); but the rule it establishes is one of privilege for the protection of the patient, and he may waive it if he sees fit (Scripps v. Foster, 41 Mich. 742 [3 N. W. 216]); and what he may do in his lifetime those who represent him after his death may also do fbr the protection of the interests they claim under him.”
After carefully considering the language of these statutes and the cases decided under them, referred to by the California court in the Flint Case, we confess our inability to understand upon what theory the California court or any other court can consistently hold that the differences existing in the statutes justify the differences found in the conflicting opinions referred to. It seems to us it would be far more ingenuous to admit that the statutes referred to, including our own statute, are all substantially the same in meaning and effect, and that the conflicting opinions of the courts are due entirely to conflicting views of different minds concerning the same subject.
In the opinion in the Flint Case, at page 395 of 100 Cal. at page 863 of 34 Pac., of the report, it is said, in support of its position: “The authorities are uniform upon this question in all those states possessing statutory enactments in anyway similar to the one we have quoted. ’ ’ All of the statutes and eases we have reviewed were in existence when the Flint Case was decided. It follows that the views of the California court and the views herein expressed are diametrically opposed one to the other on the question as to what the courts hold under similar statutes. We submit the record; it speaks for itself. ’ •
The Supreme Court of Minnesota has recently decided the question here involved under a statute which reads as follows:
“A regular physician or surgeon cannot, without the consent of his patient, be examined, in a civil action, as to any information acquired in attending the patient which was necessary to enable him to prescribe or act for the patient.” i
This statute is in.every respect almost identical with our own, and is absolutely' identical in substance. In Olson v. Court of Honor, 100 Minn. 117, 110 N. W. 374, 8 L. R. A.
“Does this privilege become absolute on the death oí the patient, or may those who represent him or claim an interest under him after death waive the privilege for the protection of such interest? This is an important question; for if they cannot waive the privilege given by the statute, and their adversary may invoke it to suppress the truth and defeat the enforcement of rights the deceased provided for them in his lifetime, then th'e statute may be made an instrument for cheating justice. If such be the proper construction of the statute, then, if an executor or legatee presents a will for probate, which is contested on the ground that the testator was of unsound mind when the will was made, the executor or legatee may not, if the contestant objects, call the physician who was attending the testator at the time to testify as to his knowledge of the patient’s mental condition acquired in attending him. Nor could the personal representatives of a party, in an action to recover damages on account of the death of his intestate by the alleged negligence of the defendant, call the physician who attended the intestate after his injury to testify as to the nature of the injuries and the cause of death, if such information was acquired in attending him.”
'The Hollowing excerpts from text-writers cited by appellant are in accord with the doctrine announced in the above cases:
“As we have seen, statutes generally provide that the information shall not be disclosed without the consent of the patient. The privilege is for his protection, and, if he sees fit, he may waive it*239 either by express consent or by calling the physician to testify as to the privileged matter, or by failing to object to such testimony as incompetent under the statute. * * * By the weight of authority, however, it is held that, since the patient may waive the privilege for the purpose of protecting his rights, ,the same waiver may be made by those who represent him after his death, for the purpose of protecting rights acquired by him.” 3 Jones, Ev. section 779.
“The personal representative of the' deceased may waive the privilege. One who is intrusted with the management of the deceased’s property may surely be trusted to protect the memory and reputation of the deceased, in so far as it is liable to injury by the disclosure of his physical condition when alive. It is incongruous to hold that the person who manages the litigation of the deceased’s property interests has no power to waive .the rules of evidence for the purpose of advancing those interests. The power of an heir may also be conceded if we remember that the heir, first, is at least equally interested in preserving the ancestor’s reputation; and, secondly, has an equal moral claim to protect the deceased’s property rights from unwarranted diminution. The futility, under the circumstances, of predicating any privilege is the more apparent when (as is the usual case) the issue turns upon the fact of insanity which is so bruited publicly in the litigation that the pretense of preserving secrecy is a vain one. Except in two or three jurisdictions, it is usually agreed that the deceased’s representative (and probably also heir) may waive the privilege.” Wigmore, Ev. vol. 4, section 2391.
“ * * * But the mere presence of a physician does not make communications which are not addressed to him, or connected with his professional duties, inadmissible. The death of the patient does not remove the prohibition. And in case of death the as-signee or personal representative of the patient may claim the privilege.” 1 Elliott, Ev. section 634.
Other statutes and authorities could be cited and comparisons made, all of which would tend to strengthen the conclusions to which the cases cited inevitably lead; but we deem it unnecessary to extend our remarks further upon this particular question, and we claim justification for saying as much as we have said solely for the reason that the apparent conflict in the former decisions of this court heretofore referred to renders it necessary to definitely determine the rule by which future cases shall be governed in this jurisdiction.
Appellant also cites the following eases to the same effect: Masonic Mut. Ben. Ass’n v. Beck, 77 Ind. 203, 40 Am. Rep.
On the question of waiver by the representative of a deceased patient respondent furnishes us with no authority ex-ceptthe Van Alsiine Case by this court, and the Flint Case by the California court, and the cases therein referred to.
If the California court had construed the statute of that state prior to our adopting it, as is contended by respondent, under a well-known rule of construction we
In view of the state of the law as we find it, and our own convictions of what is most reasonable and just, we are of the opinion that under our statute the personal representative of a deceased person has the same right to waive the privilege given by the statute, after the death of the patient, as the patient would have had if living. Some of the cases above cited go still further, and hold that even the heirs or devisees of the deceased may waive the privilege, especially where there1 is no personal representative.
We are not unmindful of the fact that in many of the cases referred to the reason is given that such a rule is necessary in order to uphold the will or other act of the deceased. Viewed from that standpoint, it would seem that plaintiff does not fall within the rule for the reason that he is seeking by this action to set aside the deed executed by the deceased instead of trying to uphold it. But it must also be borne in mind
It follows as a corollary from the conclusion reached that the doctrine enunciated in the Van Alstyne Case is wrong, and that the decision for that reason should be and is hereby overruled.
It is further contended by appellant that the trial court erred in sustaining objections of respondent to certain questions asked appellant. Appellant, while testifying
“The following persons cannot he witnesses: * * *
“3. A party to any civil action, suit, or proceeding, and any person directly interested in the event thereof, and any person from, through, or under whom such party or intérested person derives his interest or title or any part thereof, when the adverse party in such action, suit or proceeding claims or opposes, sues or defends as guardian of any insane or incompetent person, or as the executor or administrator, heir, legatee, or devisee of any deceased person, or as guardian, or assignee, or grantee, directly or remotely, of such heir, legatee, or devisee, as to any statement by, or transaction with, such deceased, insane, or incompetent person, or matter of fact whatever, which must have been equally within the knowledge of both the witness and such insane, incompetent, or deceased person, unless such witness be called to*242 testify thereto by such adverse party, so claiming or opposing, suing or defending in such action, suit, or proceeding.”
As the defendant, Mark Howard, was not opposing or defending as guardian, executor, administrator, heir, legatee, or devisee of the deceased, or as guardian, assignee, or grantee of such heir, legatee, or devisee, we cannot understand how the testimony of appellant was prohibited, even if it was concerning a fact equally within the knowledge of the witness and the deceased. A reasonably careful analysis of this statute will conclusively demonstrate that, in view of the relation and character of the parties, the matter was not within the statute. As we understand the situation, defendant was defending not as an heir of the deceased, but as a grantee under the deed executed by her. The relation was not such as to entitle him to object to the testimony on the grounds that it was prohibited by the statute. Miller v. Livingstone, 31 Utah at page 435, 88 Pac. 338; 40 Cyc. 2270 to 2275, inclusive. If the testimony was material, the court erred in excluding it and the plaintiff was prejudiced thereby.
But it is contended by respondent, in connection with this question, that the position taken by appellant in the trial court and that assumed by him in this court are
Appellant also assigns as error the ruling of the court sustaining respondent’s objections to certain questions propounded to plaintiff’s witness Mrs. Simon Grieve. The objection made in each case, in effect was that the question was too general, or that it called for a conclusion of the witness without stating the facts upon which the conclusion was based. Under the circumstances, it is not necessary to state the questions and objections in detail nor to determine the concrete question presented. The rule is stated in Re Hansen’s Will, a recent decision by this court, 50 Utah, 207, 167 Pac. at page 261. See, also, Miller v. Livingston, 36 Utah,
Finally, appellant complains that numerous letters and documents, irrelevant and immaterial, reflecting upon his character and reputation, were admitted, over his
There are numerous other assignments of error, but, as they were not argued, they will not be 'considered.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial granted at respondent’s cost.
