Orville E. Haddock, Jr. appeals an adverse judgment in a medical malpractice action brought against Larry A. Amspiger, M.D. Appellant alleges that the trial court erred in striking his res ipsa loquitur pleadings prior to trial; in refusing to submit a res ipsa loquitur question to the jury; and that the jury verdict was against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Appellant alleges that his colon was perforated by appellee during a routine colono-scope examination. Appellee does not deny perforating appellant’s colon; rather, ap-pellee contends that the injury was not the result of his negligence. The jury found that appellant did suffer a serious injury but further found that the injury was not the result of negligence by appellee.
In his first point of error appellant maintains that it was error by the trial court to strike his res ipsa loquitur pleadings. The Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act provides:
The common law doctrine of res ipsa loquitur shall only apply to health care liability claims against health care providers or physicians in those cases to which it has been applied by the appellate courts of this state as of the effective date of this subchapter.
TEX.REV.CIV.STAT.ANN. art. 4590i, § 7.01 (Vernon Supp.1988). This statute in its present form went into effect on August 29,1977; the examination forming the basis of this case took place on the morning of November 9, 1982.
The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur will imply negligence in those cases where (1) the character of the accident and the circumstances surrounding it lead to the conclusion that it would not occur in the absence of negligence, and (2) the injury is caused by some instrumentality or agency within defendant’s exclusive control.
Roberson v. Factor,
Appellant urged at oral argument that res ipsa loquitur is applicable in this case because it involves the use of a mechanical instrument. A careful reading of the case law on this point, however, reflects that one may not rely on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur in cases which involve the use of
any mechanical instrument.
The doctrine finds no application in those instances where the operation of those mechanical instruments is not within the common knowledge of laymen.
See Williford,
This case involves a flexible colono-scope, a highly sophisticated instrument. Testimony at trial revealed that extensive training is required for the proper use of such an instrument. We conclude that the proper use of this instrument is clearly not a matter within the common knowledge of laymen; therefore, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is not applicable. Appellant’s first point of error is overruled.
In his second point of error, appellant argues that res ipsa loquitur was raised by the evidence during trial and that the trial court erred in refusing to submit a res ipsa loquitur question to the jury. The trial court is required to submit the cause upon the jury questions controlling the disposition of the case that are raised by the
written pleadings
and the evidence in the case.
Burditt v. Sisk,
Appellant urges that he did submit a res ipsa loquitur question in the form of a single general negligence issue. If we were to assume, but do not so hold, that such a submission satisfies Rule 279, appellant has nonetheless failed to preserve error on this point. Texas Rules of Civil Procedure further require that when a requested jury question is refused by the court, the judge must endorse on the question “Refused” and sign and file the same. TEX.R.CIV.P. 276 (Vernon 1976).
2
In the
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absence of such an indication in the record that the issue was presented to the trial court and refused, no error is shown.
Cambridge Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. Newton,
In his third point, appellant argues that the jury verdict finding no negligence on the part of appellee was against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. In reviewing all factual insufficiency points we must consider all evidence relevant to the fact being challenged. This Court may set aside a verdict only if it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust.
Cain v. Bain,
Appellant first called a gastroenterologist with extensive experience with colono-scope examination techniques. He testified that there is a probable risk of perforation in one out of 1,000 colonoscope examinations. This expert expressed the opinion that appellee lacked sufficient training in the use of the instrument prior to conducting the examination of appellant. However, he further testified that “he could perforate a patient’s colon tomorrow” but felt that his training would help him to recognize the problem sooner than appellee did. He further testified that a great deal of pressure would be necessary to force a colonoscope through the bowel wall. Appellant later called another expert, a pathologist. It was elicited from this expert on cross-examination that she had never done a colon exam on a live human being, wouldn’t “have any business” telling anyone how to use a colonoscope, and, indeed, had looked through a colonoscope for the first time after giving a deposition for this case.
Appellee testified in his own behalf that, while he apparently did perforate appellant’s colon with the colonoscope during the examination, there was nothing to indicate at that time that he had done so and that he did not apply excessive pressure in the use of the scope. Appellee called a physician familiar with appellee and his reputation as a physician who gave his opinion that appellee was well qualified in the use of the colonoscope, and that appellee might have had no reason to believe that any complication had occurred. This testimony was corroborated by the emergency room treating physician, who testified through deposition. This witness also contradicted appellant’s claim that appellee denied any possibility of having punctured appellant’s colon, thereby delaying proper treatment.
This Court is not a fact finder, and therefore does not pass upon the credibility of the witnesses or substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact. This is true even though there is conflicting evidence upon which a different conclusion could be supported.
Clancy v. Zale Corp.,
In his third point of error appellant argues that the trial court erred in not granting appellant’s motion for new trial. Because we have held that the jury verdict is not against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence, we hold that it was not error to overrule appellant’s motion for new trial on those grounds.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Notes
. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 279 was subsequently amended on July 15, 1987, effective January 1, 1988. The relevant portion now appears in Rule 278 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
. Texas Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 276 was subsequently amended on July 15, 1987, effective January 1, 1988.