ÿWPC‘F FN›÷3g }›‹ÓQú˜ô}›«Ä>ËñŽ3©Oþ´×‘¡]Y¤àp?%­de˜Þ&K²É›³~d%+¼Qogc^2¯˜ŠÕÚDÀÉÿ!Ý)~š^…”Fæ.mÊ@òlëâƒ,7_|¿ëjzRíj‹ãÏEµ´‹7Ö’ˆRŽülÅH×˾VL¶Ÿ8‹+;¨#…ÃV\?_·”]ÚŽ@uþ aaƒä~ôÉ"Ÿ†<ÒûAû^e÷X'h—Áçi™¸léÐ#®ÃwÁÜ=¡…Êœ†[G¡½®òíí•1GP­.Ò˜W²®1òÈT­Çb£!¾ðj0´Þ¯þ––0#Zw F™c Xýù/•Üÿfó¶n²º'/Ë…Þ^ƒöƒu¹”@'=7 LÐ ‹­ ~oÐ"PÅ@–¥¥T=r·ÿHùˆ3fÌ+ ?4ð³Vn¨B mÜl_Ø?ˆßI´~ ‘þÐ7¡«(&@Æ·£ÀeŸî§£ò­rú[íÝ7úùª  g¯ÕØWö‰‹½µÌßE~¸Bªë{EÎz‡×s"çtbØ…3\Ï®½’[ ^èt  ÊŽÉý2\żœLg°%uAw™X.^̤ñcå!Í„˜A %Ž 0 C” 04×U.  AQ9UNŠ#!ØEù D/û B* ÆG 0 e w@r r v² h(  G |××¶S% *).94W:k:àz:Z<ä\<;@> m{>U F’>Ø>UFØ>U>??UH\?\? 0 ¶¤?¤?¤?¤?¤? BZ@Æw@ 0P=A 0PA 0DÝAø!B!B!B!B!BFFFFFFFFFF DC!F B-dFX(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó( ƒ•$¡¡Ñ  Ñ<þ6X9`(Courier,-./ Cþÿ<<CÿÿxÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular˜Acrobat PDFWriter,ð,,,,,ð0 '÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd1, 2, 3,Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 54#)–2Quick 1.Úƒ ÚÚ  Ú.à0 àÛ€ Û ¹ºD»¼½¾¿DÀTÁD l›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔAppellant€alleges€that€Hatmaker€applied€the€stethoscope€on€top€of€McCoyððsÐ ° Ðsweatshirt;€however,€no€evidence€exists€to€support€her€assertion.€€In€fact,Ïneither€Lowe€nor€Officer€¢Schwaab£€was€present€when€Hatmaker€examined€McCoy.€ÏIndeed,€Lowe€testified€that€he€walked€away€from€the€car,€and€both€men€aver€thatÏthey€were€in€a€home€across€the€street€using€the€telephone€of€the€resident€whileÏHatmaker€examined€McCoy. ^›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔThe€court€granted€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Departmentððs€motion€to€dismissÐ ° Ðon€July€8,€1999.€€The€department€is€no€longer€a€party€to€this€case. = ›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔThe€Good€Samaritan€Act€states€in€relevant€part:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(a)€A€person€described€in€subsection€(b)€of€this€sectionÏis€not€civilly€liable€for€any€act€or€omission€in€givingÏany€assistance€or€medical€care,€if:Ð ` x` x Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xà(1)€The€act€or€omission€is€not€one€of€grossÏnegligence;Ð ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xà(2)€The€assistance€or€medical€care€is€providedÏwithout€fee€or€other€compensation;€andÐ ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xà(3)€The€assistance€or€medical€care€is€provided:Ð ¸ x¸ x Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(¢i£)€At€the€scene€of€an€emergency;Ð#€ Ð xx Õ #Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(ii)€In€transit€to€a€medical€facility;€orÐ xx Ðà  àà8 ` àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(iii)€Through€communications€with€personnelÏproviding€emergency€assistance.Ð xx Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(b)€Subsection€(a)€of€this€section€applies€to€theÏfollowing:Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xà(1)€An€individual€who€is€licensed€by€this€StateÏto€provide€medical€care;Ð ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xà(2)€A€member€of€any€State,€county,€municipal,€orÏvolunteer€fire€department,€ambulance€and€rescueÏsquad€or€law€enforcement€agency€or€of€theÏNational€Ski€Patrol€System,€or€a€corporate€fireÏdepartment€responding€to€a€call€outside€of€itsÏcorporate€premises,€if€the€member:Ð ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(¢i£)€Has€completed€an€American€Red€CrossÏcourse€in€advanced€first€aid€and€has€aÏcurrent€card€showing€that€status;Ð xx Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(ii)€Has€completed€an€equivalent€of€anÏAmerican€Red€Cross€course€in€advanced€firstÏaid,€as€determined€by€the€Secretary€ofÏHealth€and€Mental€Hygiene;€orÐ xx Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà0¸ x¸ xà(iii)€Is€certified€or€licensed€by€thisÏState€as€an€emergency€medical€servicesÏprovider;Ð xx Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xà(3)€A€volunteer€fire€department,€ambulance€andÏrescue€squad€whose€members€have€immunity;€andÐ ¸ x¸ x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xà(4)€A€corporation€when€its€fire€departmentÏpersonnel€are€immune€under€paragraph€(2)€of€thisÏsubsection.Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌðð€5„603(a)€&€(b). r›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔThe€Fire€and€Rescue€Company€Act€states€in€relevant€part:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àNotwithstanding€any€other€provision€of€law,€except€forÏany€willful€or€grossly€negligent€act,€a€fire€company€orÏrescue€company,€and€the€personnel€of€a€fire€company€orÏrescue€company,€are€immune€from€civil€liability€for€anyÏact€or€omission€in€the€course€of€performing€theirÏduties.Ð ` x` x ÐÌðð€5„604(a).Ìà  à€ ¬›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔNeither€expert,€we€also€note,€was€willing€to€aver€that€had€HatmakerÐ ° Ðfollowed€recommended€protocols€McCoy€would€have€survived.€€Dworkin,€in€fact,Ïhedged€when€asked€about€the€amount€of€time€that€would€have€elapsed€betweenÏcardiac€arrest€and€the€point€at€which€McCoy€could€no€longer€be€a€viable€patient:ÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Do€you€have€an€opinion€that€you€hold€to€a€reasonableÏdegree€of€pre„hospital€emergency€medical€servicesÏcertainty€as€to€at€what€period€of€elapsed€time€Mr.€McCoyÏwould€no€longer€have€been€a€viable€patient?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Objection.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€I€canððt€answer€that.€€There€are€ð"ð€there€are,€again,Ïmany€factors€and€I€donððt€know€(a)€exactly€the€time€thatÏhe€did€go€into€cardiac€arrest€versus€the€time€that€theÏEMS€responding€units€and€police€units€responded,€andÏthere€are€also€other€factors€associated€withÏtemperature,€and€so€forth.Ð ` x` x ÐÌLikewise,€Dr.€Shane,€when€asked€about€the€likelihood€of€a€successfulÏresuscitation€in€this€case,€would€provide€no€empirical€basis€for€his€opinion€thatÏpatients€in€McCoyððs€condition,€as€observed€by€Hatmaker,€often€survived:ÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Because€I€know€there€are€many€patients,€but€there€isÐ ¨ø  Ðno€way€to€specifically€ascertain€the€number€because€itÏis€not€a€matter€that€there€is€a€specific€statistical€logÏkept€of€those€patients;€but€there€certainly€are€many€ofÏthem.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€When€you€say€many,€are€you€talking€about€one?€€Ten?€ÏOne€hundred?€€One€thousand?€€What€do€you€mean€by€many?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Objection.€€Go€ahead.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Certainly€hundreds.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Whatððs€your€basis€for€saying€there€are€certainlyÏhundreds?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Because€there€are€certainly€hundreds€of€patients€whoÏhave€so€survived,€and€it€is€those€patients€that€becomeÏthe€basis€for€people€continuing€CPR€beyond€five€or€sixÏminutes.€.€.€.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€I€apologize€if€my€question€was€not€clearly€phrased.€ÏI€am€not€interested€at€the€moment€in€what€the€standardÏof€care€is€with€respect€to€the€administration€of€CPR.Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWhat€I€am€interested€in€examining€just€now,ÏDoctor,€is€the€empirical€basis€for€your€testimony€thatÏpatients€do€survive€beyond€the€five€or€six€minuteÏthreshold,€and€that€is€the€majority€of€patients€survive?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€That€is€my€opinion.€€Yes.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Now,€you€said€there€are€hundreds€of€such€patients.€ÏMy€question€is€how€do€you€know€there€are€hundreds€ofÏsuch€patients?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Because€I€know€that€is€our€global€experience,€and€IÏknow€that€is€the€global€experience€regionally€andÏnationally;€but,€again,€I€donððt€think€there€is€aÏstatistical€network€to€access.€€And€I€think€thatððs€whatÏyou€are€looking€for€is€give€me€a€precise€number€.€€IÏdonððt€think€that€is€available€anywhere.Ð ` x` x ÐÌIndeed,€we€believe€the€absence€of€such€testimony€from€appellantððs€witnesses€showsÏthere€also€existed€no€triable€issue€as€to€causation,€although€that€issue€is€notÏon€appeal€here. ›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔCases€from€other€states€are€also€instructive.€€See€especially€òòNorris€v.Ð ° ТZambito£óó,€520€¢S.E.2d£€113€(N.C.€Ct.€App.€1999),€which€holds€that€the€trial€courtÐ …Õ Ðproperly€struck€expert€opinion€that€police€officers€had€been€ð ðgrossly€negligentððÏand€shown€ð ðreckless€disregardðð€for€the€safety€of€others€in€pursuing€high€speedÏchase.€€€òòNorris€óórejects€the€argument€that€N.C.€Rule€5„704,€which€is€identical€toÐ ê: ÐMd.€Rule€5„704€(ð ðtestimony€in€the€form€of€an€opinion€or€inference€otherwiseÏadmissible€is€not€objectionable€merely€because€it€embraces€an€ultimate€issue€toÏbe€decided€by€the€trier€of€factðð),€allows€such€testimony:ÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€a€general€rule,€an€expert€may€not€testify€as€toÏwhether€a€certain€legal€standard€has€been€met.€.€.€.€ÏOpinion€testimony€may€be€received€regarding€theÏunderlying€factual€premise,€which€the€fact€finder€mustÏconsider€in€determining€the€legal€conclusion€to€be€drawnÏtherefrom,€but€may€not€be€offered€as€to€whether€theÏlegal€conclusionòò€shouldóó€be€drawn.Ðß ` x` x ÐÌ520€¢S.E.2d£€at€116.€€The€court€went€on€to€describe€two€reasons€for€excludingÏtestimony€that€suggests€a€legal€conclusion:ÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àð ðThe€first€is€that€such€testimony€invades€not€only€theÏprovince€of€the€jury€but€ððthe€province€of€the€court€toÏdetermine€the€applicable€law€and€instruct€the€jury€as€toÏthat€law.ðð€(citation€omitted)€€It€is€for€the€court€toÏexplain€to€the€jury€the€given€legal€standard€orÏconclusion€at€issue€and€how€it€should€be€determined.€€ToÏpermit€the€expert€to€make€that€determination€usurps€theÏfunction€of€the€judge.€€The€second€reason€is€that€anÏexpert€is€in€no€better€position€to€conclude€whether€aÏlegal€standard€has€been€satisfied€or€a€legal€conclusionÏshould€be€drawn€than€is€a€jury€which€has€been€properlyÏinstructed€on€the€standard€or€conclusion.ððÐ ` x` x ÐÌòòId.óó€(citing€òò¢Hajmm£€Co.€v.€House€of€Raftered€Farms,€Inc.óó,€328€N.C.€578,€587,€403Ð ¬ü! ÐS.E.2d€483€(1991)).€òò€óóA€Michigan€case,€òòKoenig€v.€South€Havenóó,€562€N.W.2d€509Ð Ñ" Ð(Mich.€Ct.€App.€1997),€òòrevððd€in€part,€on€other€groundsóó,€597€N.W.2d€99€(Mich.Ð V ¦# Ð1999),€is€also€instructive.€€In€this€case,€a€government€employee€claimed€immunityÏfrom€tort€liability€under€a€statute€with€a€gross€negligence€standard€much€likeÏthe€Good€Samaritan€Act.€€The€statute€defined€gross€negligence€as€conduct€ð ðsoÏreckless€as€to€demonstrate€a€substantial€lack€of€concern€for€whether€an€injuryÏresults.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€515.€€Plaintiffððs€expert€opined€that€the€defendant€has€actedÐ K$›( Ðð ðso€recklessly€as€to€demonstrate€a€substantial€lack€of€concern€for€whether€anÏinjury€resulted.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€516.€€The€trial€court€struck€that€testimony,€notingÐ è%8!* Ðthat€to€allow€it€ð ðcould€have€unduly€invaded€the€province€of€the€jury.ðð€€òòId.óó€atÐ ½& "+ Ð515.€The€Michigan€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed.€€òòSee€also€Burkhart€v.€WashingtonÐ ’'â", ÐMetro€Area€Transit€Auth.óó,€112€F.3d€1207,€1213€(D.D.C.€1997)€(ð ðEach€courtroomÐ g(·#-  Ðcomes€equipped€with€a€ððlegal€expert,ðð€called€a€judge,€and€it€is€in€his€or€herÏprovince€alone€to€instruct€the€jury€on€the€relevant€legal€standard.ðð);€òòHarrisonÐ xÈ Ðv.€Wells€Fargo€Bankóó,€1999€Tex.€App.€Lexis€1691€at€*20€(March€11,€1999)€(renderingÐ M Ðexpert€testimony€inadmissible€because€it€consisted€ð ðsolely€of€opinions€concerningÏthe€existence€and€extent€of€a€trusteeððs€duties€which€is€a€question€of€lawðð). ›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔLt.€Shelley€had€prepared€this€report€in€response€to€a€request€from€McCoyððsÐ ° Ðson.«Mq) 2~М3|xÂ Ö›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€"ô­–õõô‹?ÔòòCf.€¢Pagotto£€v.€Stateóó,€127€Md.€App.€271,€325„29,€732€A.2d€920€(1999)Ð ° Ð(distinguishing€failure€to€follow€department€guidelines€from€failure€to€followÏregulations),€òò¢aff'd£óó,€No.€99,€Sept.€Term,€1999,€2000€Md.€LEXIS€698€(Nov.€16,Ð M Ð2000).+ Ú›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔThe€MIEMSS€protocols€define€obvious€death€as€injury€incompatible€withÐ ° Ðlife,€e.g.,€decapitation;€signs€of€rigor€mortis€with€post€mortem€lividity;€orÏdecomposition€of€body€organs€and€not€just€of€body€extremities,€which€might€alsoÏbe€present€in€live€persons€with€gangrene. 1Ñ#€XXÿÿd#ÑØØÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ<÷ì 9Z+‹.Courier New Regular'ô4  .Times New RomanBold<ñ9Z+&Courier RegularNûÖqZ ‹0Ribbon131 Bd BT Bold(f(2`‚$¤¤Ý ƒƒ•!ÝÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÔ€XtXXXÔÔ€ô›ÛõXXtÔà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5((3š¨$¢¢Ý ƒƒ•!ÝÑ  ÑÝ  Ý((3š¨$££Ý ƒƒ•!ÝÑ  ÑÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó î›Ó  ÓÝ ƒ&`‚ÿÝÑ @ ÑÔ€XUçXXXÔÔ€ô‹?õXXUçÔà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô­–õõô‹?ÔEarlier€in€the€deposition,€Officer€¢Schwaab£€described€McCoyððs€conditionÐ ° Ðwhen€he€reached€the€scene:ÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[¢H]e£€was€slumped€forward.€€And€what€I€did€was€ð"ð€I€couldÏsee€saliva€coming€out€of€his€mouth,€and€he€had€like€anÏash€in€[òòsicóó]€color€to€him,€so€I€tilted€his€head€back.Иè` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThere€[were]€no€signs€of€an€accident€or€anythingÏlike€that,€so€I€wanted€to€make€sure€his€airway€was€open.€ÏSo€as€I€tilted€his€head€back€and€checked€his€pulse,€heÏhad€none.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€didnððt€walk.€€I€actually€ran€up€to€the€medicÏunit€and€said:€ð ðThis€man€is€in€full€cardiac€arrestðð€andÏstarted€back€towards€where€Bradley,€the€car,€and€Mr.ÏLowe€were. @@@@7Hairlinedxd)Hairline dÝ ƒƒ•!ÝÑ  ÑÝ  Ý›ÒÀ°ÒÓ  ÓÌñ¿ñÌÌÌà  àñ¿ññÀñà@¶¶9ôàñÀññÁñà  àà  àñÁññÂñ€ñÂñˆà  àà x àà Ð àÐ ‘á Ðà  àà p à€€òòREPORTEDóóÐ r ÐÌ€€òòIN€THE€COURT€OF€SPECIAL€APPEALSóóÐ 4„ Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à¼à  àà p à€€òòOF€MARYLANDóóÐ ö F Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à¼à  àà p à€€€€No.€2936Ìà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à¼à  à€€€September€Term,€1999Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à x àà Ð àÐ [«  Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x à€€€€€ÌßA€+) °°xdEÀhAßÐ m  ÐÌà  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï€€à@ÔÔ/ôàLINDA€¢McCOY£,€ET€AL.€€ˆÐ î>  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àv.Ð ‘á ÐÌà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà@WW.ôàBILLIE€HATMAKER,€ET€AL.ˆÌÌà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€€€€ÌßA€+) °°xdEÀõhAßÐ öF ÐÌÌà  àà p àHollander,Ìà  à€€€*€¢Thieme£,Ìà  àà p à¢Krauser£,ÌÌà  àà p àà È àà  àJJ.Ìà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€ÌßA€+) °°xdEÀ hAßÐ  ]! Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à¼à  àà p à€€àH880jà€€€€€€€€€ˆàH}}.àOpinion€by€¢Thieme£,€J.ˆÐ ý M# Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€ÌßA€+) °°xdEÀ¾"hAßÐ ¿"% Ðà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€€ÌÌFiled:ñ¾ñ€December€26,€2000ñ¾ñÌÌ€€*€¢Thieme£,€J.,€participated€inÏthe€hearing€and€conference€of€thisÏcase€while€an€active€member€ofÏthis€Court;€he€participated€in€theÏadoption€of€this€opinion€as€aÏretired,€specially€assigned€memberÏof€this€Court.ÌÌÓÓÐ  Z-ª(2 ÐÒ°ÀÒÑ€•ÑÑÑ  Ñà  àThis€is€an€appeal€from€summary€judgment€granted€to€appelleesÏin€a€wrongful€death€claim€and€survival€action.€€Appellant€LindaÏMcCoy,€individually€and€as€personal€representative€of€the€estateÏof€William€McCoy,€filed€a€complaint€on€January€10,€1999,€in€theÏCircuit€Court€for€Baltimore€City€against€two€Baltimore€CityÏemployees,€paramedic€Billie€R.€Hatmaker€and€police€officer€BrianÏ¢Schwaab£;€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department;׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€the€Mayor€andÐ <Œ  ÐCity€Council€of€Baltimore€City.Ìà  àHatmaker€and€Officer€¢Schwaab£€filed€separate€motions€forÏsummary€judgment,€and€the€court€heard€these€motions€and€McCoyððsÏopposition€to€them€on€January€14,€2000.€€The€City€filed€a€lineÏadopting€Hatmakerððs€pleadings€on€the€same€day,€although€itsÏseparate€summary€judgment€motion€was€not€before€the€court€atÏthat€time.€The€court€granted€Hatmakerððs€and€¢Schwaab£ððs€motions€atÏthe€hearing,€and€it€later€granted€Baltimore€Cityððs€motion€forÏsummary€judgment€on€February€10,€2000.€€This€appeal€followed,Ïand€McCoy€now€asks:ÌÓÓÝ‚ )–ÿÝÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÝ‚ )–JÝÚƒ Ú1Ú  Ú.à0¸ ` x` xàÝ  ÝDid€the€court€below€err€in€consideringÐ ’"â" Ðand€granting€appelleesðð€motions€forÏsummary€judgment€on€the€basis€thatÏappellant€€failed€to€make€a€prima€facieÏshowing€of€gross€negligence€on€the€partÏof€appellees€Hatmaker€and€¢Schwaab£,€evenÏassuming€the€truth€of€all€allegationsÏagainst€them?݃ )–J…ÝÛ€ یР¸ x¸ x Ðâ âŒÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àК)ê$*` x` x ÐÑ•ÑÑâ âÑ8€§XXdáXXdá8ÑØØâ âÑ  ÑÝ‚ )–ÿÝÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÝ‚ )– ÝÚƒ Ú2Ú  Ú.à0¸ ` x` xàÝ  ÝDid€the€court€below€abuse€itsÐ ° Ðâ âdiscretion€by€striking€an€affidavit€ofÏappellantððs€expert€witnessÏcontradicting€that€witnessððs€depositionÏtestimony,€because€it€includedÏtestimony€that€amounted€to€a€legalÏconclusion€and€because€appellantÏsubmitted€it€beyond€the€discoveryÏdeadline?݃ )– [ÝÛ€ یР¸ x¸ x ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ‚ )–ÿÝÝ  Ýà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÝ‚ )–6ÝÚƒ Ú3Ú  Ú.à0¸ ` x` xàÝ  ÝDid€the€court€below€abuse€itsÐ z Ê  Ðdiscretion€when€it€quashed€the€subpoenaÏfor€the€deposition€of€a€supervisingÏLieutenant€who€investigated€theÏincident€and€entered€a€protective€orderÏbarring,€as€privileged,€discovery€ofÏhis€report?Ó8Ó݃ )–6qÝÛ€ یР¸ x¸ x ÐŒÝ  ÝTo€these€questions,€we€answer€ð ðnoðð€and€explain.Ìà@´´(ìàò òFactsó óˆÐ D” Ðà  àOn€the€evening€of€January€24,€1996,€William€McCoy,€age€62,Ïwas€driving€himself€and€a€co„worker,€Bernard€Lowe,€to€theirÏplace€of€employment.€€McCoy€typically€picked€up€Lowe€at€aboutÏ10:00€p.m.€so€that€the€two€would€arrive€in€time€for€their€11:00Ïp.m.€shift.Ìà  àMcCoy,€heading€north€on€Hanover€Street€in€Baltimore€City,Ïstopped€for€a€red€light.€€As€the€two€men€conversed,€LoweÏrecalls,€the€following€took€place:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€said€something€to€Bill,€and€Bill€neverÏanswered€me.€€I€said,€ð ðYou€didnððt€see€thatÏBill?ðð€€I€turned€around€and€looked,€and€IÏthought€Bill€dropped€his€cigarette€betweenÏhis€legs€because€his€head€was€down€and€hisÏhand€was€in€his€lap,€and€I€thought€heÏâ âdropped€his€cigarette.€€Iððm€like,€ð ðHeyÐ ^+®&, ÐBill,ðð€and€there€was€no€response,€noÏnothing.Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€next€I€know€weððre€going€off€into€theÏparked€cars.€€I€reached€over€and€grabbed€theÏsteering€wheel.€€Iððm€still€yelling€at€himÏand€I€grabbed€the€steering€wheel€and€got€itÏstraight€back€out€on€the€street€to€keep€usÏfrom€hitting€the€parked€cars.€€Thatððs€how€itÏhappened.Ó5ÓÐ ` x` x Ðà  àLowe€then€engaged€the€emergency€brake.€€When€the€car€hadÏcome€to€a€stop,€Lowe€explains,€McCoy€was€still€in€the€driverððsÏseat,€non„responsive€to€Loweððs€efforts€to€rouse€him€and€makingÏwhat€Lowe€described€as€gargling€noises.€€Lowe€left€the€car€andÏflagged€down€a€passing€police€car,€driven€by€Office€IrvinÏBradley.ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àHe€asked€me€what€was€going€on.€€I€toldÏhim€something€is€wrong€with€my€buddy.€€IÏsaid,€ð ðAll€heððs€doing€is€gargling.€€IÏthought€he€dropped€his€cigarette.ðð€€He€heardÏme€yelling,€ð ðBill,€Bill,ðð€and€he€walkedÏover,€put€his€hand€in€the€throat€area€by€hisÏear€and€stuff€I€guess€to€check€for€a€pulse,Ïand€he€said€something.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÍÓOfficer€Bradley€told€Lowe€that€McCoy€had€a€ð ðsmall€pulse,ðð€thenÏcalled€for€assistance€on€his€shoulder€radio.Ìà  àAfter€Officer€Bradley€called€for€assistance,€Officer€BrianÏSchwaab€arrived€at€the€scene.€€Officer€Schwaab€is€a€trainedÏemergency€medical€services€provider€who€is€qualified€both€as€aÏfirst€responder€and€an€emergency€medical€technician€(ð ðEMTðð).€€AtÏthe€time,€he€had€been€about€eight€blocks€away,€patrolling€theÐ \+¬&, Ðlower€area€of€the€southern€district.€€Responding€to€OfficerÏBradleyððs€call€for€assistance,€he€estimated€that€he€arrived€atÏthe€scene€within€ð ða€minuteðð€of€hearing€the€call.€€He€broughtÏwith€him€a€personal€resuscitation€mask.Ìà  àOfficer€Schwaab€immediately€asked€Officer€Bradley€what€hadÏoccurred.€€He€also€went€over€to€McCoy,€ensured€that€his€airwayÏwas€open,€and€checked€for€a€pulse.€€He€did€not€feel€one.€€BeforeÏhe€could€start€cardiopulmonary€resuscitation€(ð ðCPRðð),€however,ÏOfficer€Schwaab€noticed€an€ambulance,€Medic€5,€rounding€theÏcorner€to€turn€southbound€on€Hanover€Street.Ìà  àAlthough€appellant€now€seeks€to€infer€otherwise,€theÏundisputed€evidence,€including€City€records€and€staff€testimony,Ïshows€that€Medic€5€reached€the€scene€only€on€its€second€attempt.€ÏMedic€5€was€initially€dispatched€at€10:21€p.m.€€Because€ofÏconfusion€relating€to€the€exact€location€of€McCoyððs€vehicle,€theÏambulance€initially€went€to€the€wrong€address.€€The€same€rig€wasÏthen€dispatched€a€second€time€ð"ð€in€fact,€Paramedic€Hatmaker,€whoÏwas€with€the€ambulance,€even€recorded€a€new€call€on€the€runÏsheet€ð"ð€at€10:25€p.m.,€and€it€reached€the€scene€at€about€10:30Ïp.m.€€Officer€¢Schwaab£€greeted€the€ambulance€crew€with€the€newsÏthat€McCoy€was€in€full€cardiac€arrest.Ìà  àParamedic€Hatmaker€ran€to€McCoyððs€car€and€assessed€hisÏcondition.€€He€noted€that€McCoy,€who€was€slumped€over€theÐ \+¬&, Ðsteering€wheel,€showed€no€visible€signs€of€life.€€He€felt€noÏpulse€in€McCoyððs€carotid€artery.€€Placing€his€stethoscope€underÏMcCoyððs€sweatshirt,€Hatmaker€listened€for€a€heartbeat€and€heardÏnone.¢×ƒ×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€Heart€sounds,€in€fact,€were€entirely€absent.€€HatmakerÐ ö F Ðnext€examined€McCoyððs€eyes€by€opening€his€eyelids€and€examiningÏhis€pupils€with€a€penlight.€€He€observed€McCoyððs€pupils€to€beÏfixed€and€dilated€and€his€sclera€dry.€€He€then€checked€McCoyððsÏbody€for€signs€of€trauma,€including€blood,€and€found€none.€ÏFinally,€Hatmaker€observed€that€McCoy€had€already€released€bodyÏfluids€and€his€body€temperature€had€already€dropped€markedly.€ÏHe€thus€concluded€that€McCoy€was€dead€and€was€not€a€viableÏcandidate€for€resuscitation.Ìà  àBecause€he€considered€his€job€there€over,€Hatmaker€proceededÏto€complete€a€Maryland€Ambulance€Information€Sheet€regarding€theÏcall,€then€conferred€with€police,€who€would€summon€the€MedicalÏExaminer€to€remove€McCoyððs€body€from€the€car€and€transport€it€toÏthe€morgue.Ìà  àIn€her€complaint,€appellant€alleged€that€Hatmaker€breachedÏhis€duty€of€care€to€McCoy€by€ð ðfailing€to€render€appropriateÏresuscitation€and€emergency€medical€treatmentðð€and€ð ðviolatingÐ &f!& Ðthe€Maryland€State€Protocols€for€Cardiac€Rescue€Technician€andÏEmergency€Medical€Technician/Paramedic€Guidelines€for€deceasedÏcasesðð€(hereinafter€the€ð ðMaryland€Institute€for€EmergencyÏMedical€Services€Systems€protocolsðð€or€the€ð ð¢MIEMSS£€protocolsðð).€ÏAppellant€asserted€that,€by€committing€such€a€breach,€HatmakerÏwas€grossly€negligent.Ìà  àAll€of€appellantððs€experts€were€deposed€during€discovery,Ïincluding€her€emergency€medical€services€expert€Gerald€M.ÏDworkin,€who€testified€at€a€deposition€on€October€20,€1999.€Ìà  àAdditionally,€on€October€15,€1999,€appellant€noted€theÏdeposition€of€Lieutenant€William€J.€Shelley€of€the€BaltimoreÏCity€Fire€Department.€€Lt.€Shelley€had€investigated€the€incidentÏon€behalf€of€the€Fire€Departmentððs€Medical€Bureau€and€hadÏconcluded,€in€his€report€to€the€Fire€Department€chain€ofÏcommand,€that€Hatmaker€had€violated€some€¢MIEMSS£€protocols€whenÏhe€treated€McCoy.׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€report€was€placed€in€Hatmakerððs€personnelÐ ^ Ðfile.€€On€November€9,€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department€movedÏto€quash€appellantððs€subpoena€òòduces€tecumóó€and€prevent€discoveryÐ ’"â" Ðof€the€report,€on€grounds€that€such€information€was€confidentialÏâ âand€thus€not€subject€to€discovery.Ð 0&€!& Ðà  àAppellant€opposed€appelleesðð€motion.€€On€December€15,€theÏâ âcourt€granted€that€motion,€quashed€the€subpoena€for€Lt.ÏShelleyððs€deposition,€and€entered€an€order€precluding€formalÏdiscovery€of€any€findings€or€records€of€the€Fire€DepartmentððsÏreview€of€Hatmakerððs€performance€in€the€McCoy€incident.€€ForÏreasons€that€are€not€clear,€we€note€that€appellant€alreadyÏpossessed€a€copy€of€the€report€in€question.€€The€courtððs€order,Ïhowever,€effectively€precluded€her€from€using€the€report.Ìà  àOn€December€2,€Hatmaker€and€Officer€¢Schwaab£€moved€forÏsummary€judgment,€and€the€City€adopted€Hatmakerððs€pleading€byÏline.€€Appellees€argued€that,€because€neither€had€committed€anyÏwillful€act€nor€any€grossly€negligent€act€or€omission€under€theÏstandard€set€forth€in€òò¢Tatum£€v.€¢Gigliotti£óó,€80€Md.€App.€559,€565Ð È ÐA.2d€354€(1989),€òò¢affððd£óó,€321€Md.€623,€583€A.2d€1062€(1991),€theyÐ ¤ô Ðwere€immune€from€suit€under€both€the€Good€Samaritan€Act,€Md.ÏCode€(1973,€1998€Repl.€Vol.),€ðð€5„603€of€the€Courts€&€JudicialÏProceedings€Article,¢×ƒ×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€and€the€Fire€and€Rescue€Company€Act,€Md.Ð !T  ÐCode€(1973,€1998€Repl.€Vol.),€ðð€5„604€of€the€Courts€&€JudicialÏâ âProceedings€Article.׃á×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð r Ðà  àAppellant€opposed€the€motion,€submitting€with€her€oppositionÏâ âan€affidavit€from€Dworkin,€in€which€he€opined,ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àto€a€reasonable€degree€of€certainty€in€theÏfield€of€emergency€medical€services,€theÏacts€and/or€omissions€of€Defendant€HatmakerÏand€Defendant€Schwaab€constituted€not€only€aÏbreach€in€the€standard€of€care€by€fallingÏwell€below€the€recognized€standards,€butÏthat€these€acts€and/or€omissions€alsoÏconstituted€a€reckless€disregard€for€theÏlife€of€William€McCoy€and€resulted€in€hisÏdeath.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓà  àThe€court€granted€appelleesðð€motion€for€summary€judgmentÏafter€a€hearing€on€January€14,€2000.€€At€that€hearing,€HatmakerÏmoved€to€strike€Dworkinððs€affidavit€on€grounds€that€¢i£)€theÏaffidavit€could€not€act€to€defeat€summary€judgment€under€òòPittmanÐ %u Ðv.€Atlantic€Realty€Co.óó,€127€Md.€App.€255,€732€A.2d€912€(1999),Ð Q Ðòòrevððdóó,€359€Md.€513,€754€A.2d€1030€(2000),€and€ii)€DworkinððsÐ Ý- Ðaffidavit€was€inadmissible€because€it€stated€a€conclusion€ofÏlaw.€€The€Court€granted€this€oral€motion€and€also€grantedÏHatmakerððs€and€Officer€Schwaabððs€summary€judgment€motions€at€theÏhearing.€€On€February€10,€the€court€additionally€grantedÏBaltimore€Cityððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€This€appealÏfollowed.Ìà@{{%ìàò òDiscussionó óˆÐ E'•"' Ðà  àWe€review€grants€of€summary€judgment€òòde€novo€óóunder€a€simpleÐ  )Y$) Ðstandard:€whether€the€trial€courtððs€legal€conclusions€wereÐ å*5&+ Ðcorrect.€€òòSee€Matthews€v.€Howellóó,€359€Md.€152,€161„62,€753€A.2dÐ ° Ð69€(2000);€òòGreen€v.€H.€&€R.€Block,€Inc.óó,€355€Md.€488,€502,€735Ð ŒÜ ÐA.2d€1039€(1999);òò€Calomiris€v.€Woodsóó,€353€Md.€425,€434,€727€A.2dÐ h¸ Ð358€(1999);òò€Goodwich€v.€Sinai€Hosp.€of€Baltimore,€Inc.óó,€343€Md.Ð D ” Ð185,€204,€680€A.2d€1067€(1996).€€€Here,€the€grant€of€summaryÏjudgment€rests€in€part€on€the€courtððs€exclusion€of€expertÏwitness€Dworkinððs€eleventh„hour€affidavit,€which€concludes€thatÏappellees€had€been€grossly€negligent.€€Without€that€affidavit,Ïappellant€cannot€aver€any€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€„„€anyÏfactual€controversy€that€would€somehow€affect€the€outcome€ofÏthis€case,€òòsee€Goodwichóó,€343€Md.€at€206€(citing€òòKing€v.€Bankerdóó,Ð ¬ü Ð303€Md.€98,€111,€492€A.2d€608€(1985))€„„€that€shows€Hatmaker€andÏOfficer€Schwaab€committed€any€willful€or€grossly€negligent€act.€ÏAppellant€otherwise€concedes€that€the€immunity€provisions€ofÏsections€5„603€and€„604€apply.€€Although€the€Court€of€Appeals,Ïwhen€it€reversed€òòPittmanóó,€dealt€a€blow€to€the€trial€courtððsÐ à Ðreasoning€relying€on€that€case,€we€hold€that€the€blow€was€notÏfatal,€for€the€courtððs€secondary€justification€gave€itÏsufficient€rationale€for€striking€the€affidavit.€€Likewise,€weÏhold€that€the€trial€court€committed€no€abuse€of€discretion€whenÏit€quashed€appellantððs€subpoena€òòduces€tecumóó€for€the€depositionÐ t(Ä#( Ðtestimony€of€Lt.€Shelley€and€the€report€he€prepared.€€We€addressÏeach€issue€in€turn.Ð ,b', Ðà@®®*ìàò òIó óˆÐ ° Ðà  àThe€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€in€favor€ofÏappellees€because€Maryland€law€affords€them€immunity€from€civilÏdamages€in€the€absence€of€gross€negligence€or€willfulÏmisconduct.€€Finding€that€appellant€presented€no€evidence€ofÏsuch€abuses,€the€trial€court€properly€ended€this€action.Ìà  àUnder€Maryland€law,€two€separate€statutes€immunize€fire,Ïrescue,€and€law€enforcement€personnel€from€civil€damages€forÏerrors€and€omissions€made€while€acting€in€the€scope€of€theirÏduties.€€The€Good€Samaritan€Act€grants€a€broad€class€ofÏrescuers,€which€would€include€both€Hatmaker€and€¢Schwaab£€(becauseÏhe€is€a€trained€EMT),€and€medical€providers€civil€immunity€ð ðforÏany€act€or€omission€in€giving€any€assistance€or€medical€care,ððÏin€the€absence€of€gross€negligence,€where€they€provide€careÏwithout€fee€or€compensation€¢i£)€at€the€scene€of€an€emergency,€ii)Ïduring€transit€to€a€medical€facility,€or€iii)€throughÏcommunication€with€personnel€providing€such€assistance.€€ðð€5„¼603.€€The€Fire€and€Rescue€Company€Act€further€ensures€thatÏmembers€of€fire€and€rescue€companies,€like€Hatmaker,€ð ðare€immuneÏfrom€civil€liability€for€any€act€or€omission€in€the€course€ofÏperforming€their€duties,ðð€except€for€those€acts€that€are€willfulÏâ âor€grossly€negligent.€€ðð€5„604(a).€€Appellant€concedes,€in€fact,Ð œ)ì$* Ðthat€the€proper€standard€for€determining€appelleesðð€liability€isÏone€of€gross€negligence.Ìâ âà@®®*ìàò òAó óˆÐ 4„ Ðà  àòò¢Tatum£€v.€¢Gigliotti£óó€fleshes€out€Marylandððs€gross€negligenceÐ ø H Ðstandard€in€the€context€of€services€provided€by€emergencyÏmedical€technicians€such€as€Hatmaker€operating€within€theirÏassigned€duties:Ìà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÓÓð ðGross€negligence€has€been€equated€withÏððwilful€and€wanton€misconduct,ðð€a€ððwanton€orÏreckless€disregard€for€human€life€or€for€theÏrights€of€others.ððððÐ ` x` x ÐÌÓIÓòò¢Tatum£óó,€80€Md.€App.òò€óóat€568€(quoting€òò¢Foor£€v.€Juvenile€Serv.óó,€78Ð Ï ÐMd.€App.€151,€170,€552€A.2d€947€(1989)).€€One€is€grosslyÏnegligent€or€acts€wantonly€and€willfully€ð ðððonly€when€he€inflictsÏinjury€intentionally€or€is€so€utterly€indifferent€to€the€rightsÏof€others€that€he€acts€as€if€such€rights€did€not€exist.ðððð€ÏòòTatumóó,€80€Md.€App.€at€568€(quoting€òòRomanesk€v.€Roseóó,€248€Md.Ð c³ Ð420,€423,€237€A.2d€12€(1968)).€€Stated€differently,€onlyÏextraordinary€or€outrageous€conduct€can€be€termed€grossÏnegligence€ð"ð€mere€ð ð¢reckless[ness£]€is€not€enough;€there€must€beÏreckless€disregard€for€human€life.ðð€€òòKhawaja€v.€Mayor€&€CityÐ …%Õ % ÐCouncilóó,€89€Md.€App.€314,€319,€598€A.2d€489€(1991)€(citing€òòNastÐ a'±"' Ðv.€Lockettóó,€312€Md.€343,€352,€539€A.2d€1113€(1988)),€òòappealÐ =)$) Ðdismissedóó,€326€Md.€501,€606€A.2d€224€(1992).Ð +i&+ Ðà  àIn€òòTatumóó,€an€asthma€sufferer€in€the€midst€of€a€severe€attackÐ ° Ðcalled€the€Prince€Georgeððs€County€Fire€Department€and€requestedÏemergency€aid.€€Paramedics,€including€defendant€Gigliotti,Ïarrived€and€sought€to€have€plaintiffððs€decedent€employ€anÏemergency€treatment€commonly€used€for€hyperventilation€(but€notÏfor€asthma).€€When€he€resisted€this€effort,€they€administeredÏoxygen€and€then€escorted€him€to€the€ambulance,€requiring€him€toÏwalk.€€En€route€to€the€hospital,€plaintiffððs€decedent€furtherÏresisted€the€paramedicsðð€efforts€to€administer€oxygen€andÏrefused€to€lie€on€the€stretcher.€€When€the€ambulance€rounded€aÏsharp€turn€at€the€entrance€of€the€hospital,€the€decedent€fell€toÏits€floor.€€At€the€emergency€room€door,€paramedics€placed€theÏdecedent€on€a€gurney€and€turned€him€over€to€hospital€personnel.€ÏòòTatumóó,€80€Md.€App.€at€562„63.Ð ¤ô Ðà  àIn€the€ambulance€report,€paramedics€stated€that€the€decedentÏð ðwas€conscious,€stable,€pupils€normal,€and€pupils€were€equal.ðð€ÏòòId.€€óóIn€fact,€emergency€room€personnel€testified€that€theÐ !T  Ðdecedent€was€ð ðin€complete€respiratory€and€cardiac€arrestðð€whenÏadmitted.€€òòId.óó€€A€physician€performing€the€post„mortemÐ ¢$ò$ Ðexamination€testified€that€plaintiffððs€decedent€died€fromÏcerebral€edema,€secondary€to€anoxia€from€status€¢asthmaticus£€withÏâ ârespiratory€arrest.€€òòId.óó€€When€asked€whether€the€administrationÐ *R%* Ðof€oxygen€in€the€ambulance€would€have€saved€decedentððs€life,€theÏphysician€testified€in€the€affirmative.€€òòId.óóÐ r Ðâ âà  àDespite€such€highly€egregious€facts€showing€misdiagnosis€ofÏthe€patient,€treatment€€bordering€upon€cruelty,€andÏfalsification€of€official€records,€we€nevertheless€upheld€theÏtrial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€Gigliotti:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àEven€though€the€lower€court,€in€ruling€onÏthe€question€of€sufficiency€of€the€evidence,Ïis€required€to€take€the€facts€in€the€lightÏmost€favorable€to€the€plaintiff,€we€holdÏthat€the€trial€judge€acted€properly€inÏgranting€the€appellee's€motion€for€judgment.€ÏThe€evidence€in€this€case€indicated€thatÏalthough€the€actions€of€Gigliotti€may€haveÏamounted€to€negligence,€they€do€not€satisfyÏthe€threshold€of€gross€negligence.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ6UÓòòId.óó€at€569.€€We€went€on€to€explain€how€the€plaintiffððs€ownÐ Q Ðexpert,€although€he€initially€condemned€the€actions€of€theÏparamedics€as€ð ðreckless,ðð€backed€away€from€this€descriptionÏduring€cross„€examination,€stating,€ð ðI€believe€it€is€an€improperÏaction€that€could€have€aggravated€the€condition.ðð€€òòId.óó€€AfterÐ # s Ðbeing€instructed€by€the€court€on€the€correct€standard€for€grossÏnegligence,€the€expert€refused€to€testify€that€GigliottiððsÏactions€constituted€reckless€disregard€for€the€decedentððs€life.€ÏòòId.óó€€We€thus€held€that,€as€a€matter€of€law,€Gigliotti€wasÐ E'•"' Ðâ âinsulated€from€liability€by€the€Good€Samaritan€Act.Ð !)q$) Ðà  àHere,€appellant€asserts€that€Hatmaker€ð ðbreached€[his€duty]Ïâ âof€care€by€[failing]€to€render€appropriate€resuscitation€andÏemergency€medical€treatment;€by€[abandoning]€treatment€of€Mr.ÏMcCoy€without€the€direction€of€a€medical€doctor;€and€byÏ[failing]€to€appropriately€examine€[òòsicóó]€the€plaintiff€toÐ ¸  Ðdetermine€his€status€and€survivability€prior€to€abandoning€hisÏefforts.ðð€€She€then€posits€that€each€of€these€alleged€breachesÏconstitutes€gross€negligence€and€argues€that,€in€concludingÏotherwise,€the€court€below€engaged€in€improper€fact„finding.€ÏòòSee,€e.g.,€DiGrazia€v.€County€Executiveóó,€288€Md.€437,€445,€418Ð œì ÐA.2d€1191€(1980)€(purpose€of€summary€judgment€is€not€to€settleÏfactual€disputes€but€rather€to€determine€existence€of€a€genuineÏissue€of€material€fact€that€would€provide€the€basis€for€trial).Ìà  àFrom€our€perspective,€however,€the€court€below€did€nothingÏmore€than€apply€the€legal€standard€in€òòTatumóó€to€the€undisputedÐ €Ð Ðfacts€and,€even€resolving€all€inferences€in€appellantððs€favor,Ïfound€that€her€insubstantial€allegations€failed€to€withstand€theÏmost€basic€level€of€scrutiny€provided€by€the€summary€procedure.€ÏNo€party€disputes€that€when€Hatmaker€arrived€on€the€scene€he€ranÏfrom€the€ambulance€to€McCoyððs€vehicle€and€began€to€assess€hisÏcondition€with€the€intention€of€saving€his€life.€€Using€hisÏstethoscope€on€McCoyððs€chest,€he€tried€to€establish€a€heartbeat.€ÏHe€likewise€checked€McCoyððs€carotid€artery€for€a€pulse.€HeÐ ª+ú&, Ðassessed€McCoyððs€eyes€and€found€his€pupils€to€be€fixed€andÏdilated€and€the€schlera€dry.€€He€examined€McCoyððs€body€for€signsÏof€bleeding€or€other€trauma€and€found€none.€€He€noted€that€McCoyÏhad€released€his€bowels€and€bladder.€€All€of€the€above€are,€weÏnote,€medical€signs€that€death€has€occurred,€and€only€afterÏnoting€all€of€such€symptoms€did€Hatmaker€conclude€that€McCoy€wasÏbeyond€resuscitation€and€treat€the€patient€like€a€corpse.€€FarÏfrom€exhibiting€deliberate€indifference€to€McCoyððs€welfare,€theÏundisputed€facts€show€that€Hatmaker€demonstrated€genuine€concernÏand€urgency€that€was€appropriate€to€the€situation,€and,€atÏworst,€he€made€an€error€in€medical€judgment.€€If€the€facts€inÏòòTatumóó€supported€a€finding€that€careless,€inconsiderate€andÐ V Ðdeceitful€ambulance€crewmen€were€not€grossly€negligent,€theÏcourt€could€not€have€reasonably€found€that€the€undisputed€factsÐ ¤ô Ðòòsub€judiceóó,€as€averred€by€the€parties,€would€support€anÐ f¶ Ðinference€that€Hatmaker€had€responded€to€McCoyððs€illness€withÏgrossly€deficient€care.Ìà  àJust€as€appellant€failed€to€present€facts€from€which€theÏcourt€could€infer€that€Hatmaker€sought€to€injure€McCoy€or€actedÏwith€willful€indifference€to€his€well„being,€she€cannot€point€toÏfacts€in€the€record€that€show€the€court€engaged€in€improperÏfact„finding.€€Indeed,€we€find€it€clear€that€all€the€court€didÏwas€to€apply€the€òòTatumóó€standard€to€the€facts€òòsub€judiceóó.€€InÐ +à&, Ðdoing€so,€it€weighed€appellantððs€preferred€inference€andÏconcluded€that€inference€was€untenable:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€[¢L]et£€me€firstÏaddress€Defendant€Hatmaker€and€we€agree€thatÏthe€standard€is€gross€negligence.€€In€theÏstandard€of€gross€negligence€as€cited€inÏ¢Tattum£€[òòsicóó]€and€I€believe,€Your€Honor,€thatÐ ¸  ÐI€do€sight€[òòsicóó]€cases€other€than€¢Tattum£Ð ¦ ö  Ð[òòsicóó]€throughout€my€brief,€but€you€can€beÐ ” ä  Ðthe€judge€of€that,€pun€intended€€ð"ð€but€inÏ¢Tattum£€[òòsicóó]€it€says€the€standard€of€grossÐ c³  Ðnegligence€is€a€reckless€disregard€for€humanÏlife.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€A€wanton€or€¢reck£€ð"ð€okay.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Right.€€And€willfulÏor€wanton€reckless€disregard€for€[human]Ïlife€and€wanton,€I€believe,€Your€Honor,Ïmeans€that€you€demonstrate€a€deliberateÏindifference€or€act€as€if€this€person€doesÏnot€have€the€right€to€live,€his€rights€orÏher€rights€do€not€exist.Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àYour€Honor,€this€case€is€so€much€moreÏegregious€than€¢Tattum£€[òòsicóó]€that€I€will€doÐ ¾ Ðas€they€did€and€go€briefly€through€¢Tattum£Ï[òòsicóó].€€In€¢Tattum£€[òòsicóó],€the€paramedicÐ Ý Ðarrives,€attempts€to€do€something,€hereÏparamedic€Hatmaker€did€nothing.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Well,€no€thatððs€not€ð"ð€thatððs€ð"ð€noÏhe€didnððt€ð"ð€I€donððt€think€you€can€say€that.€ÏYou€can€say€that€he€didnððt€do€what€yourÏexpert€says€he€should€have€done€but€he€didÏdo€something.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Your€Honor,€I€will€goÏbeyond€that.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Well,€show€me€where€it€says€heÏdid€nothing?Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÐ É*&+ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Sure.€€He€didnððt€doÏâ âjust€what€my€expert€says,€he€didnððt€doÏanything€that€the€[MIEMSS]€standard€setÏforth.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Okay.€€He€didnððt€do€those€things.ÏWhen€you€say€he€did€nothing,€that€means€heÏdidnððt€go€to€the€patient,€he€didnððt,€I€meanÏthere€are€things€that€he€did.€€You€say€thatÏtheyððre€not€sufficient.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Right.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€But,€you€canððt€say€that€he€didnððtÏdo€nothing€[òòsicóó].ÐþN ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€I€take€that€backÏthen,€Your€Honor.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Okay.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓ‡fÓà  àAppellant€countered€and€still€contends€that€HatmakerððsÏfailure€to€observe€the€MIEMSS€and€other€treatment€protocolsÏequaled€no€action€at€all€and€gross€negligence€on€its€face.€€TheÏMIEMSS€protocols€state€that€ð ð[¢t]he£€goal€of€pre„hospitalÏemergency€medical€services€is€to€deliver€a€viable€patient€toÏappropriate€definitive€care€as€soon€as€possible.ðð€€AppellantÏpoints€out€that€the€protocols€set€forth€several€criteria€forÏemergency€personnel€to€use€in€determining€whether€resuscitationÏis€appropriate,€including€asking€other€persons€at€the€sceneÏabout€the€patientððs€symptoms€and€condition;€determining€by€useÏof€a€monitoring€device€that€heart€rhythms€are€incompatible€withÏâ âlife;€checking€for€the€absence€of€electrical€pulse€activity;Ð ˆ*Ø%+ Ðand,€in€the€absence€of€obvious€signs€of€death,׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€beginning€basicÐ ° Ðâ âand€advanced€life€support€procedures,€including€CPR,€to€continueÏuntil€the€patient€reaches€a€hospital€or€a€physician€directsÏtermination€of€treatment.€€Instead,€after€fully€examining€McCoy,ÏHatmaker€pronounced€him€dead€and€proceeded€to€document€the€caseÏas€though€the€patient€were€dead„on„arrival.€€DepositionÏtestimony€shows€that€Hatmaker€believed€he€had€authority€to€doÏjust€that.Ìà  àThe€court€below€found€that,€by€òòTatumððsóó€standard,€it€couldÐ À Ðnot€construe€Hatmakerððs€failure€to€follow€MIEMSS€protocols€asÏreckless€disregard€for€McCoyððs€life.€€Instead,€the€courtÏcharacterized€his€actions€as€a€well„intended€but€wrong€judgmentÏcall.ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€In€my€ð"ð€in€my€brief,ÏI€said€he€did€something.€€He€ran€to€theÏperson€and€all€he€did€was€a€visualÏassessment€of€Mr.€McCoy.€€That€visualÏassessment€isnððt€enough€as€set€forth€inÏtheir€own€protocol,€in€the€[MIEMSS]Ïprotocols€that€he€acknowledges.€€TheseÏprotocols€require€certain€steps€that€he€hasÏto€do.€€Nowhere€in€these€protocols€does€itÏsay,€Your€Honor,€that€you€can€show€up,€lookÏat€someone,€pronounce€them€dead,€and€callÏthe€medical€examiner.€€The€protocols€setÏforth€what€he€has€to€do.Ð ` x` x ÐÐ 'a"' Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Well,€donððt€you€think€in€¢Tattum£Ï[òòsicóó]€the€protocols€set€forth€that€you€donððtÐ ‘á Ðput€somebody€on€a€gurney€in€the€back€of€theÏambulance€and€donððt€strap€them€down€when€youÏget€ready€to€drive?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€I€donððt€know,€YourÏHonor.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Well,€I€can€tell€you€what,€I€betÏdollars€to€donuts€they€do.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà@´´(ìà*€*€*ˆÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Are€you€saying€there€is€ever€aÏchance€where€he€doesnððt€apply€the€standards?ÏIn€other€words,€all€the€time€failure€toÏfollow€the€standards€is€gross€negligence.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€No,€no,€not€at€all.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€When€is€it€not?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Not€at€all.€€If€he€ð"ðÏletððs€say€for€example€that€Hatmaker€wouldÏhave€ð"ð€he€never€even€took€him€out€of€the€carÏð"ð€letððs€say€he€gets€there,€does€theÏexamination,€gets€the€medical€consultÏimmediately.€€Doctor,€weððve€got€somebodyÏcoming€in.€€On€the€way€there€to€the€hospitalÏwith€the€medical€consult€trying€to€save€theÏmanððs€life.€€He€doesnððt€intubate,€he€doesnððtÏhook€up€a€defibrillator,€he€doesnððt€bag€theÏpatient.€€Gets€to€the€hospital,€hands€it€offÏto€the€doctor€ð"ð€Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Whatððs€different€about€that€thenÏ[òòsicóó]€what€happened€here?ÐB%’ %` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Because€here€heÏdidnððt€do€anything.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€Well,€you€keep€saying€that€heÏdidnððt€do€anything.€€He€didnððt€do€what€youÏthought,€but€he€did€something.Ðv+Æ&,` x` x Їà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€He€did€a€quick€visualÏassessment€and€called€the€medical€examiner.€ÏThe€standards€donððt€allow€for€him€ever€to€doÏthat€unless€heððs€obviously€dead€.€.€.€.€ÏBecause€not€following€the€standards€is€grossÏnegligence.€.€.€.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT€[Reading€from€òòTatumóó]:€ð ðGrossÐ × ' Ðnegligence€has€been€equated€with€willful€andÏwanton€misconduct.€€A€wanton€and€recklessÏdisregard€for€human€life€or€for€the€lives€ofÏother€[òòsicóó].€€Those€arenððt€to€say€that€aÐ h¸  Ðwrong€doer€is€guilty€of€gross€negligence€orÏacts€wantonly€and€willfully,€only€when€heÏinflicts€injury€intentionally€or€is€soÏutterly€indifferent€to€the€rights€of€othersÏthat€he€acts€as€if€such€rights€did€notÏexist.ððÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAnd€frankly,€I€can€not€see€any€set€ofÏcircumstances€under€which€a€fact€finderÏcould€find€in€this€case€that€the€twoÏDefendants€meet,€met€that€standard.€€TheÏPlaintiffs,€Plaintiff€I€should€say,€hasÏstated€several€times€that€the€DefendantÏHatmaker€did€nothing.€€Perhaps€I€donððt€know,Ïif€that€were€true€that€might€be€grossÏnegligence.€€Perhaps€had€he€arrived€on€theÏscene€and€been€told€and€instead€of€runningÏto€the€car€said,€do€you€have€a€cigarette€toÏsomeone€and€lit€a€cigarette€and€began€toÏsmoke€a€cigarette.€€I€think€under€thoseÏcircumstances€that€would€well€be€somethingÏthat€would€show€utterly€[òòsicóó]€indifferenceÐ Ë!! Ðto€the€rights€of€others,€just€totalÏindifference.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àBut,€here€the€evidence€it€[òòsicóó]€to€theÐ \%¬ % Ðcontrary.€€All€the€evidence€is€that€he€ranÏto€the€car€and€that€was€something.€€TheÏevidence€is€also€that€he€took€a€stethoscopeÏand€tried€to€see€if€he€heard€a€heartbeat,Ïthat€is€something.€€That€he€tried€to€get€aÏpulse,€that€is€something.€€That€he€looked€toÏsee€if€his€eyes€were€dilated,€that€wasÐ +à&, Ðsomething€and€that€he€saw€that€he€expelledÏhis€bowels€on€himself,€that€was€something.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€Plaintiffððs€position€is€that€isÏ[òòsicóó]€was€not€enough€and€for€purposes€ofÐ 4„ Ðthis€emotion€I€will€assume€that€it€was€notÏenough,€but€it€was€something€and€it€did€notÏamount€to€utter€indifference€to€the€rightsÏof€others.€€It€did€not€ð"ð€what€it€was,€was€aÏjudgment€by€Defendant€Hatmaker€that€this€manÏwas€dead.€€òòIt€was€a€judgment€that€was€wrongÐ ‡ ×  Ðbut,€it€was€a€judgment€that€was€made.€€ItÏwas€not€an€action€based€on€utterÏindifference€and€just€simply€saying€ð"ð€notÏsaying€but€behaving€in€such€a€way€isÏindifference€as€to€whether€or€not€Mr.€McCoyÏlived€or€died.óó€.€.€.Ðk` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIf€this€is€gross€negligence€then€thereððsÏnever€a€time€when€a€medic€and€a€policeÏofficer€who€doesnððt€fail€to€do€everythingÏthey€are€suppose€[òòsicóó]€to€do€and€someone€ð"ðÐ Ý Ðdeath€results€or€itððs€not€gross€negligence.€ÏI€mean€there€were€judgments€being€made.€€TheÏjudgments€may€have€been€wrong,€but€they€wereÏnot€indifference€[òòsicóó]€judgments€they€wereÐ n Ðactual€judgments.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓûwÓà  àWe€agree€with€the€courtððs€reasoning€and€believe€it€to€beÏconsistent€with€the€standard€we€expressed€in€òòTatumóó.€€Were€weÐ à ÐBaltimore€City€officials€responsible€for€Hatmakerððs€jobÏperformance,€we€might€recommend€retraining€in€the€protocols€ofÏemergency€care,€or€even€disciplinary€action.€€As€judges,Ïhowever,€we€cannot€equate€a€well„intended€error€in€medicalÏjudgment€ð"ð€even€if€it€costs€the€patientððs€life€ð"ð€with€wanton€andÏreckless€disregard€for€the€life€of€that€patient.€€MedicalÏprotocols€seek€to€establish€best€practices€for€successfullyÐ ø+H', Ðtreating€certain€conditions.€€Failure€to€follow€such€protocolsÏmight€sometimes€be€deliberate,€but€more€often€than€not,€weÏbelieve,€such€failure€to€heed€them€during€an€emergency€would€beÏpurely€accidentalñºñ,ñºñ€andñ»ñ,ñ»ñ€ñ¹ñthereforeñ¹ññ¼ñ,ñ¼ññ¹ñ€ñ¹ñat€most€simple€negligence.¢×ƒ×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€Ð ö F ÐEven€resolving€all€inferences€in€appellantððs€favor,€theÏundisputed€facts€here€simply€do€not€show€that€Hatmakerððs€failureÏfalls€into€the€former€category.€€Appellant€cannot€point€to€òòanyÐ <Œ  Ðóófacts€that€show€he€made€a€òòdeliberateóó€choice€not€to€give€McCoy€aÐ h  Ðchance€to€survive,€and,€at€the€end€of€the€day,€it€isÏdeliberateness€that€lies€at€the€core€of€the€òò¢Tatum£óó€standard€ofÐ ¶ Ðwillfulness€and€wantonness.Ìà  àWe€note,€furthermore,€that€neither€of€appellantððs€expertsÏwould€testify€at€deposition€that€Hatmakerððs€conduct€was€grosslyÏnegligent.€€Dr.€John€J.€Shane,€appellantððs€medical€expert,Ïtestified€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€There€is€no€evidence,€as€I€understand,Ïfrom€the€materials€that€you€have€reviewed€orÏfrom€your€testimony€so€far€that€Mr.€HatmakerÏknew€Mr.€McCoy?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€No.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€There€is€no€indication,€is€there,€thatÏâ âMr.€Hatmaker€arrived€at€the€scene€andÐ d&´!& Ðdecided€that€he€was€willfully€going€to€harmÏthis€gentleman,€was€there?Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€No.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€There€is€no€indication€in€the€record€orÏin€any€material€you€have€reviewed€or€fromÏany€testimony€you€have€reviewed€that€thereÏwas€any€grossly€willful€and€wanton€disregardÏfor€the€person€we€know€as€Mr.€McCoy€as€anÏindividual?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€No,€no.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà@´´(ìà*€*€*ˆÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€òòWhere€in€your€report€do€you€use€the€termÐ À Ðgrossly€negligent€or€gross€negligence?óóЮþ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€òòI€do€not€use€it€in€the€report.óó€€I€thinkÐ }Í Ðin€my€report,€we€went€through€it€in€detail,ÏI€think€what€I€say€is€careless,€callous€andÏinappropriate.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Well,€when€was€the€first€time€you€heardÏthe€term€grossly€negligent?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Today.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€In€this€deposition?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Yes.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€So€prior€to€Mr.€¢Winkelman£€putting€thatÏquestion€to€you€in€this€deposition,€you€hadÏnever€heard€that€term€used€before?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€No.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€What€do€you€understand€as€to€the€meaningÏof€that€term€under€Maryland€law?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€Objection.€€Calls€forÏa€legal€conclusion.€€You€can€answer.Ð ` x` x ÐÐ ƒ+Ó&, Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€I€am€not€a€lawyer.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Does€that€mean€you€have€no€understandingÏof€what€it€means?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€I€have€no€understanding.€€Yes.Óê•ÓÐ ` x` x Ðà  àEven€Dworkin,€appellantððs€emergency€services€expert,€whoseÏaffidavit€affirmed€gross€negligence,€testified€that€Hatmaker€hadÏsimply€erred:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Is€it€your€opinion€in€this€case€thatÏParamedic€Hatmaker€simply€òòmade€an€error€or€aÐ þN  Ðmistakeóó€in€failing€to€initiate€life„savingÐ ì<  Ðmeasures€in€ð"ð€in€pronouncing€Mr.€McCoy€dead?Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓg Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€òòThatððs€my€opinion,€yes.óóМì` x` x ÐSuch€equivocal€testimony€draws€the€case€òòsub€judiceóó€even€moreÐ xÈ Ðtightly€into€the€realm€of€òò¢Tatum£óó.€€òòSee€¢Tatum£óó,€80€Md.€App.€at€568„Ð T¤ Ð69€(upholding€dismissal€of€claims€against€county€under€GoodÏSamaritan€Act€because€plaintiffððs€own€expert€failed€to€testifyÏthat€any€of€¢EMTs£€actions€constituted€reckless€disregard€forÏhuman€life).Ìà  àFinally,€appellant€implies€that€discrepancies€regarding€theÏtiming€of€Hatmakerððs€arrival€on€the€scene€create€a€triable€issueÏof€fact.€€Seeking€to€shorten€the€time€between€McCoyððs€cardiacÏarrest€and€Hatmakerððs€arrival,€she€crafts€her€rendition€of€theÏfacts€to€omit€any€mention€of€the€original€ambulance€call,€duringÏwhich€Medic€5€went€to€the€wrong€location.€€Both€Officer€¢Schwaab£Ïand€Hatmaker€testified€at€deposition€that€the€ambulance€had€beenÐ Ä+', Ðmisdirected,€and€we€thus€find€appellantððs€representation€of€theÏtiming€of€events€to€be€disingenuous€at€best.€€When€all€the€factsÏare€presented,€appellant€can€do€nothing€more€than€baldly€allegeÏthat€Hatmaker€acted€with€reckless€and€wanton€disregard€forÏMcCoyððs€life.€€Such€allegations€would€not€defeat€appelleesððÏmotion€for€summary€judgment,€for€neither€bald€assertions€nor€theÏexistence€of€some€alleged€factual€dispute€will€€defeat€aÏproperly€supported€motion€like€the€one€òòsub€judiceóó.€€òòSee€BarberÐ þN  Ðv.€Eastern€Karting€Co.óó,€108€Md.€App.€659,€672,€673€A.2d€744Ð Ú* Ð(1996);òò€Seaboard€Sur.€Co.€v.€Richard€F.€Kline,€Inc.óó,€91€Md.€App.Ð ¶ Ð236,€243,€603€A.2d€1357€(1992).׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ’â Ðâ â‡Ó  Óò òBó óÐ ° ÐÓɨÓà  àAppellant€also€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÏâ âgranting€Officer€¢Schwaab£ððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€As€aÏmember€of€the€Baltimore€City€Police€Department,€Officer€¢Schwaab£Ïhas€been€trained€as€a€first€responder,€subject€to€firstÏresponder€protocols€set€forth€in€J.€David€¢Bergeron£€&€GloriaÏ¢Bizjak£,€òòBrady€First€Responderóó€(5òòthóó€ed.).€€According€to€òòBradyóó,Ð z Ê  Ðfirst€responders€who€are€on€duty€must€assist€any€patients€theyÏfind€according€to€their€departmentsðð€standard€operatingÏprocedures.€In€Baltimore,€police€officers€who€arrive€on€theÏscene€of€a€distressed€patient€before€more€specialized€medicalÏpersonnel€arrive€must€start€CPR.€€€Officer€¢Schwaab£€is€alsoÏcertified€as€an€EMT€and€subject,€like€Hatmaker,€to€¢MIEMSS£Ïprotocols.Ìà  àIn€his€deposition€testimony,€Officer€¢Schwaab£€acknowledgedÏhis€duty€to€begin€CPR€when€he€reached€the€scene,€and€indeed€heÏbrought€with€him€a€personal€resuscitation€mask€for€that€purpose.€ÏYet,€as€he€explained,€the€arrival€of€Fire€Department€personnelÏcoincided€with€his€own€arrival€and€he€left€the€job€for€others€toÏdo:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€I€believe€you€said€once€you€got€there€itÏwas€almost€immediate€that€you€saw€the€FireÏDepartment€and€the€paramedics?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Right.Ð ` x` x Ðâ âÐ •*å%+ Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€If€they€hadnððt€been€there€immediately€andÏâ âMr.€McCoy€presented€the€way€you€said,òò[óó¢×ƒ0×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£òò]óó€whatÐ ‘á Ðwould€you€have€done?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLEEððS€COUNSEL]:€Objection.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLEEððS€COUNSEL]:€Objection.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[APPELLANTððS€COUNSEL]:€You€can€answer.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€I€would€have€asked€Officer€Bradley€toÏhelp€me.€€I€would€have€got€him€out€of€theÏcar€and€used€my€mask,€and€we€would€have€didÏCPR€on€him€until€the€fire€departmentÏarrived.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Why€would€you€have€done€that?Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Well€because€thatððs€the€kind€of€person€IÏam€and€them€not€being€on€the€scene€yet,€notÏknowing€where€they€were€coming€from,€I€wouldÏhave€initiated€CPR€until€they€got€there€likeÏIððve€done€in€the€past.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓr­ÓFrom€this€colloquy,€appellant€flatly€concludes€that€OfficerÏ¢Schwaab£ððs€failure€to€begin€CPR€posthaste€constituted€recklessÏdisregard€for€life€and€thus€gross€negligence.€€His€negligentÐ Lœ Ðact,€she€argues,€overcomes€any€immunity€Officer€¢Schwaab£€mightÏhave.€€We€disagree.Ìà  àAs€a€trained€EMT,€Officer€¢Schwaab£€enjoys€the€immunityÏprovisions€of€the€Good€Samaritan€Act€and€the€analysis€forÏHatmaker€òòsupraóó€applies€here€as€well.€€To€be€sure,€under€theÐ ¸  Ðstandard€for€simple€negligence,€appellant€might€have€reasonablyÏsecond„guessed€Officer€¢Schwaab£ððs€medical€judgment.€€Under€simpleÏnegligence,€she€might€have€created€an€issue€of€material€fact€asÏto€Officer€¢Schwaab£ððs€failure€immediately€to€pull€McCoy€from€theÏautomobile€and€begin€CPR€at€the€instant€of€diagnosis,€ratherÏthan€allow€Medic€5€ð"ð€which€was€already€in€sight€ð"ð€to€reach€theÏscene,€so€that€more€experienced€rescue€personnel€could€takeÏover.€€The€court€properly€refused,€however,€to€raise€anyÏquestions€about€Officer€¢Schwaab£ððs€judgment€under€the€tougherÏstandard€of€wanton€and€reckless€disregard€for€life.€€IfÏanything,€one€might€infer€from€Officer€¢Schwaab£ððs€actions€anÏintention€to€procure€the€best€medical€help€available€at€theÏtime.€€Appellant€thus€failed€to€identify€a€genuine€issue€ofÏmaterial€fact€that€would€have€precluded€summary€judgment€on€theÏgrounds€of€immunity€under€the€Good€Samaritan€Act.Ìà  àEven€if€appellant€could€have€proven€gross€negligence,ÏOfficer€¢Schwaab£,€as€a€law€enforcement€official,€also€qualifiesÏfor€public€official€immunity€under€the€rule€of€òò¢DiPino£€v.€Davisóó,Ð v+Æ&, Ð354€Md.€18,€48„49,€729€A.2d€354€(1999).€€Such€immunity€is€hardÏto€defeat.€€Under€the€rule€of€òò¢DiPino£óó,€the€court€must€find€thatÐ r Ðtwo€factors€exist€simultaneously€before€it€can€relieve€aÏgovernmental€official€of€liability€for€his€negligent€acts.€ÏFirst,€the€actor€whose€conduct€is€at€issue€must€be€a€publicÏofficial€rather€than€a€mere€government€employee€or€agent.€ÏSecond,€the€tortious€conduct€must€have€occurred€while€he€wasÏperforming€discretionary€rather€than€ministerial€acts€inÏfurtherance€of€his€official€duties.€€If€the€official€canÏestablish€these€two€factors,€he€receives€qualified€immunity,Ïthat€is,€immunity€in€the€absence€of€malice.€€òò¢DiPino£óó,€354€Md.€atÐ ^® Ð48„49.Ìà  àUnder€òò¢DiPino£óó,€Officer€¢Schwaab£€qualifies€for€immunity€in€theÐ üL Ðabsence€of€malice.€€Police€officers€are€public€officials€who,Ïwhen€carrying€out€their€official€duties,€receive€immunity€in€theÏabsence€of€actual€malice.€€òòSee€Williams€v.€Mayor€&€City€CouncilÐ \¬ Ðof€Baltimoreóó,€128€Md.€App.€1,€15,€736€A.2d€1084€(1999)€€(ð ðTheÐ 8!ˆ  ÐMaryland€case€law€establishes€unequivocally€that€police€officersÏin€the€course€of€their€public€duties€are€public€officials€withinÏthe€contemplation€of€the€qualified€immunity€law.ðð),€òò¢revððd£€onÐ ˜&è!& Ðother€groundsóó,€359€Md.€101,€753€A.2d€41€(2000).€€Even€acceptingÐ t(Ä#( Ðappellantððs€factual€scenario,€Officer€¢Schwaab£€was€clearlyÏengaged€in€discretionary€public€duties€when,€acting€on€a€radioÐ ,b', Ðcall€for€assistance,€he€raced€to€the€site€of€the€medicalÏemergency,€attended€briefly€to€McCoy,€then€turned€the€case€overÏto€more€qualified€personnel.Ìà  àBecause€he€meets€the€first€two€elements€of€the€òòDiPinoóó€test,Ð ö F Ðwe€need€only€examine€his€actions€for€malice.€€òòId.óó€at€19€(ð ðWhenÐ Ò " Ðthe€affirmative€conditions€for€qualified€immunity€are€satisfied,Ïthe€only€qualifier€limiting€such€immunity€is€the€presence€ofÏmalice€on€the€part€of€the€officer.ðð).€€We€have€defined€actualÏmalice€necessary€to€defeat€public€official€immunity€as€ð ðððan€actÏwithout€legal€justification€or€excuse,€but€with€an€evil€orÏrancorous€motive€influenced€by€hate,€the€purpose€being€toÏdeliberately€and€willfully€injure€the€plaintiff.ðððð€€òòLeese€v.Ð :Š ÐBaltimore€Countyóó,€64€Md.€App.€442,€480,€497€A.2d€159€(1985)Ð f Ð(quoting€òòArrington€v.€Mooreóó,€31€Md.€App.€448,€464,€358€A.2d€909Ð òB Ð(1976));€òòsee€also€Thacker€v.€Hyattsvilleóó,€No.€2131,€Sept.€Term,Ð Î Ð1999,€2000€Md.€App.€Lexis€149,€at€*39„*40€(Sept.€8,€2000);ÏòòShoemaker€v.€Smithóó,€353€Md.€143,€164,€725€A.2d€549€(1999);Ð l!¼  ÐòòWilliamsóó,€128€Md.€App.€at€19;€òòThomas€v.€City€of€Annapolisóó,€113Ð H#˜" ÐMd.€App.€440,€455,€688€A.2d€448€€(1997).Ìà  àThe€facts,€viewed€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€appellant,Ïcannot€be€construed€to€show€such€evil€or€rancorous€motives.€ÏOfficer€Schwaab€did€not€ignore€or€refuse€to€treat€McCoy.€€He€didÏnot€act€with€intent€to€make€McCoy€more€ill€than€he€already€wasÐ ,,|', Ðor€to€cause€his€death.€€Instead,€Officer€Schwaab€assessedÏMcCoyððs€physical€condition€with€the€intent€of€startingÏresuscitation,€and€before€he€could€even€begin€life„savingÏmeasures,€the€ambulance€arrived.€€Seeking€immediate€help€fromÏmore€experienced€medical€personnel,€Officer€Schwaab€ran€to€theÏambulance€and€told€the€crew€of€McCoyððs€condition.€€There€is€òònoóóÐ z Ê  Ðevidence€that€Officer€Schwaab€acted€with€evil€or€rancorousÏmotive€influenced€by€hate€for€the€purpose€of€deliberately€andÏwillfully€injuring€McCoy.€€We€thus€affirm€the€trial€courtððsÏgrant€of€summary€judgment€on€Officer€Schwaabððs€motion.Ìà@oo)ìàò òIIó óˆÐ ^® Ðà  àAppellant€also€questions€the€courtððs€exercise€of€discretionÏwhen€it€excluded€Dworkinððs€affidavit€and€relied€alone€upon€hisÏexpert€testimony€as€to€the€standard€of€care€for€EMTs.€€TheÏaffidavit€said€what€Dworkin€had€been€unwilling€to€say€inÏdeposition,€namely,€that€ð ðthe€acts€and/or€omissions€of€DefendantÏHatmaker€and€Defendant€Schwaab€constituted€not€only€a€breach€inÏthe€standard€of€care€by€falling€well€below€the€recognizedÏstandards€but€that€these€acts€and/or€omissions€constituted€aÏreckless€disregard€for€the€life€of€William€McCoy€and€resulted€inÏhis€death.ðð€€Appellant€avers€that€she€presented€DworkinððsÏaffidavit€as€ð ðthe€direct€result€of€this€Courtððs€ruling€in€òòTatumÐ ¶)%* Ðv.€Gigliotti,óóðð€in€which€this€Court€held€that€plaintiffððs€expertÐ ’+â&, Ðon€the€standard€of€care€had€failed€to€testify€that€any€of€theÏparamedicsðð€actions€showed€a€reckless€disregard€for€human€life.€ÏòòSee€Tatumóó,€80€Md.€App.€at€569.Ð 4„ Ðà  àHatmaker€moved€to€strike€this€affidavit€on€the€basis€of€theÏsham€affidavit€rule€articulated€by€this€Court€in€òòPittman€v.Ð Ò " ÐAtlantic€Realty€Co.óó€€òòSee€Pittmanóó,€127€Md.€App.€at€255€(excludingÐ ® þ  Ðan€affidavit€that€contradicted€deposition€testimony€when€it€wasÏsubmitted€after€the€close€of€discovery).€€The€court€grantedÏHatmakerððs€motion:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àSo,€I€am€going€to€grant€the€motion€to€strikeÏfor€two€reasons.€€Iððm€going€to€grant€oneÏbecause€I€believe€it€contradicts€underÏPittman.€€Iððm€going€to€grant€for€the€secondÏreason€because€I€am€not€convinced€that€thisÏexpert€in€remedy€[òòsicóó]€in€that€part€of€theÐ 5… Ðopinion.€.€.€.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIn€essence,€I€mean€this€is€theÏappropriate€question€to€the€asking€witness,Ïwas€there€a€breach€in€the€standard€of€care,Ïnot€what€is€their€opinion?€[òòTatumóó]€doesnððtÐ ˆØ Ðsay€well€this€amounts€to€legal€negligence,Ïthatððs€for€the€jury€to€decide€and€here€theÏwitness€is€going€not€just€that€it€amounts€toÏlegal€gross€negligence€and€thereððs€nothingÏto€indicate€that€this€witness€has€theÏknowledge,€skill,€experience,€training€orÏeducation€to€make€that€legal€conclusion.€ÏFor€those,€so€for€those€reasons€Iððm€going€toÏgrant€the€motion€to€strike.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àNow,€Iððll€emphasize€itððs€not€justÏbecause€of€the€close€of€discovery,€but€itððsÏthe€second€that€questioning€the€competencyÏof€the€witness€to€testify€as€to€that.Ó[ÎÓÐã*3&+` x` x ÐSince€the€motions€hearing€took€place,€however,€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€reversed€our€holding€in€òòPittmanóó€regarding€the€shamÐ r Ðaffidavit€rule.€€òòSee€Pittman€v.€Atlantic€Realty€Co.óó,€359€Md.Ð Nž Ð513,€536„39,€754€A.2d€1030€(2000).€€Citing€that€Courtððs€newÏruling,€appellant€argues€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€hereÏcannot€stand.Ìà  àBy€focusing€exclusively€on€òòPittmanóó,€however,€appellantÐ pÀ  Ðignores€the€lower€courtððs€secondary€reason€for€striking€theÏaffidavit,€that€Dworkin€was€not€qualified€to€testify€to€a€legalÏconclusion€of€negligence,€rather€than€individual€elements€of€theÏsame,€òòi.e.óó,€standard€of€care,€breach€of€duty,€and€causation€ofÐ ’â Ðdamages.€€To€allow€Dworkin€to€testify€that€Hatmaker€had€actedÏwith€reckless€disregard€for€McCoyððs€welfare,€the€court€reasoned,Ïwould€have€permitted€testimony€in€the€form€of€a€legal€opinionÏand€usurped€the€role€of€the€jury.€€We€agree.Ìà  àMaryland€Rule€5„702€gives€the€trial€court€discretion€inÏdetermining€whether€expert€testimony€may€be€admitted:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð àExpert€testimony€may€be€admitted,€in€theÏform€of€an€opinion€or€otherwise,€if€theÏcourt€determines€that€the€testimony€willÏassist€the€trier€of€fact€to€understand€theÏevidence€or€to€determine€a€fact€in€issue.€ÏIn€making€that€determination,€the€courtÏshall€determine€(1)€whether€the€witness€isÏqualified€as€an€expert€by€knowledge,€skill,Ïexperience,€training,€or€education,€(2)€theÏappropriateness€of€the€expert€testimony€onÏthe€particular€subject,€and€(3)€whether€aÐ Ä+', Ðsufficient€factual€basis€exists€to€supportÏthe€expert€testimony.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓª×ÓSuch€discretion€is€quite€broad,€òòsee€Bentley€v.€Carrollóó,€355€Md.Ð S£ Ð312,€339,€734€A.2d€697€(1999)€(trial€court€is€afforded€wideÏlatitude€in€ruling€on€the€admissibility€of€expert€testimony),Ïand€applies€to€summary€judgment€proceedings€as€well€as€at€trial.ÏòòHartford€Acc.€&€Indem.€Co.€v.€Scarlett€Harbor€Assocs.óó,€109€Md.Ð uÅ  ÐApp.€217,€286,€674€A.2d€106€(1996)€(citing€òòHelinski€v.Ð Q¡  ÐRosenbergóó,€90€Md.€App.€158,€166,€600€A.2d€882,€òòrevððd€on€otherÐ -}  Ðgroundsóó,€328€Md.€664,€616€A.2d€866€(1992)),€òòaffððdóó,€346€Md.€122,Ð  Y Ð695€A.2d€153€(1997).€€ð ðReckless€disregardðð€is€a€legal€standard.€ÏAs€the€trial€court€correctly€observed,€Dworkin€was€not€an€expertÏin€the€law,€but€instead,€was€hired€by€appellant€to€presentÏtestimony€regarding€the€standard€of€care€for€EMTs.€€The€trialÏcourt€thus€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€when€it€found€thatÏDworkin€lacked€the€knowledge,€skill,€experience,€and€training€toÏtestify€as€to€conclusions€of€law.Ìà  àThe€court€below€also€pointed€out€that€to€allow€Dworkin€toÏlabel€Hatmakerððs€actions€as€reckless€disregard€would€usurp€theÏrole€of€the€jury,€in€contravention€of€recent€opinions€of€thisÏCourt.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€Burdette€v.€Rockville€Crane€Rental,€Inc.óó,€130Ð y'É"' ÐMd.€App.€193,€745€A.2d€457€(2000).€€We€agree.€€In€òòBurdetteóó,€alsoÐ U)¥$) Ða€wrongful€death€and€survival€action,€we€upheld€the€trialÐ 1+&+ Ðcourtððs€discretionary€ruling€to€strike€testimony€of€plaintiffððsÏaccident€reconstruction€witnesses€as€to€the€cause€of€a€trafficÏaccident.€€Although€we€recognized€the€discretionary€nature€ofÏsuch€rulings,€we€pointed€out€that€plaintiffs€had€in€fact€askedÏtheir€experts€to€make€a€legal€conclusion€and€not€a€factual€one.Ïð ð[¢T]he£€jury,ðð€we€wrote,€"was€well„equipped€to€assess€the€factsÏand€assign€legal€responsibility.€€The€trial€court€did€not€abuseÏits€discretion.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€211;€òòsee€also€Franceschina€v.€Hopeóó,€267Ð þN  ÐMd.€632,€642„44,€298€A.2d€400€(1973)€(on€questions€of€law,€judgeÏmust€instruct€jury€and€jury€must€draw€conclusion;€legalÏconclusion€or€legal€standard€is€not€proper€subject€of€expertÏtestimony).€€Here,€the€holding€of€òòBurdetteóó€surely€applies.€€WereÐ  p Ðthe€trial€court€to€have€allowed€Dworkinððs€conclusory€affidavit,Ïit€would€have€abandoned€its€duty€as€expert€in€the€law€and€takenÏfrom€any€potential€jury€ð"ð€had€one€been€empaneled€ð"ð€the€role€ofÏâ âsifting€through€the€facts€of€Hatmakerððs€actions€in€this€case€andÐ B’ Ðapplying€the€law€to€those€facts.œ¢×ƒ×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×£€€We€thus€uphold€the€ruling€ofÐ ° Ðthe€court€below.Ìâ âà@11)ìàò òIIIó óˆÐ r Ðà  àFinally,€we€hold€that€the€motion€to€quash€and€protectiveÏorder€were€properly€granted.€€The€Fire€Departmentððs€review€ofÏthe€actions€of€an€EMT,€and€any€records,€statements,€or€filesÏobtained€or€generated€in€connection€with€the€same,€are€notÏsubject€to€discovery.€€The€Department€undertakes€such€reviews€toÏensure€that€its€¢EMTs£€give€the€best€care€possible€to€personsÏrequiring€emergency€assistance.€€In€this€way,€the€DepartmentððsÏinternal€review€of€Hatmakerððs€actions€is€part€of€its€qualityÏassurance€process€and€is,€therefore,€protected€from€disclosureÏin€litigation.Ìà  àSection€14„501€of€the€Health€Occupations€Article€provides,Ïin€pertinent€part,€that€ð ðthe€proceedings,€records€and€files€ofÏa€medical€review€committee€are€not€discoverable€and€are€notÏadmissible€in€any€civil€action€arising€out€of€matters€that€areÏbeing€reviewed€and€evaluated€by€the€medical€review€committee.ðð€ÏMd.€Code€(1981,€2000€Repl.€Vol.),€ðð€14„501(d)(1)€of€the€HealthÏOccupations€Article.€€The€statute€defines€a€medical€reviewÐ V$¦$ Ðcommittee€by€listing€the€categories€of€committees€that€generateÏprotected€records,€including€ð ð¢committee[s£]€appointed€by€orÏestablished€in€the€Maryland€Institute€for€Emergency€MedicalÏServices€Systems.ðð€€ðð€14„501(b)(4).€€The€statute€further€definesÏthe€term€ð ðmedical€review€committeeðð€by€articulating€theÏfunctions€that€a€covered€committee€would€perform.€€A€medicalÏreview€committee:ÌÓÓà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(1)€Evaluates€and€seeks€to€improve€theÏquality€of€health€care€provided€by€providersÏof€health€care;Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)€Evaluates€the€need€for€and€the€level€ofÏperformance€of€health€care€provided€byÏproviders€of€health€care;Ð ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(3)€Evaluates€the€qualifications,Ïcompetence,€and€performance€of€providers€ofÏhealth€care;€orÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(4)€Evaluates€and€acts€on€matters€thatÏrelate€to€the€discipline€of€any€provider€ofÏhealth€care.Ó!ëÓÐ ` x` x ÐHO€ðð€14„501(c).Ìà  àHere,€for€the€purpose€of€its€efforts€to€control€the€qualityÏof€EMT€activities,€the€Fire€Department€falls€within€theÏstatutory€definition€of€a€ð ðmedical€review€committee.ðð€€€ÏAlthough€no€evidence€shows€that€Lt.€Shelley€took€action€at€theÏbehest€of€MIEMSS€ð"ð€indeed,€as€appellant€notes,€the€investigationÏcame€forth€from€concerns€voiced€by€McCoyððs€son€ð"ð€that€agencyÏcoordinates€òòallóó€public€emergency€medical€services€in€this€State.€Ð ¹( $) ÐòòSeeóó€Md.€Code€(1978,€1999€Repl.€Vol.),€ðððð€13„503€&€„504€of€theÐ •*å%+ ÐEducation€Article.€€The€governing€body€of€MIEMSS,€the€StateÏEmergency€Medical€Services€Board,€ED€ðð€13„503(c),€oversees€theÏlicensing€of€EMTs€and€continuing€quality€control€in€theÏprofession.€€òòSee,€e.g.,óó€ED€ðððð€13„509,€„515,€„516.Ð ö F Ðà  àIt€would€thus€seem€that€any€òòad€hocóó€quality€control€study€orÐ Ò " Ðinvestigation€performed€by€a€public€provider€of€emergencyÏmedical€services€like€the€Baltimore€City€Fire€Department€wouldÏfall€under€the€aegis€of€MIEMSS€and€within€the€scope€of€sectionÏ14„501(b)(4).€€Certainly,€Lt.€Shelley€and€the€Fire€DepartmentÏsought€to€ð ð[¢e]valuate£[€]€the€.€.€.€level€of€performance€ofÏhealth€care€provided€by€providers€of€health€care,ðð€ED€ðð€›14„¼501(c)(2);€ð ð[¢e]valuate£[]€the€.€.€.€competence€.€.€.€andÏperformance€of€providers€of€health€care,ðð€ðð€14„501(c)(3);€andÏð ð[¢e]valuate£[€]€and€act[€]€on€matters€that€relate€to€theÏdiscipline€of€any€provider€of€health€care.ðð€€ðð€14„501(c)(4).€ÏMoreover,€although€medical€review€committees€are€most€oftenÏassociated€with€hospitals€or€other€traditional€health€careÏfacilities,€a€review€by€the€Fire€Department€would€constitute€aÏprotected€action€when,€as€here,€the€fundamental€òòpurposeóó€of€theÐ ˆ$Ø$ Ðreview€was€the€improvement€of€health€care€services€provided€byÏFire€Department€paramedics.€€òòSee€¢Brem£€v.€¢DeCarlo£,€Lyon,€Hearn€&Ð &(v#( Ðâ â¢Pazourek£óó,€162€¢F.R.D.£€94€(D.€Md.€1995).€€The€òòoriginóó€of€theÐ *R%* Ðcomplaint€that€led€to€the€review€ð"ð€with€the€McCoy€family€ð"ð€doesÏnot€change€its€purpose.Ìâ âà  àGiven€its€purpose€and€sponsorship,€the€confidentialityÏprovision€of€section€14„501€applies€in€the€case€òòsub€judiceóó.€€TheÐ ö F Ðprovision€ð ðwas€intended€to€provide€ððbroad€statutory€protectionððÏand€is€based€on€ððlegislative€appreciation€that€a€high€level€ofÏconfidentiality€is€necessary€for€effective€medical€peerÏreview.ðððð€€òòId.óó€at€98€(citing€òòBaltimore€Sun€Co.€v.€University€ofÐ h  ÐMd.€Med.€¢Sys£.€Corp.óó,€321€Md.€659,€668,€554€A.2d€683€(1991)).€Ð ôD ÐWith€few€exceptions€enumerated€in€the€statute,€materialsÏprotected€by€section€14„501€are€confidential€and€notÏdiscoverable,€and,€even€when€they€end€up€in€the€hands€of€theÏother€party€to€litigation,€as€they€did€here,€they€areÏinadmissible€in€court.€€The€trial€court€did€not€abuse€itsÏdiscretion€in€granting€an€appropriate€order,€and€we€affirm.ÌÓÓÌà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àò òJUDGMENT€AFFIRMED.€€COSTS€TOÐ =  ÐBE€PAID€BY€APPELLANT.ó óÐ!o (#(# ÐÐ  "Q! ÐÑ ýe Ññ½ñÌÌòòMcCoy€v.€Hatmakeróó,€No.€2936,€1999€TermÐ @ ÐÌHEADNOTES:€€ÌÌPHYSICIANS€AND€SURGEONS€ð"ð€THE€TRIAL€COURT€DID€NOT€ERR€UNDER€THEÐ ˆ Ø ÐSTANDARD€OF€òò¢TATUM£€V.€¢GIGLIOTTI£óó€WHEN€IT€GRANTED€SUMMARY€JUDGMENT€INÐ P   ÐFAVOR€OF€PARAMEDIC€AND€POLICE€OFFICER€IN€GROSS€NEGLIGENCE€ANDÏSURVIVORSHIP€ACTION€BASED€ON€THEIR€DECISION€NOT€TO€ATTEMPTÏRESUSCITATION€OF€DECEASED€VICTIM€OF€CORONARY€ARREST,€EVEN€IF€THATÏDECISION€FAILED€TO€COMPLY€WITH€NORMAL€PROTOCOLS€FOR€TREATING€SUCHÏPATIENTS.ÌÌEVIDENCE€ð"ð€THE€TRIAL€COURT€DID€NOT€ABUSE€ITS€DISCRETION€WHEN€ITÐ ð@  ÐFOUND€THAT€PLAINTIFFððS€EXPERT€WITNESS€ON€THE€STANDARD€OF€CARE€FORÏPARAMEDICS€LACKED€THE€KNOWLEDGE,€SKILL,€EXPERIENCE,€AND€TRAINING€TOÏTESTIFY€AS€TO€A€CONCLUSION€OF€LAW,€NAMELY,€THAT€PARAMEDIC€HAD€ACTEDÏWITH€RECKLESS€DISREGARD€FOR€THE€WELFARE€OF€PLAINTIFFððS€DECEDENT.ÌÌRECORDS€ð"ð€WHEN€ITS€FUNDAMENTAL€PURPOSE€IS€IMPROVEMENT€OF€HEALTHÐ  ð ÐCARE€SERVICES€PROVIDED€BY€THAT€DEPARTMENT,€A€FIRE€DEPARTMENTððSÏREVIEW€OF€PARAMEDICððS€RESPONSE€TO€A€MEDICAL€EMERGENCY€ISÏCONFIDENTIAL€UNDER€STATUTE€PROTECTING€RECORDS€OF€MEDICAL€REVIEWÏCOMMITTEES.Ð  Àý ÐÑ = ÑÌÔ‡¼@' »XXÔÔ‡!XH€XXXÔà@ìàRaymond€G.€Thieme,€Jr.ˆÐ xÈ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààHP P Àà€€€€€Court€of€Special€AppealsˆÌà@þ þ ìàRobert€C.€Murphy€Courts€of€Appeal€BuildingˆÌà@àà!ìà361€Rowe€BoulevardˆÌà@’’ ìàAnnapolis,€MD€€21401ˆÌà@PP$ìà410„260„1520ˆÌÔ#†!XH€X»!¼ÜÖä#ÔÔ#†X'XX!XH€ #ÔÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÔ"USú ú, úÔNovember€28,€2000à Ð àÐ `°  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àÌÌÌÌHonorable€Joseph€F.€Murphy,€Jr.ÌHonorable€Charles€E.€Moylan,€Jr.ÌHonorable€Arrie€W.€DavisÌHonorable€Ellen€L.€HollanderÌHonorable€James€P.€SalmonÌHonorable€James€R.€EylerÌHonorable€Andrew€L.€SonnerÌHonorable€James€A.€Kenney,€IIIÌHonorable€Deborah€S.€ByrnesÌHonorable€Sally€D.€AdkinsÌHonorable€Peter€B.€KrauserÌÌ€à  àà ` àà ¸ àRe:€€òòMcCoy€v.€HatmakeróóÐ ¨ø Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àNo.€2936,€1999€TermÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àòòArgued€November€3,€2000óóÐ `° ÐÌDear€Judges:ÌÌà  àEnclosed€is€an€opinion€I€am€proposing€for€publication.€€PleaseÏreview€it€and€advise€me€of€any€comments,€corrections,€orÏsuggestions€for€changes.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àSincerely,ÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÔ‡$XSXXXÔÔ‡$°È°X$XSÔòòRayóóÔ#†$XSX°$°ÈŠ#ÔÔ#†X'XX$XSk#ÔÔ‡X%XXXÔÐ À&") ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àRaymond€G.€Thieme,€Jr.ÌÌRGT/dhÌEnclosureÌÔ#†X'XXX%ø#Ôñ½ñ