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Francie METH, individually and as Executrix of the Estate of Buddy Meth, et al., Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Steven GORFINE, M.D., et al., Defendants-Appellants, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Defendant.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered October 19, 2005, which, to the extent appealed from, denied defendant Gorfine's motion for summary judgment except as to any malpractice allegedly committed by him since January 2002, and denied in its entirety defendant Sohn's cross motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, for a Frye hearing, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
In this medical malpractice action alleging, inter alia, failure to diagnose plaintiff's pelvic cancer, the individual defendants failed to meet their burden, on summary judgment, of eliminating material issues of fact for trial (see Winegrad v. New York Univ. Med. Ctr., 64 N.Y.2d 851, 487 N.Y.S.2d 316, 476 N.E.2d 642 [1985] ). Thus, the burden never shifted to plaintiffs to submit evidentiary facts or material raising a triable issue of fact (see Alvarez v. Prospect Hosp., 68 N.Y.2d 320, 508 N.Y.S.2d 923, 501 N.E.2d 572 [1986] ).
The IAS court properly denied a Frye hearing. The type of cancer and whether the diagnostic delay would have affected plaintiff's prognosis are typical oncological issues that should be presented to a jury, and do not involve the type of procedure or test contemplated for a Frye hearing (see Marsh v. Smyth, 12 A.D.3d 307, 785 N.Y.S.2d 440 [2004] ).
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Decided: November 14, 2006
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
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FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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