Smothers v. Butler

This is a medical malpractice action brought against defendants Mary Thompson Hospital and Dr. Earley Butler. The defendants filed motions for summary judgment; affidavits, deposition transcripts, interrogatories, and other documents were filed by the parties. The trial court granted the motions for summary judgment and the plaintiff appeals. We reverse.

The plaintiff was admitted as a patient at Mary Thompson Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, on June 14, 1973. Dr. Butler was his attending physician; he ordered that the plaintiff be given intravenous fluids every six hours. The intravenous…