Ellis Ex Rel. Ellis v. Niles Ex Rel. Estate of Niles

FINNEY, Chief Justice:

We granted certiorari to review the Court of Appeals’ opinion in this medical malpractice case. Ellis v. Niles, 316 S.C. 516, 450 S.E.2d 631 (Ct.App.1994). We vacate that opinion, and decide the pure question of law presented by this appeal: Whether the trial court erred in directing verdicts for the doctors because they owed no duty to the patient, respondent’s deceased? We affirm.

The Court of Appeals held the trial judge committed reversible error when he sua sponte directed verdicts for the doctors before respondent had presented her last witness. Despite the lack of…