Shabinaw v. Brown

McDEVITT, Chief Justice.

I

BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE

Due to an inflammatory bowel disease known as ulcerative colitis, Eugene Shabinaw (“Mr. Shabinaw”) had a total colectomy performed at the University of Michigan in 1968. Mr. Shabinaw apparently recovered quickly from the operation. Except for an ileostomy, an external appliance inserted as part of the operation, his life was unaffected.

The night of December 16, 1983, Mr. Shabinaw began experiencing severe abdominal cramps and noticed that his ileostomy was not functioning properly. Early the following morning, the Shabinaws went to the hospital…