Patterson v. Estate of Flick

In April of 1969, the plaintiff, Margaret Patterson, underwent an appendectomy. During the course of this operation, her right femoral nerve was first severed and then resutured by the surgeon, Dr. John R. Flick, now deceased.

Upon her arousal from the anesthetic, the plaintiff was informed of this unexpected complication by Dr. Flick himself. The immediate effects of the injury were readily apparent to the plaintiff; she *105could neither move nor had any feeling in her right leg. The doctor, however, told the plaintiffs mother that she would be all right. During the post-operative period, the…