Farmers Bank & Trust Co. v. Rice

GANT, Justice.

Decedent, Mary Bernice O’Daniel, sought treatment from respondent, Russell R. Rice, on May 23, 1979, for a lump on her breast. Dr. Rice diagnosed the problem as mastitis, and advised Mrs. O’Daniel to return in six months. Within about three months the problem became more acute and, on September 19, 1979, Mrs. O’Daniel underwent a modified radical mastectomy, an abdominal hysterectomy and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which operations were necessitated by a cancerous condition. For a period in excess of two years follow ing the operation, she received radiation treatments…