Strine v. Commonwealth

OPINION

Justice SAYLOR.

The issue in this direct appeal is whether the provision of a bath to a nursing home patient as therapy to relieve bed sores constitutes the furnishing of medical services sufficient to trigger the statutory obligations of the former Medical Professional Liability Catastrophe Loss Fund.

I

Marie Barnes was a 75 year-old patient-resident of the Chester Care Center (“Chester Care”), a licensed health-care provider. Mrs. Barnes suffered from dementia, diabetes, and coronary artery disease, and was unable to walk, speak, or feed herself. Because she was bedridden, she also…