Wallace v. Benedictine Hospital

This is a medical malpractice case. Arthur Wallace underwent surgery under general anesthesia at defendant Benedictine Hospital. During the operation, he went into cardiac arrest apparently as a result of an anesthesia-related condition. Although resuscitated, permanent brain damage resulted. The issue before us concerns discovery procedures initiated by plaintiffs and a codefendant to obtain information as to any possible defects in the anesthesia machine. Complicating these procedures is the very apparent hostility among counsel.

At a relatively early time after commencement of the action,…