Nelson v. Salem Hospital

This is a wrongful death action arising out of the death of Edward Smith while he was a patient at the defendant hospital. The plaintiff, administrator of Smith’s estate, appeals from a judgment entered on a jury verdict for defendant.

Six days before his death, Smith had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor. The tumor proved to be malignant and most, but not all, of the tumor was removed during the operation. The surgeon testified that Smith’s wife was informed of the results of the surgery and was told that her husband’s life expectancy was six months to a year. There was no evidence…