Columbia Valley Healthcare System, L.P. D/B/A Valley Regional Medical Center v. Maria Zamarripa, as Guardian of the Estates of R.F.R. and R.J.R., Minors

This is a health care liability claim for the tragic death of Yolanda Iris Flores. The Texas Medical Liability Act (“the Act”) 1 imposes a threshold requirement that the plaintiff furnish what we have described as “a statement of opinion by an individual with expertise indicating that the claim asserted ... has merit.” 2 This expert report must, address, in part, “the causal relationship” between a health care provider’s failure to meet applicable standards of care and the claimed injury. 3 The plaintiff here argues, and the court of appeals agreed, that “an expert report is not required to…