American Physicians Assurance Corp v. Schmidt

Opinion of the Court by

Justice COOPER.

On July 8, 1991, Dr. J. Boswell Tabler, M.D., a psychiatrist, began treating Terry Ann Schmidt, wife of Appellee, Steven L. Schmidt, for a mental illness. Dr. Tabler prescribed two psychotropic medications, Lithium and Stelazine, as part of the treatment. Mrs. Schmidt had a history of blood abnormalities and subsequently developed aplastic anemia, a blood disease that is often fatal. She died on June 30, 1993. Steven Schmidt, individually and as administrator of his deceased wife’s estate, brought a medical malpractice action against Dr. Tabler, alleging…