Sami v. Varn

In this appeal, we consider whether the trial court erred in holding that an obstetrician-gynecologist was not qualified to give expert testimony on the standard of care for a pelvic examination performed by an emergency room physician.

Vida Sami went to the emergency room of Fairfax Hospital on January 26, 1994. She told the hospital personnel she was pregnant and that she was in pain and experiencing vaginal bleeding. Three separate pelvic examinations were performed on Sami: one by a medical resident; another by an emergency room physician, Dr. Miles Varn; and a third by the resident…