UWF Case Briefs Elam v College Park Hospital Raglin Case Study

1. For this assignment, you will complete a full APA paper covering liability law case analysis.

Lawyers approach legal issues with structured, thorough analysis. To learn health law material, it is helpful to apply a similar approach. The standard approach for legal analysis is called

IRAC (Links to an external site.)

, for:

1. ISSUE 2) RULE 3) ANALYSIS 4) CONCLUSION

It is helpful to apply this approach in analyzing a case. Focusing on the analysis of a particular case is called “briefing” the case. In doing a brief, you should do the following.

1. Identify significant legal issue(s) in the case.
2. For each issue, identify the legal rule that is relevant for that issue
3. Use the legal rule to then analyze the facts of the case.In analyzing, break the rule down into different requirements.Address each requirement of that legal rule.Use a relevant fact to analyze each requirement.Then, connect the facts to the rule with an appropriate explanation.
4. Finally, make a reasonable conclusion based on your analysis?

In analyzing a particular case, one recommended format is the following:

FORMAT FOR BRIEFING CASES

CASE NAME

• FACTS: RELEVANT FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF CASE PROCEDURAL HISTORY

• ISSUE(S): LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT COURT IS RESOLVING

• DECISION: DECISION OF COURT ON ISSUE(S) RESOLUTION OF CASE

• REASONS: RATIONALE FOR DECIDING THE CASE INCLUDE RULE PLUS ANALYSIS LEADING TO CONCLUSION

• MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS: SIGNIFICANCE OF LAW/CASE TO BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION

This format uses the IRAC structure, but it also has

(A) a compilation of relevant facts at the beginning,

(B) the decision of the court whose opinion you are reading, and

(C) managerial implications.

By listing the relevant facts, you will start to think about what seems to be the important facets of the case. This list of facts can be helpful later when you are doing your analysis, because reviewing these facts can sometimes help you develop your analysis: when you get stuck on what to do next in your analysis, look back at the facts, and see if one of those facts can help you get started again. The issue is the starting place of your analysis, and the decision is a possible end (in writing your brief, you do not always have to agree with the decision of the court). Knowing the start and end can also help you sometimes in doing the analysis. Finally, when you are done with the legal analysis, you should step back and ask yourself, what does this all mean for you as a health care executive or administrator?

2. Perform IRAC analysis and complete case briefs on the following cases:

Elam v. College Park Hospital

Raglin

Running head: IRAC – CASE ANALYSIS
IRAC – Case Analysis
Dr. Tiffany Jackman
University of West Florida
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IRAC – CASE ANALYSIS
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IRAC – Case Analysis
Case: Ennix v. Stanten
Facts
Dr. Coyness Ennix, Jr., is a cardiac surgeon at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
(ABSMC). He filed a suit against Russel Stanten, Leigh Iverson, Steven Stanten, William
Isenberg and ABSMC for racial discrimination. After performing a new surgical procedure on
four medical patients, which resulted in death or complications, the hospital subjected Dr. Ennix
to investigation and temporary revocation of privileges (Perry & Thompson, 2017). Ennix
believes the scrutiny was racially motivated. However, ABSMC believed there was no grounds
for a contract between their institution and Ennix; as such, racial discrimination under 42 U.S.C.
1981 cannot be established (Perry & Thompson, 2017. Dr. Ennix was a member of the ABSMC
medical staff, paid membership fees to Summit Hospital, agreed to abide by hospital bylaws, and
performed services at ABSMC.
Issue
What is a contract? Did a contract exist between Ennix and ABSMC?
Decision
The court denied the summary judgment motion filed by ABSMC.
Reasons
The plaintiff did not have a formal contract with the hospital; however, the hospital
visiting arrangements indicate that a contractual arrangement did exist between the two entities
especially under Section 1981 (Perry & Thompson, 2017). A contract can be defined as an
agreement between two parties that meets sufficient legal consideration (Perry & Thompson,
2017). Ennix was paid membership fees to Summit Hospital, agreed to abide by hospital bylaws,
IRAC – CASE ANALYSIS
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and performed services at ABSMC. The hospital referred to the case Dominos Pizza, Inc. v.
McDonald, in which Dominos was found to have no contract in place with McDonald and as
such could not use Section 1981 claim for discrimination (Perry & Thompson, 2017). Yet,
ABSMC agreed to allow Dr. Ennix to practice medicine at their facilities. ABSMC received
payment of hospital fees from Dr. Ennix relating to his treatment of patients.
Dr. Ennix contends that he had a contractual relationship with the hospital because he
could perform services at their hospital as well as his contractual relationships with patients to
treat them. He cites Janda v. Madera Community Hospital, where the court found that an express
employment contract has been formed by the consideration, which consisted of the hospitals
promise to employee doctor, and the doctors promise to work under those conditions (Perry &
Thompson, 2017). In addition, the hospital granted the doctor medical privileges and use of
hospital resources. The court sided with the plaintiff, Dr. Ennix. Although Dr. Ennix may not
have an expressed contract with the hospital directly, it was implied through actions. He could
perform and treat patients there and as such, the hospital and Dr. Ennix mutually benefited. As
there was a contract in place, Dr. Ennix was able to sue for discrimination.
Managerial Implications
Implications remain today that professional relationships could be deemed contractual,
even though it is not in writing. Many people use contracts to protect both parties. At times, they
may not use contracts, to have some fluidity. However, this belief may be misled, and an explicit
contract may better serve both parties. Establishing a written contract is always important in the
event that one of the parties has to prove that a contract exists. In this case, Dr. Ennix did not
have a written contract with ABSMC but did have an implied contract, which is why there was a
motion for summary judgement.
IRAC – CASE ANALYSIS
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References
Perry, J. E., & Thompson, D. B. (2017). Law and Ethics in the Business of Health Care. St. Paul,
MN: West Academic Publishing.