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J. A22044/03
2003 PA Super 356
WILLIAM TUCKER AND
:
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
HELEN TUCKER, H/W,
:
PENNSYLVANIA

:
Appellants
:

:

v.
:
:

COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER AND
:
SAADEDDINE HIJAZI, M.D.,
:
:

Appellees
: No.
1331
MDA
2002

Appeal from the Judgment Entered July 26, 2002,
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County,
Civil Division at No. 96-CV-4450.

BEFORE: MUSMANNO,
BOWES and POPOVICH, JJ.

OPINION BY POPOVICH, J.:

Filed: September 19, 2003
¶ 1 William Tucker (Husband) and Helen Tucker (Wife) appeal the
judgment entered on July 26, 2002, in favor of Community Medical Center
(CMC) and Saadeddine Hijazi, M.D. (Hijazi). Upon review, we affirm.
¶ 2 The relevant facts are set forth fully in the trial court's Memorandum of
July 25, 2002:
On November 1, 1995, [Husband] was admitted to [CMC] to
undergo an exploratory laparotomy by [Hijazi] due to
[Husband's] persistent lower abdominal pain. Once [Husband]
had been anesthetized, the CMC scrub nurse, Erica Schuback,
provided a #16 French Foley catheter to the circulating nurse,
Dorothy Gaughn, so that [Husband] could be catheterized for the
surgery. Nurse Gaughn applied 10 cc's of lubricant to the
flexible latex catheter and proceeded to insert it through the
urethral opening (meatus) and into the urethra. When the
catheter was almost halfway inserted, Nurse Gaughn felt some
resistance and slightly withdrew the catheter as she

J. A22044/03
simultaneously rotated it in an effort to determine whether the
pliable catheter had "kinked" during insertion. As she performed
this adjustment maneuver, Nurse Gaughn noted the presence of
red-tinged fluid in the catheter tubing and, therefore,
immediately withdrew the catheter from [Husband's] urethra
and notified [Hijazi] who was scrubbing for the surgery in an
adjacent room.

In an effort to investigate the etiology of the resistance,
[Hijazi] used a smaller catheter as a "dipstick" by inserting in
approximately 1" to 1½" into the tip of [Husband's urethra] to
ascertain whether the dark fluid was blood or urine. Upon
withdrawing the smaller catheter, [Hijazi] likewise observed a
[red-tinged] fluid and promptly contacted [an] urologist. The
consulting urologist, Milan Smolko, M.D., performed a cytoscopy
and visualized a urethral "stricture" which he proceeded to dilate
with surgical instruments so that a larger #18 French Foley
catheter could be inserted into the bladder to catheterize
[Husband]. Dr. Smolko diagnosed [Husband's] condition at that
time as "severe urethral stricture disease." Once [Husband] had
been catheterized by Dr. Smolko, [Hijazi] performed his
diagnostic laparoscopy, lysed the symptomatic adhesions which
were present on the bowel wall and the lateral wall of the pelvic
cavity, and removed the appendix.

[Husband and Wife] later commenced this malpractice action
[and derivative loss of consortium action. Husband and Wife
alleged] that Nurse Gaughn and [Hijazi] used excessive force in
attempting to insert the catheter and perforated the lining of
[Husband's] urethra, thereby causing him to develop "strictures"
and "false passages" that have resulted in urologic complications
and sexual dysfunction. During the trial [Husband] offered the
testimony of [an] urologist, Michael Goodman, M.D., in support
of his allegations. [Hijazi] and CMC maintained that[,]
unbeknownst to any of the health care providers prior to the
laparoscopic procedure, [Husband] had a pre-existing,
asymptomatic stricture that constricted his urethral channel and
compromised their ability to catheterize him. [Hijazi and CMC's]
contention that [Husband] had a pre-existing structure was
corroborated by the fact that Dr. Smolko and [Hijazi] [saw] a
stricture through the cytoscope on November 1, 1995, which
urethral stricture could not have developed during the brief
interval between the attempted catheterization by Nurse Gaughn

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J. A22044/03
and [Hijazi], and the cytoscopic visualization of the stricture by
Dr. Smolko and [Hijazi].

[Hijazi and CMC] asserted that since the mucosa of a stricture
is so friable, linear "tears" or "abrasions" to that mucosa will
occur and result in bleeding even if the catheter is inserted with
the utmost care and caution. Hence, [Hijazi] and CMC
acknowledged that the attempted catheterization caused
unavoidable tears or abrasions of the fragile mucosa of
[Husband's] pre-existing stricture, but [Hijazi and CMC]
steadfastly denied that they used excessive force and
"perforated" the lining of the urethra with the catheter. Nurse
Gaughn, Nurse Schuback and [Hijazi] testified that excessive
force was not used in the original attempt to insert the catheter
and that no force whatsoever was employed once resistance was
detected.

CMC and [Hijazi] presented the expert testimony of [an]
urologist, Terrence Malloy, M.D., and [a] general surgeon, Victor
J. Celani, M.D., who both testified that Nurse Gaughn and
[Hijazi] acted within the standard of care during the attempted
catheterization, including Nurse Gaughn's decision to
simultaneously withdraw and rotate the catheter[,] and [Hijazi's]
judgment to use a smaller catheter as a diagnostic "dipstick."
The defense also relied upon the standard of care articulated in
the treatise Campbell's Urology which states that "[i]f
resistance is met, pressure and ascertain at what level the
potential obstruction exists." [Hijazi] and CMC argued that the
controlling standard of care was observed during [Husband's]
attempted catheterization and that the tears or abrasion of the
friable mucosa of his pre-existing stricture were inevitable
despite their exercise of due care.

A trial was conducted from November 26, 2001, to
December 3, 2001, and in response to special interrogatories,
the jury found that [Hijazi] and CMC were not negligent.
[Husband and Wife] filed a motion for post-trial relief on
December 10, 2001, and by order dated December 11, 2001,
[Husband and Wife were] directed to [...] [request] transcription
of the relevant trial record and [submit] a supporting brief within
thirty days of the filing of the trial transcript. [Thereafter, on
December 12, 2001, Husband and Wife filed an Amended Motion
for Post-Trial Relief.] After the transcript was filed on February
4, 2002, and the parties had submitted their [briefs], oral

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J. A22044/03
argument was [scheduled] for April 16, 2002, but was postponed
until May 16, 2002, at the request of [Husband and Wife].
Following oral argument, [the trial court denied Husband and
Wife's post-trial motions on July 25, 2002].

Trial Court Memorandum, 7/25/2002, at 2-6 (citations and footnotes
omitted).
¶ 3 Following denial of Husband and Wife's Post-Trial Motions, the trial
court entered judgment in favor of Hijazi and CMC on July 26, 2002.
Thereafter, on August 20, 2002, Husband and Wife filed a timely Notice of
Appeal to this Court. Husband and Wife filed an ordered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal. The trial court
authored a Pa.R.A.P 1925(a) Opinion that addressed Husband and Wife's
matters.
¶ 4 Husband and Wife raise the following questions for our review:
1.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in failing to
conduct [a] Frye inquiry upon [the] medically unreliable
[expert opinion presented by Hijazi and CMC] that a Foley
catheter does not cause perforation and creation of [a]
false passage out of the urethra where the issue was
properly preserved for determination and review upon
pretrial Motion In Limine, was orally renewed at trial and
[Husband and Wife] moved to strike defense expert
testimony in that regard?

2.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in failing to
conduct Frye inquiry upon [the] medically unreliable
defense expert opinion [presented by Hijazi and CMC] that
[Husband] suffered with pre-existing false passage where
the issue was preserved for determination and review upon
pretrial Motion In Limine, was orally renewed at trial and
[Husband and Wife] moved to strike defense expert
testimony in that regard?

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J. A22044/03
3.
Whether the [trial court] erred in dismissing Court IV of
[Husband and Wife's] Amended Civil Action Complaint,
stating a claim against [CMC], for lack of informed consent
to the catheterization procedure performed by [CMC's
nurse]?

4.
Whether the trial court palpably abused its discretion in
refusing to strike for cause a member of the jury panel
who was a nurse employee of [CMC] who performed
catheterizations on behalf of CMC and who was properly
stricken as presumptively biased where [Husband and
Wife] timely moved to strike the prospective juror for
cause, submitted an Affidavit verifying the proceedings in
accordance with local rule of court and raised the issue in
Brief in Support of Motion for Post-Trial Relief?

5.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in allowing
misleading cross-examination of [Husband] upon a [triple-
level] hearsay statement made at an unidentified time by
an unidentified person who was not available for [cross-
examination]?

Husband and Wife's Brief, at 3.1

¶ 5 Husband and Wife's first and second claims allege that the trial court
erred when, over their repeated objections, it admitted the expert testimony
of Terrence Malloy, M.D., without first conducting a hearing pursuant to Frye
v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923), and its Pennsylvania
equivalent, Commonwealth v. Topa, 471 Pa. 223, 369 A.2d 1277 (1977).
¶ 6 Before we reach the merits of Husband and Wife's contention, we
address Hijazi and CMC's argument that, despite the fact that a Motion In
Limine was filed to prevent Dr. Malloy's testimony, Husband and Wife's
claims are waived for failure to lodge a timely objection at trial. Husband

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J. A22044/03
and Wife contend that the Motions In Limine preserved their Frye claims for
review.
¶ 7 The record indicates that on November 21, 2001, Husband and Wife
filed four Motions In Limine, two of which sought to limit Dr. Malloy's
testimony. Pursuant to Frye, the Motions sought to prevent Dr. Malloy from
testifying that Husband suffered from a previous "false passage," and from
testifying that a "false passage" could not be caused by a Foley catheter.
See Motions In Limine, 11/21/2001. The trial court deferred adjudication on
the motions until Dr. Malloy arrived in Lackawanna County for trial. N.T.
Trial, 11/26/2001, at 3-12; 11/29/2001, at 8-9. In the interim, the parties
agreed that no defense expert witness would opine that Husband had a pre-
existing "false passage" and that Dr. Malloy would not be asked on direct
examination whether a Foley catheter can cause a "false passage." As a
result of this stipulation, a hearing was unnecessary for Husband and Wife's
Motions In Limine because the stipulation effectively withdrew the Motions.
¶ 8 On direct examination, Dr. Malloy was asked if there was any evidence
that Nurse Gaughn used excessive force in inserting the catheter. N.T. Trial,
11/28/2001, at 169. Dr. Malloy responded that there was no evidence of
excessive force on Nurse Gaughn's part when she inserted the catheter, and
that the catheter used could not cause a "perforation." Husband and Wife

1 We have renumbered Husband and Wife's issues for purposes of
organization.

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J. A22044/03
did not object to this statement. Thereafter, Husband and Wife cross-
examined Dr. Malloy vigorously regarding his assertion. At the
commencement of trial the following day, Husband and Wife argued that
Dr. Malloy's opinion testimony should have been stricken because it was not
supported by several urological treatises. N.T. Trial 11/29/2001, at 2-4.
The trial court denied Husband and Wife's Motion, finding that the stipulation
prevented examination of Dr. Malloy only in regards to testimony about
Husband having a prior existing "false passage." Further, the trial court
found that Husband and Wife failed to object to Dr. Malloy's testimony, and,
accordingly, it would not grant relief based on their failure to object. Id., at
6-7, 11.
¶ 9 We are satisfied that the trial court did not err. As demonstrated by
Dr. Malloy's testimony, the terms "false passage" and "perforation" are
distinct terms-of-art in urological medicine. A "false passage" connotes a
narrowing of the mucosal lining of the urethra which results in abrasions of
the urethra but not an actual perforation of the urethra. N.T. Trial,
11/28/2001, at 160-161. A "perforation" of the urethra is a hole leading to
the corpus cavernosum urethra that surrounds the urethral tube. Id., at
161. Thus, Dr. Malloy's opinion testimony regarding a "perforation" of the
urethra was not barred by the stipulation between the parties. Therefore, to
preserve this issue for review, Husband and Wife were obligated to object at
trial to Dr. Malloy's testimony as their previous Motions In Limine were

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J. A22044/03
effectively withdrawn as a result of their stipulation. However, they did not
object, and, therefore, the issue is waived for purposes of review.2 See
Fleck v. Durawood, 529 A.2d 3, 6 (Pa. Super. 1987); see also Pa.R.Civ.P.
227.1(b)(1).
¶ 10 Husband and Wife's second argument with respect to Frye is likewise
waived for purposes of review because Dr. Malloy's testimony with respect to
Husband's pre-existing condition referred to him having only a pre-existing
"stricture," not a pre-existing "false passage." As Dr. Malloy testified, a
"stricture" is a diminishment in the normal diameter of the urethra. N.T.
Trial, 11/28/2001, at 158. Husband and Wife's stipulation prevented
testimony regarding Husband's possible pre-existing "false passages." Thus,
Appellant's second argument is waived because it was not preserved at trial
by objection or by motion. Fleck, 529 A.2d at 6.
¶ 11 Even if Husband and Wife's first claim was not waived, it would be
without merit. As we held recently in Trach v. Fellin, 817 A.2d 1102 (Pa.
Super. 2003), the Frye test sets forth an exclusionary rule of evidence that

2 Husband and Wife equate the terms "false passage" and "perforation" with
each other based on the following statement from an article presented
during post-trial motions:
["False passage"] refers to a perforation of the urethra, which may
occur with any instrument.
Case Studies in Urology for the House Officer 225 (Peter T. Nieh, M.D., and
Martin I. Resnick, M.D., editors, 1990).
Even if we assume, arguendo, that the article is correct, Husband and
Wife failed to object to a violation of the parties' stipulation when Dr. Malloy
referenced "perforation" in his testimony, and Husband and Wife did not use
the above article to attempt to impeach Dr. Malloy on cross-examination.

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J. A22044/03
applies only when a party wishes to introduce novel scientific evidence
obtained from the conclusions of an expert scientific witness. Trach,
817 A.2d at 1108-1109 (emphasis added). Under Frye, a party wishing to
introduce such evidence must demonstrate to the trial court that the
relevant scientific community has reached general acceptance of the
principles and methodology employed by the expert witness before the trial
court will allow the expert witness to testify regarding his conclusions. Id.,
817 A.2d at 1108-1109, 1112 (emphasis added). However, the
conclusions reached by the expert witness from generally accepted
principles and methodologies need not also be generally accepted. Id., 817
A.2d at 1112. Thus, a court's inquiry into whether a particular scientific
process is "generally accepted" is an effort to ensure that the result of the
scientific process, i.e., the proffered evidence, stems from "scientific
research which has been conducted in a fashion that is generally recognized
as being sound, and is not the fanciful creations [sic] of a renegade
researcher." See Id., 817 A.2d at 1111 (quoting Blum v. Merrell Dow
Pharms., Inc., 564 Pa. 3, 9-10, 764 A.2d 1, 5 (2000) (Cappy, C.J.,
dissenting)).
¶ 12 In the present case, Frye is inapplicable because Dr. Malloy's opinion
testimony regarding whether a Foley catheter causes a "false passage" and
whether Husband suffered from a pre-existing medical condition that
rendered him susceptible to this type of injury was not, nor could it be

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J. A22044/03
considered, novel scientific evidence. Trach, 817 A.2d at 1108-1109
(emphasis added). Diagnosis and evaluation in a medical context are, in a
sense, scientific, yet the methodologies used by Doctor Malloy to diagnose
and evaluate Husband in this case (reliance on scholarly journals, review of
medical records and examination of the patient) were not novel, and
Husband and Wife failed to produce evidence that they were novel.
¶
13 This case is analogous to our holding in Commonwealth v.
Passarelli, 789 A.2d 708, 716 (Pa. Super. 2001), where we held that expert
opinion testimony with respect to "shaken baby syndrome," offered to prove
intentional misconduct on the part of the defendant, was not "scientific
evidence" within the meaning of Frye. In the present case, Dr. Malloy's
testimony was offered as a means to explain that Husband would have been
injured even if Hijazi and CMC would have followed the accepted standard of
care, and, therefore, it is not "scientific evidence" within the meaning of
Frye. Passarelli, 789 A.2d at 716. Accordingly, Husband and Wife's
reliance on Frye and its progeny is erroneous. Therefore, even if the claim
was not waived, we would nevertheless find that it would fail.
¶ 14 We turn to Husband and Wife's third claim: Whether the trial court
erred in dismissing Court IV of the Amended Complaint, which alleged a
claim against CMC for lack of informed consent to the catheterization
procedure performed by CMC's nurse. The record indicates that Count IV of
Husband and Wife's Amended Complaint alleged a claim of negligence

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J. A22044/03
arising from lack of informed consent against CMC because, as Husband and
Wife alleged, CMC "had a duty to and/or assumed the duty to inform
[Husband] of the fact that catheterization was to be performed on him [...]."
See Husband and Wife's Amended Complaint, 3/21/1997, at 9. Following
CMC's preliminary objection, the trial court dismissed the claim on December
26, 1997.
¶ 15 In considering preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer, we
must examine the complaint to determine whether it sets forth a cause of
action which, if proved, would entitle a party to the relief sought; if such is
the case, the demurrer may not be sustained but if the complaint fails to set
forth a cause of action, preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer
are properly sustained. See Doe v. Dyer Goode, 566 A.2d 889 (Pa. Super.
1989).
¶ 16 Upon review, we are satisfied that the trial court acted properly when
it dismissed Count IV of Husband and Wife's Amended Complaint. It is clear
that Count IV of the Amended Complaint sets forth a claim of corporate
negligence because it alleges that CMC "had a duty to and/or assumed the
duty to inform [Husband] of the fact that catheterization was to be
performed on him [...]." See Husband and Wife's Amended Complaint,
3/21/1997, at 9. Pennsylvania law forbids a claim of corporate negligence
against a hospital to be founded upon a theory that the hospital failed to
ensure the patient's informed consent. See Kelly v. Methodist Hosp., 664

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J. A22044/03
A.2d 148 (Pa. Super. 1995).3 Accordingly, Count IV of Husband and Wife's
Amended Complaint failed to state a cause of action, and the trial court
acted properly when it dismissed the claim. Therefore, Husband and Wife's
argument fails.
¶ 17 Next, we consider whether the trial court abused its discretion in
refusing to strike for cause Pamela Ruth Bartos, a nurse employee of CMC,
from the jury panel. The decision to grant or deny a challenge for cause for
a juror in a close relationship with either of the parties in a case is a
question of law and is subject to ordinary review. See McHugh v. Proctor
& Gamble Paper Products Co., 776 A.2d 266, 270 (Pa. Super. 2001).
However, before we address the merits of this contention, we note that the
trial court found this issue waived as a result of Husband and Wife's failure
to include a transcription of the voir dire proceedings with their post-trial
motion. See Trial Court Memorandum, 7/25/2002, at 9. We disagree with
the trial court's conclusion.
¶ 18 Lackawanna County Local Rule 227.1(g) (relating to post-trial motion
procedure) states:

3 This Court has recognized one limited exception to this rule in Friter v.
Iolab Corp., 607 A.2d 1111 (Pa. Super. 1992), in which a hospital was held
liable for the lack of informed consent because the hospital was involved in a
clinical investigation for the Food and Drug Administration. Federal
regulations required the hospital to obtain the informed consent of any
patient participating in the study. Thus, the hospital assumed an
independent duty to obtain the patient's informed consent. Friter, 607 A.2d
at 1114. This exception does not apply in this case as the underlying claim
is garden-variety type of negligence, i.e., medical malpractice.

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J. A22044/03
(g) Where it is determined that a transcript or a portion
thereof is necessary, counsel shall have as a matter of
right ten additional days to submit additional allegations of
error following receipt of the transcript.

¶ 19 The record reflects that Husband and Wife filed their Motion for Post-
Trial Relief on December 10, 2001, and an Amended Post-Trial Motion on
December 12th. In the Amended Post-Trial Motion, Husband and Wife
requested the transcript of the jury selection proceedings, if the jury
selection proceedings were recorded. See Request for Transcript,
12/12/2001, at 2. The transcription was never presented to Husband and
Wife, and it is unclear from the record whether the jury selection
proceedings were recorded by a stenographer. Accordingly, we are
constrained to find that the trial court erred when it found this issue waived.
¶ 20 Although we have determined that the trial court erred when it found
this claim waived, it is unnecessary to remand the case. After finding the
issue waived in its Memorandum, the trial court went on to conclude that,
even if the issue was not waived, no prejudice could accrue to Husband and
Wife by the trial court's failure to strike. We agree. Although it is clear that
the employees of a defendant are incompetent to serve as jurors, McHugh,
776 A.2d at 270, no prejudice accrues to the party seeking exclusion where
the incompetent juror is excluded by a peremptory challenge, and the party
seeking exclusion does not exhaust all of its peremptory challenges. See
Commonwealth v. Chambers, 685 A.2d 96, 107 (Pa. Super. 1996).

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J. A22044/03
¶ 21 In the present case, Ms. Bartos was listed as an alternate juror, and
Husband and Wife had two peremptory strikes for alternate jurors. Husband
and Wife struck Ms. Bartos, and with their final peremptory challenge, struck
Jean Marie Torrisi. At the end of the process, Deborah Ann Waznak
remained as the sole alternate juror. Accordingly, as Husband and Wife's
peremptory challenges were not exhausted after utilizing one peremptory
challenge to strike Ms. Bartos, no prejudice accrued to them. See
Chambers, 685 A.2d at 107. Therefore, Husband and Wife's claim fails.
¶ 22 Husband and Wife's final claim is that the trial court abused its
discretion in allowing misleading cross-examination of Husband upon a
"triple-level hearsay" statement. As we have held consistently, the
admission of testimony is a matter left to the discretion of the trial court,
and we, as an appellate court, will not overturn a trial court's rulings with
regards to the admission of testimony without an abuse of that discretion.
See Gatto v. Kisloff, 649 A.2d 996, 997 (Pa. Super. 1994).
¶ 23 Before we reach an analysis of the merits of this claim, we note that
the trial court has also found this claim waived. We agree with the trial
court's conclusion. The record indicates that Husband and Wife did not raise
this claim in either their original Motion for Post-Trial Relief or in their
Amended Motion for Post-Trial Relief. Rather, the issue was first raised in
their Brief in support of their Amended Post-Trial Motion. It is clear that
issues not preserved in a post-trial motion are waived. See Fleck, 529

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J. A22044/03
A.2d 6; see also Pa.R.Civ.P. 227.1(b)(1). However, as indicated above,
Lackawanna County Local Rule 227.1(g) allows ten additional days to submit
allegations of error following receipt of a requested transcript. In the
present case, Husband and Wife requested a transcript of Husband's cross-
examination on December 12th with their other transcript requests. The
transcripts were filed on February 4, 2002. However, this claim was not
raised until March 6, 2002, the day that Husband and Wife filed their Brief in
support of their Amended Post-Trial Motion. Accordingly, Husband and Wife
did not raise their new claim in an amended post-trial motion within ten days
following the receipt of the transcripts, and, therefore, it is waived. See
Lackawanna County Local Rule 227.1(g); see also Pa.R.Civ.P. 227.1(b)(1).
¶ 24 As each of Husband and Wife's claims on appeal fail or have been
waived, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
¶ 25 Judgment affirmed.
¶ 26 MUSMANNO, J. Concurs in the Result.

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