Plaintiff/Appellant, Was Suing Defendants, Inc.

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In 1992 the Plaintiff/Appellant, Albert Cafazzo, was suing Defendants/Appellees, Dr. Normal Stern and a hospital, for strict products liability. He contends the Defendants are responsible for an implanted medical device that failed six years after his surgery.
2. The issue presented to the court was can a hospital and a physician be held subject to strict product liability under the Restatement of Torts (Second) Section 402A, for defects in a product related to the provision of medical services? This section provides in part as follows: (1.) One who sells any product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability for physical harm thereby caused to the ultimate user or consumer, or to his property, if (a.) the seller is engaged in …show more content…

This section states that a seller can be held liable if the seller is in the business of selling products. The Appeals Court goes on to state that like movie theaters who sell popcorn and soda at concession stands they are not in the business of selling food. They sell movies. Similarly, doctors and hospitals are not in the business of selling products. They perform medical procedures that use medical products. Thomas v. St. Joseph Hospital, 618 S.W.2d 791 (Tex. Civ. App. 1981) supports the application of 402A … is not medical services or products connected with diagnosis and treatment, but rather materials related to mechanical or administrative functions. i.e. hospital gowns.” This case law clearly states that Section 402A does not apply to medical services or products

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