Hathaway

Defendants-appellants Arnold Spiro, M.D., and Eduardo Velayos, M.D., appeal from a judgment against them and in favor of plaintiffs-respondents Leila S. Hathaway and Frank B. Hathaway.

Parties

The plaintiffs were Leila S. Hathaway (Leila) and her husband, Frank B. Hathaway (Frank). The defendants in the trial court were Baldwin Park Community Hospital (Hospital), Robert Degnan, M.D. (Degnan), Arnold Spiro, M.D. (Spiro), and Eduardo Velayos, M.D. (Velayos).

Facts

This is a case of asserted medical malpractice. Leila was admitted to Hospital on August 15, 1977, by Degnan for delivery of her child. During the vaginal delivery, attended by Degnan, he performed an episiotomy.

Following discharge from Hospital, the laceration became a rectovaginal fistula and was so diagnosed by Spiro. Leila was readmitted to Hospital on August 27, 1977, and the fistula was repaired by defendants Spiro and Velayos. Their specialty is proctology.

While Leila was still in the hospital, the repair attempted by Spiro and Velayos began to break down. Since that time, she has had numerous problems which she attributes to the malpractice of all of the defendants. Frank’s cause of action is for…