Brimmer

On this appeal, plaintiffs contest various rulings made by the trial court during and following a lengthy jury trial in which plaintiffs pursued, in large part unsuccessfully, claims against multiple defendants for medical malpractice, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. We reject all contentions of error.

I

Plaintiffs are husband and wife, Frank and Pearl Brimmer. They lived in Hesperia which is in San Bernardino County. Before going to bed on August 8, 1982, Pearl Brimmer attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills, Darvon, and Tylenol. When Frank Brimmer was unable to awaken her the next morning, he called an ambulance. The paramedics transported Mrs. Brimmer to nearby Victor Valley Community Hospital. There she was treated by her attending physician, Dr. Moushabek, who consulted with Dr. Aubuchon, a licensed psychologist.

Mrs. Brimmer remained unconscious for the next three days. When she awoke on August 12, she made suicidal remarks to Dr. Aubuchon as well as to several nurses. In evaluating her, Dr. Aubuchon consulted with Dr. Moushabek and Dr. Beck, a psychiatrist. Concluding that she was imminently suicidal and a danger to…