South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould [2018] NSWCA 69

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: South Western Sydney Local Health District v Gould [2018] NSWCA 69 Hearing dates: 19 March 2018 Decision date: 13 April 2018 Before: Basten JA at [1] Meagher JA at [8] Leeming JA at [9] Decision: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the judgment and orders 1, 2 and 5 made on 30 March 2017, and in lieu thereof, order that the proceedings be dismissed. 3. The respondent to pay the appellant's costs at first instance and on appeal, but to have a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW). Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - medical negligence - standard of care for professionals - Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) s 5O - injury to plaintiff's thumb - whether appropriate antibiotics administered - conflicting evidence as to appropriate antibiotic treatment - primary judge found entirety of defendant's evidence on competent professional practice to be irrational within meaning of s 5O(2) - irrationality not raised on pleadings or mentioned during trial or put to defendant's experts - primary judge equated irrationality to unreasonableness or more logically probative or insufficiently justified - primary judge relied on dictionary definitions rather than legislative text, context and purpose - trial judge's finding on irrationality set aside, defence under s 5O upheld and appeal allowed. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 3C, 5B, 5D, 5O Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 77 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 79, 136 Health Services Act 1997 (NSW), s 17 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 34 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 75A Uniform Civil Procedure Rules, rr 14.7, 36.16, 31.28, 42.1, 51.36 Cases Cited: Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Lanepoint Enterprises Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (2011) 244 CLR 1; [2011] HCA 18 Bale v Mills (2011) 81 NSWLR 498 Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority [1998] AC 232 Cabell v Markham 148 F 2d 737 (1945) Cheryala v Minister for Immigration & Border Protection [2018] FCAFC 43 Commissioner of Taxation v BHP Billiton Ltd (2011) 244 CLR 325; [2011] HCA 17 Coverdale v West Coast Council (2016) 259 CLR 164; [2016] HCA 15 Dasreef v Hawchar (2011) 243 CLR 588; [2011] HCA 21 Dobler v Halverson (2007) 70 NSWLR 151; [2007] NSWCA 335 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Gould v South Western Sydney Local Health District [2017] NSWDC 67 Hope v Hunter and New England Area Health Service [2009] NSWDC 307 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 498; [2000] NSWCA 44 Howe v Fischer [2014] NSWCA 286 Hucks v Cole [1993] 4 Med L R 393 Hunter & New England Local Health District v McKenna (2014) 253 CLR 270; [2014] HCA 44 Banque Commerciale SA en Liquidation v Akhil Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 279 Kelly v The Queen (2004) 218 CLR 216; [2004] HCA 12 Krnjulac v Lincu [2015] NSWCA 367 Kuhl v Zurich Financial Services Australia Ltd (2011) 243 CLR; [2011] HCA 11 Kuru v State of New South Wales (2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26 Makita (Australia) v Sproules (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 McKenna v Hunter & New England Local Health District [2013] NSWCA 476; [2013] Aust Torts Rep 82-156 Melchior v Sydney Adventist Hospital Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1282 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Khawar (2002) 210 CLR 1; [2002] HCA 14 Ministry of Justice v Carter [2010] EWCA Civ 694 Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR 269; [1999] HCA 22 Paric v John Holland (Constructions) Pty Ltd [1985] HCA 58; 59 ALJR 844 Piwonski v Knight (2002) 83 SASR 400; [2002] SASC 310 Residual Assco Group Ltd v Spalvins (2000) 202 CLR 629; [2000] HCA 33 Rogers v Whitaker (1992) 175 CLR 479; [1992] HCA 58 Sparks v Hobson; Gray v Hobson [2018] NSWCA 29 Sydney South West Area Health Services v MD [2009] NSWCA 343 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2017] HCA 34; 91 ALJR 936 Thiess v Collector of Customs (2014) 250 CLR 664; [2014] HCA 12 Vanstone v Clark (2005) 147 FCR 299; [2005] FCAFC 189 White v Johnston (2015) 87 NSWLR 779; [2015] NSWCA 18 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40; [1980] HCA 12 Texts Cited: C Mah, "A critical evaluation of the Professional Practice Defence in the Civil Liability Acts" (2014) 37(2) University of Western Australia Law Review 74 D Villa, Annotated Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (3rd ed, Lawbook Co, 2018) Category: Principal judgment Parties: South Western Sydney Local Health District (Appellant) Robert Gould by his tutor Peter Gould (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Cheney SC and R Sergi (Appellant) A Stone SC and J Masur (Respondent)