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Physicians And Surgeons—Malpractice—Informed Consent Of Patient: Duty To Inform Patient To Be Established By Expert Medical Testimony—Zebarth V. Swedish Hospital Medical Center, 81 Wn. 2d 12, 499 P.2d 1 (1972), L. D. K.

Washington Law Review

Plaintiff was suffering from a highly malignant form of cancer resulting in serious obstruction of the trachea. He was admitted to the defendant hospital where it was determined that radiation therapy was necessary to reduce the obstruction before it completely blocked the plaintiff's breathing. After completion of the radiation therapy, plaintiff began to suffer from a progressive paralysis which plaintiff claimed was caused by damage to his spinal cord, attributable to the manner in which the radiation was administered. Plaintiff sued in the Superior Court for King County, alleging that since he was neither warned of the risk of damage …