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41 S. Tex. L. Rev. 371 (1999-2000)
The Statute of Limitations Governing Medical Malpractice Claims: Rules, Problems, and Solutions

handle is hein.journals/stexlr41 and id is 381 raw text is: THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS GOVERNING MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMS: RULES, PROBLEMS, AND SOLUTIONS C. F. JEB WAIT, M.D., J.D.* I. INTRO D U CTIO N ............................................................................ 373 II. DETERMINING WHEN LIMITATIONS BEGIN IN HEALTH CARE LIABILITY CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 45901, SECTIO N 10.01 ............................................................................... 377 A. The Two-Year Limitations Period ....................................... 378 B. The Three Alternative Limitations Start Dates ................... 379 1. The Start of Limitations When the Date of the Breach or Tort is Ascertainable ...................................... 385 2. Determining the Start of Limitations Under the Continuing Treatment Alternative ................................. 391 a. Continuing Care not Related to the Claim ............ 393 b. Medical Conditions not Related to the Claim ....... 395 c. Treatment Following Surgery .................................. 396 d. Subsequent Office Visits and General Patient C are ............................................................................. 399 e. Continuing Physician-Patient Relationship ........... 400 f. Expert Testimony Necessary to Establish Duties During Continuing Treatment ................................. 403 g. Extended Time Between Office Visits ................... 404 3. The Last Date of Hospitalization ................................... 410 C. Interpretation Problems with the Limitations Statute ........ 411 1. More Confusion and Problems with the Continuing Treatm ent A lternative ...................................................... 411 2. Problems with Dicta in Opinions ................................... 413 a. Application of the Continuing Treatment A lternative in D icta .................................................. 413 b. The Earle and Chambers Opinions and C ausation .................................................................... 417 * Associate, Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Matthews & Friend, Houston, Texas; J.D., South Texas College of Law, 1990; M.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1985; B.A., Texas A&M University, cum laude, 1981. The author would like to thank Jason Ostrom and Karlene Dunn for their substantial contributions to this paper.