Gehling v. St. George University

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Earl Gehling, a student at St. George's University School of Medicine, collapsed and died after participating in a road race organized by students on campus in Grenada. While students provided some support during the race, the university claimed no responsibility. An autopsy found Gehling died from cardiac arrest likely induced by the heat and his physical condition. The court ruled St. George's University was not negligent and bore no liability as Gehling assumed the risks when he chose to participate in the race.

Health & Medicine Education

Gehling (P) vs. St. George University (D)
TRUE BLUE ROAD RACE

INTRODUCTION
• Decided on
February 6,
1989
• United States
District Court
for the
Eastern
District of
New York
• Case No. 86
CV 1368

FACTS
• Earl Gehring was a
student at St.
George’s University
School of Medicine
(SGU).
• The road race was
organized by the
students at their own
initiative.

FACTS
• The race took place in
Grenada in 85°F and
high humidity
• SGU provided no
provisions, however the
students did provide
water, ice, towels, and
medical staff but no
ambulance.

•Gehling was 25
years old, about
5’10”, 75 lbs.
overweight, and
suffered from
hypertension
•Before the race,
Gehling took
Ephedrine

FACTS
• He collapsed after the
race and was attended
to immediately
• An ambulance arrived
in 15 minutes to
transport him to St.
George’s General
Hospital

FACTS
• Gehling was
pronounced dead at
12:45AM on April 19,
1982
• No care by SGU
employees as
teachers or in any
other capacity
rendered care

FACTS
•Heat Stroke is a
frequent fatal disorder
•Gehling died from a
gastric ulcer
according to records
from Grenada…

FACTS
•Another autopsy was
performed and found
that Gehling died from
cardiac arrest
• What induced the
health problem was
the race under
tropical conditions

NO NEGLIGENCE
•SGU was
responsible for the
property, not the
runners
•No employees that
rendered medical
treatment to Gehling
were employed by
SGU

NO CAUSATION
•No connection
between the death
and the duty of
control
•Death was caused
by Gehling’s physical
condition/weather and
not malpractice

ASSUMPTION OF RISK
•Elected to participate
•Assumed all dangers
of the game
•As a sixth year
student at a medical
school, in charge of
his own knowledge
and condition

NO LIABILITY FOR SGU
HOSPITAL
•SGU General
Hospital is controlled
by Grenada not the
institution.
•No proof of medical
malpractice or
negligence

CONCLUSION
•No negligence by SGU/SGU General
Hospital
•Death was caused by assumption of risk
•Gehling was knowledgeable of his physical
condition, weather, and medicine
•No proof of medical malpractice or
negligence by SGU General Hospital at the
end of the race and the hospital

Gehling v. St. George University

1. Gehling (P) vs. St. George University (D) TRUE BLUE ROAD RACE

2. INTRODUCTION • Decided on February 6, 1989 • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York • Case No. 86 CV 1368

3. FACTS • Earl Gehring was a student at St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGU). • The road race was organized by the students at their own initiative.

4. FACTS • The race took place in Grenada in 85°F and high humidity • SGU provided no provisions, however the students did provide water, ice, towels, and medical staff but no ambulance.

5. •Gehling was 25 years old, about 5’10”, 75 lbs. overweight, and suffered from hypertension •Before the race, Gehling took Ephedrine

6. FACTS • He collapsed after the race and was attended to immediately • An ambulance arrived in 15 minutes to transport him to St. George’s General Hospital

7. FACTS • Gehling was pronounced dead at 12:45AM on April 19, 1982 • No care by SGU employees as teachers or in any other capacity rendered care

8. FACTS •Heat Stroke is a frequent fatal disorder •Gehling died from a gastric ulcer according to records from Grenada…

9. FACTS •Another autopsy was performed and found that Gehling died from cardiac arrest • What induced the health problem was the race under tropical conditions

10. NO NEGLIGENCE •SGU was responsible for the property, not the runners •No employees that rendered medical treatment to Gehling were employed by SGU

11. NO CAUSATION •No connection between the death and the duty of control •Death was caused by Gehling’s physical condition/weather and not malpractice

12. ASSUMPTION OF RISK •Elected to participate •Assumed all dangers of the game •As a sixth year student at a medical school, in charge of his own knowledge and condition

13. NO LIABILITY FOR SGU HOSPITAL •SGU General Hospital is controlled by Grenada not the institution. •No proof of medical malpractice or negligence

14. CONCLUSION •No negligence by SGU/SGU General Hospital •Death was caused by assumption of risk •Gehling was knowledgeable of his physical condition, weather, and medicine •No proof of medical malpractice or negligence by SGU General Hospital at the end of the race and the hospital

Editor's Notes

#2: http://2010.ezabu.com/files/2010/09/roadrace.jpg Hello everyone, my name is Jonathan Luszcz and I am going to present the case, Gehling vs. St. George University.
#3: http://community.planetjh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/supremecourtphoto-20061.jpg The case was decided in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on February 6, 1989. The plaintiff is the mother of the deceased Earl Gehring and the defendant is St. George’s University School of Medicine.
#4: http://www.goabroad.com.tw/sgu/stgmedlogob1.gif http://media.mlive.com/flintjournal/runners/photo/webfli100409run3jpg-79e4d08285cf2965.jpg Earl Gehring was in a sixth year as a medical student at St. george’s University School of Medicine in the Caribbean nation of Grenada. The students run a bi-annual road race.
#5: http://www.mipueblonatal.com/images/granada-flag.gif The race took place in the afternoon on an April day in approximately 85 degree heat with high humidity. St. George’s University sponsored the event but did not an ambulance nor provisions for the event. The students did provide provisions and a medical staff but no ambulance.
#6: Gehling was 25 years old, about 5’10”, and 75 lbs. overweight. He also suffered from hypertension. Before the race, he took Ephedrine which increases the heart rate and blood pressure.
#7: http://www.bcffa.org/departments/bexarmetro911/911.GIF At the end of the 2.5 mile race he fell. He tried to stand up again but continued to fall. Gehling eventually became hysteric and was necessary for him to be restrained. They attempt to cool him down with water and towels soaked in ice. He eventually is taken by an ambulance and delivered to St. George’s General Hospital
#8: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/19/kate_smythe_narrowweb__300x358,2.jpg Gehling was pronounced dead later on during his stay at the hospital. At the hospital no care was taken by employees as teachers.
#9: http://www.mytranslationspot.com/images/Medical%20Records.jpg According to medical experts, heat stroke is a frequent fatal disorder. An autopsy report found that Gehling died from a gastric ulcer.
#10: http://www.patentbaristas.com/archives/heat.jpeg When Gehling was flown back to the States, another autopsy was performed. These doctors concluded that Gehling died from cardiac arrest. The doctors said that Gehling’s health, weather, and medications induced the cardiac arrest.
#11: http://revjavadude.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/light-tunnel-01.jpg?w=490 What the judge concluded is that St. george’s is responsible for the property where the road race took place, not the event. Also, none of the treatment that was rendered was employed by St. George’s. Therefore, there was no negligence by St. George’s
#12: http://rlv.zcache.com/correlation_does_not_imply_causation_card-p137852165338061542qi0i_400.jpg The plaintiff failed to validate any connection between the death of Gehling and the duty of control by SGU. Gehling’s death was found to be caused by his physical condition, weather, and medication. Not malpractice, therefore there was no causation found.
#13: http://www.onlineuniversities-weblog.com/50226711/images/caution-degree.jpg Gehling elected to participate in the event and was not pressured to do so. As a participant of the road race, he assumes all the dangers that come with the road race including the risk of heat stroke. Also, as a six-year medical student. He has the knowledge of the effects of Ephedrine on a high blood pressure human in unfavorable conditions. Therefore, Gehling assumes the risk of the road race.
#14: http://cassandrasecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/accountability1.jpg Finally, St. George’s Unijversity has no liability for Gehling. St. George’s Hospital is controlled by the government of Grenada. The institution has one member who sits on the board. The school uses the hospital to train its students but does not control the hospital. Therefore, the school cannot be held liable for medical malpractice by any persons employed by the hospital.
#15: To conclude, no negligence was found by the institution/hospital. The death of Gehling is under his own risk and he was knowledgeable of his risks of his physical condition, weather, and medication he took. Finally, there is no valid proof of medical malpractice, negligence, or liability found by the hospital or the institution.
#16: http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20end/cinquevolte/Edward_Ed_Ruscha_The_End.jpg

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Gehling v. St. George University

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Editor's Notes