Johnson v. Riverdale Anesthesia Associates

Clair Johnson died from an anesthesia reaction that deprived her of oxygen during surgery; her husband and estate (plaintiffs) sued her anesthesiologist and his employer (defendants), alleging failure to preoxygenate her breached the standard of care. The defense's own expert witness, Caplan, would have personally preoxygenated a patient in Clair's position, and Johnson sought to question Caplan about that personal practice, but the trial court granted the defense's motion in limine to exclude it; the jury found for the defense, and the appellate court affirmed.