ÿWPC! …# VUDa %¥ 0(« 0”Ó4g { Š w@’ Ò 0DØ 0J 0Tf 0^º 0h 0r€ 0|ò 0†n 0ô 1u„ U,ù 0d%U,‰ BµB)ÒDCû AM> D3‹U*¾è 0@èF(unU>ãv~!vÓŸ AOrÆÁ 0D‡ D/Ë Bú ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 8§ÖhZŠ,Century-WP RegularX($¡¡(D(2´¤$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó}B!3|x³ ŸU ¡D¢D£¤¥¦U§Ó€³HR(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco d% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd€-(Cþÿ << Gÿÿ&&&&'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial öÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌò òAugust€28,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€+ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò <Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÓ  Óà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€Ô€€Antabuse€is€a€prescription€medication€which€produces€aÏsensitivity€to€alcohol€such€that€a€person€consuming€even€small€quantitiesÏof€alcohol€receives€a€highly€unpleasant€reaction.€€According€to€theÏPhysicianððs€Desk€Reference,€Antabuse€plus€alcohol,€even€in€small€amounts,Ïproduces€the€following€reactions:€ÌÌà8 àflushing,€throbbing€in€the€head€and€neck,€throbbing€headache,Ïrespiratory€difficulty,€nausea,€copious€vomiting,€sweating,Ïthirst,€chest€pain,€palpitation,€dyspnea,€hyperventilation,Ïtachycardia,€hypotension,€syncope,€marked€uneasiness,Ïweakness,€vertigo,€blurred€vision,€and€confusion.€€In€severeÏreactions€there€may€be€respiratory€depression,€cardiovascularÏcollapse,€arrhythmias,€myocardial€infarction,€acute€congestiveÏheart€failure,€unconsciousness,€convulsions,€and€death.ÌÌòòPhysicianððs€Desk€Referenceóó€2695„96€(50th€ed.€1996).Ì kÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÓ  Óà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝPlaintiff€also€filed€suit€against€Asburn€L.€Tucker,€Tony€L.€Tucker,Ïand€Timothy€L.€Tucker,€d/b/a€City€Drug€Company,€a€Tennessee€partnership,Ïalleging€that€their€act€of€filling€the€Antabuse€prescription€and€directionsÏfor€use€of€the€drug€constituted€negligence€and€deviated€from€theÏrecognized€standard€of€care€in€the€dispensing€of€prescription€medication.€ÏPlaintiff€took€a€voluntary€dismissal€as€to€these€defendants.Ì< Œ 9p`(&Times New RomanPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€%%X„d&ÓÑ#€%%Xd#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  Ý›Ò  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑœÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌ______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌBARBARA€WHITE,€as€the€à àà àà àCarroll€Circuit€No.€2997€ÌAdministratrix€of€the€Estate€of€à àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9503„CV„00036ÌEARL€R.€WHITE,€deceased,̜ـ€ÙÙ€€ÙßL€),(;+'h| k` Å `€€Lß›à àà àà àà àà àà àà àHon.€Julian€P.ÏGuinn,€JudgeÌà àPlaintiff/Appellee,ÌÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌWILLIAM€H.€LAWRENCE,€M.D.,Ìœ›Ìà àœDefendant/Appellant.›ÌÌDAVID€L.€COOPER€and€JOHN€M.€CANNON,€Cannon,€Cannon€&€Cooper,ÏGoodlettsville,€Attorneys€for€Plaintiff/Appellee.ÌÌJERRY€D.€KIZER,€JR.,€Rainey,€Kizer,€Butler,€Reviere€&€Bell,€P.L.C.,€Jackson,ÏAttorney€for€œDefendant/Appellant.›ÌÌò òòòREVERSED€AND€DISMISSEDó óóóÌÌOpinion€filed:Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌò òTOMLIN,€Sr.€J.ó óà@ àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÔ% € ÔÓÓÔ€Ôà àBarbara€White€(ð ðplaintiffðð),€administratrix€of€the€estate€of€Earl€R.ÏWhite,€filed€suit€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€Carroll€County€seeking€damagesÏfor€the€suicide€of€her€husband,€Earl€R.€White€(ð ðdecedentðð),€alleging€medicalÏmalpractice€on€the€part€of€Dr.€William€H.€Lawrence€(ð ðdefendantðð).€ÍDefendant€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€on€the€grounds€thatÏdecedentððs€suicide€was€an€independent,€intervening€cause€of€death€thatÏrelieved€defendant€of€any€liability.€The€trial€court€denied€defendantððsÏmotion.€€The€trial€court€granted€defendantððs€€motion€for€an€interlocutoryÏappeal€and€stay€of€the€trial€court€proceedings.€€The€sole€issue€on€appeal€isÏwhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€defendantððs€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment.€€For€the€reasons€hereinafter€stated,€we€reverse€the€judgment€ofÏthe€trial€court.€ÌÓÓÌÓÓà àDecedent€was€a€fifty„five€year€old€with€a€history€of€alcoholism€andÏdepression.€€Defendant,€a€doctor€of€osteopathic€medicine,€began€treatingÏdecedent€for€various€medical€problems.€€Later,€defendant€referredÏdecedent€to€Dr.€G.€Edward€Hazelhurst€for€blood€studies,€who€reported€thatÏthe€blood€studies€indicated€that€plaintiff€suffered€from€chronicÏalcoholism€and€chronic€liver€disease.€ÌÌà àPlaintiff€contacted€defendant€to€advise€him€of€decedentððs€excessiveÏalcohol€consumption€and€the€effect€it€was€having€on€his€health.€€DefendantÏgave€plaintiff€a€prescription€for€Disulfiram,€Ñ7€XXdìXXdì7Ñcommonly€known€asÍð ðAntabuse,ðð€a€drug€that€would€discourage€decedent€from€drinking.× ƒ. ××  ×€ÏDefendant€told€plaintiff€that€the€medication€would€make€decedent€feelÏsick€and€discourage€him€from€consuming€alcohol.Ô€Ô€Plaintiff€contends€thatÏdefendant€told€her€to€grind€up€the€medication€and€surreptitiously€place€itÏin€decedentððs€food.€€Plaintiff€had€the€prescription€filled,€and€for€twoÏweeks,€plaintiff€followed€defendantððs€instructions€for€secretlyÏadministering€the€medication.€€Plaintiff€testified€that€to€the€best€of€herÏknowledge,€she€did€not€smell€alcohol€on€decedent€during€that€time.€ÌÌà àOn€the€day€before€the€suicide,€decedent€worked€in€his€garden.€€UponÏre„entering€the€house,€he€informed€plaintiff€that€he€was€feeling€ill,Ícomplaining€of€a€headache€and€feeling€cold.€€Plaintiff€stated€that€decedentÏdid€not€appear€to€have€been€drinking,€and€that€he€wasÔ€Ô€still€able€to€helpÏprepare€dinner€that€night.Ô€ÔÌÌà àThe€next€day,€decedent€told€plaintiff€that€he€had€sold€some€parts€onÏhis€truck,€and€gave€her€twenty€($20.00)€dollars€for€a€trip€to€Camden.€ÏPlaintiff€testified€that€it€was€unusual€for€decedent€to€give€her€moneyÏunsolicited.€€Decedent€left€for€the€partiesðð€farm€that€morning.ÌÌà àAt€1:52€p.m.,€decedent€was€treated€in€the€emergency€room€at€ValleyÏRegional€Hospital€in€Camden€for€complaints€of€hot€flashes€and€pain.€€TheÏemergency€room€records€indicate€that€decedent€complained€of€getting€tooÏhot€while€working€in€the€garden€the€day€before€and€that€he€becameÏnauseated.€€Decedent€stated€that€he€felt€weak€and€that€his€nauseaÏcontinued.€€The€nurseððs€assessment€report,€which€was€filled€out€at€1:55Ïp.m.,€indicated€that€decedent€walked€into€the€emergency€room€under€hisÏown€power.€€The€report€indicated€that€decedentððs€emotional€state€wasÏð ðcooperativeðð€and€that€his€neurological€status€was€ð ðfull€consciousness.ðð€ÏThe€report€states€that€decedent€was€under€ð ðmoderateðð€distress.€€DecedentÏwas€diagnosed€with€diabetes€type€II€and€heat€exhaustion€and€wasÍdischarged€at€3:30€p.m.ÌÌà àLater€that€evening,€decedent€was€found€in€his€car€by€personnel€of€theÏSheriffððs€Department€of€Carroll€County,€dead€from€a€gunshot€wound€to€theÏright€temple.€€Decedent€was€pronounced€dead€on€arrival€at€the€BaptistÏMemorial€Hospital€in€Huntingdon.€€The€police€found€a€gun€that€belonged€toÏdecedent€in€his€car.€€The€gun,€which€decedent€normally€kept€in€aÏnightstand,€was€found€to€be€missing€after€police€searched€the€nightstand.€ÏNo€autopsy€was€performed.€ÌÌà àFollowing€the€filing€of€this€suit,œ× ƒ/ ××  ×›€defendant€filed€a€motion€forÏsummary€judgment,€asserting€that€decedentððs€act€of€suicide€was€anÏindependent,€intervening€cause€of€death€under€Tennessee€law€as€applied€toÏthe€facts€of€the€case,€which€barred€plaintiffððs€wrongful€death€claims€as€aÏmatter€of€law.€€The€trial€court€denied€defendantððs€motion,€holding€thatÏthere€was€a€genuine€issue€of€material€fact.€€Defendant€filed€a€motion€forÍan€interlocutory€appeal€pursuant€to€Rule€9€T.R.A.P.€and€stay€of€the€trialÏcourt€proceedings.€€In€granting€defendantððs€motion,€the€trial€court€statedÏin€pertinent€part€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àThis€court€is€led€to€exercise€its€discretion€in€favor€ofÏpermitting€an€interlocutory€appeal€because€the€court€hasÏdistinguished€this€case€from€the€long€line€of€Tennessee€casesÏgoing€back€to€1935€holding€that€suicide€by€a€person€whoÏunderstands€the€nature€of€his€or€her€act€is€an€independent,Ïintervening,€proximate€cause€in€a€non„custodial€setting€as€aÏmatter€of€law.ÌÌà8 àà àIt€is€the€opinion€of€this€court€that€this€case€represents€aÏcase€of€first€impression€in€Tennessee€because€this€caseÏinvolves€allegations€that€the€defendant€doctor€surreptitiouslyÏprescribed€a€drug€for€the€plaintiffððs€decedent€which,€becauseÏof€its€effects€on€him,€caused€him€to€commit€suicide.€€The€courtÏfeels€that€a€need€exists€to€develop€a€uniform€body€of€lawÏapplicable€to€cases€such€as€this.€€Ì€€€ÌÓ  ÓÌÓÓSUMMARY€JUDGMENTÌÓ  Óà àA€trial€court€should€grant€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€when€theÏmovant€demonstrates€there€are€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€thatÏthe€moving€party€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€T.R.C.P.Ï56.03.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgment€bears€the€burden€ofÏdemonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€exists.€€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,Ï847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993).€€In€considering€a€motion€for€summaryÍjudgment,€both€the€trial€court€and€this€court€must€take€the€strongestÏlegitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€allÏreasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€that€party,€and€discard€all€countervailingÏevidence.€€òòId.óó€at€210„11.€€In€òòByrdóó,€our€supreme€court€stated€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àOnce€it€is€shown€by€the€moving€party€that€there€is€no€genuineÏissue€of€material€fact,€the€nonmoving€party€must€thenÏdemonstrate,€by€affidavits€or€discovery€materials,€that€thereÏis€a€genuine,€material€fact€dispute€to€warrant€a€trial.€€In€thisÏregard,€Rule€56.05€provides€that€the€nonmoving€party€cannotÏsimply€rely€upon€his€pleadings€but€must€set€forth€òòspecificÏfactsóó€showing€that€there€is€a€genuine€issue€of€material€factÏfor€trial.€€ð ðIf€he€does€not€so€respond,€summary€judgment€.€.€.Ïshall€be€entered€against€him.ððÌÌÌÌòòÓÓId.óó€at€211€(citations€omitted).€€Summary€judgment€is€only€appropriateÏwhen€the€case€can€be€decided€on€the€legal€issues€alone.€€òòId.óó€at€210.€ÏBecause€only€questions€of€law€are€involved,€there€is€no€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€regarding€a€trial€courtððs€granting€of€summary€judgment.€ÏòòJohnson€v.€EMPE,€Inc.óó,€837€S.W.2d€62,€68€(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€Review€of€theÏentry€of€summary€judgment€is,€therefore,€de€novo,€on€the€record€in€theÏtrial€court.ÌÌÓ  ÓWRONGFUL€DEATHÌÓ  Óà àWe€first€must€consider€whether€a€personððs€suicide€is,€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw,€an€independent,€intervening€cause€that€will€shield€defendant€fromÏliability€for€his€alleged€negligence.€ÌÌà àIn€some€wrongful€death€actions€in€this€state€suicide€has€beenÏconsidered€an€independent,€intervening€cause€of€death€where€the€suicide€isÏa€wilful,€calculated,€and€deliberate€act€of€a€person€who€has€a€moderatelyÏintelligent€power€of€choice.€€òòLancaster€v.€Montesióó,€216€Tenn.€50,€390ÏS.W.2d€217,€221„22€(1965);€òòJones€v.€Stewartóó€183€Tenn.€176,€191€S.W.2dÏ439,€440€(1946);€òòWeathers€v.€Pilkintonóó,€754€S.W.2d€75,€78€(Tenn.€App.Ï1988);€òòEckerdððs,€Inc.€v.€McGheeóó,€19€Tenn.€App.€277,€86€S.W.2d€570,€575Ï(1935).€€The€rule€stated€in€òòLancasteróó€has€been€held€to€apply€to€non„custodial€settings.€€In€both€prison€and€psychiatric€hospital€settings,€theÏcustodian€has€a€duty€to€protect€prisoners€or€patients€from€reasonablyÏforeseeable€self€destructive€acts.€€As€a€result,€the€act€of€suicide€is€notÏalways€viewed€as€an€independent€intervening€act€that€relieves€theÏnegligent€actor€from€liability.€€òòE.g.,€Cockrum€v.€Stateóó,€843€S.W.2d€433,Ï436„37€(Tenn.€App.€1992).ÌÌà àIn€òòWeathers€v.€Pilkintonóó,€754€S.W.2d€75€(Tenn.€App.€1988),€the€middleÍsection€of€this€courtÔ€Ô€considered€the€issue€now€before€us,€namely,€theÏliability€of€a€physician€for€a€patientððs€suicide€in€a€non„custodial€setting.€ÏIn€òòWeathersóó,€a€wrongful€death€action€was€brought€against€the€physicianÏalleging€that€he€failed€to€take€the€proper€steps€to€prevent€his€patient,€whoÏhad€a€history€of€depression€and€suicide€attempts,€from€taking€his€own€life.€ÏDecedentððs€wife€and€other€family€members€alleged€that€defendant€wasÏnegligent€in€that€he€released€decedent€from€the€hospital€after€a€drugÏoverdose€and€refused€to€commit€the€decedent€involuntarily€to€a€mentalÏhealth€clinic€seventeen€days€before€the€decedent€committed€suicide.€€òòId.óó€atÏ76„77.ÌÌà àThe€òòWeathersóó€court€summarized€the€rule€with€regard€to€the€chain€ofÏcausation€between€a€personððs€negligent€act€and€the€injured€personððsÏsuicide€in€non„custodial€settings€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌÔ€0Ôà8 àà àÔ€ÔFrom€this€line€of€cases€we€conclude€that€where€aÏdefendant€injures€another€either€wilfully€or€negligently€and€asÏa€result€of€the€injury,€the€injured€person€commits€suicide€theÏact€of€suicide€is,€as€a€matter€of€law,€an€interveningÏindependent€cause€if€the€decedent€knew€and€understood€theÏnature€of€his€or€her€act€or€the€act€resulted€from€a€moderatelyÏintelligent€power€of€choice.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€appellant€does€not€contest€the€rule€established€inÏòòJonesóó€and€òòLancasteróó,€but€instead€argues€that€there€is€aÍdifferent€rule€where€the€decedent€is€under€the€care€of€a€healthÏcare€provider€and€consequently€the€health€care€provider€has€aÏspecific€duty€of€care€to€the€patient.€€€We€acknowledge€thatÏthere€is€a€difference€andð"ðsince€proximate€cause€is€based€onÏforeseeabilityð"ðthat€the€fact€that€mentally€ill€persons€mightÏtake€their€lives€if€adequate€precautions€are€not€taken€toÏprotect€them€from€themselves€is€more€foreseeable€than€theÏfact€that€a€person€injured€by€an€ordinary€act€of€negligenceÏmight€become€so€depressed€that€suicide€would€result.ÌÌà8 àà àHowever,€we€must€recognize€that€this€is€still€an€actionÏfor€wrongful€death€and€the€right€that€survives€to€the€widow€isÏthe€same€cause€of€action€the€decedent€would€have€œhad€had›€heÏsurvived.€€Thus,€if€the€decedent€could€not€have€sued€no€rightÏsurvives.ÌÌà8 àà àCan€we€say€that€an€action€for€wrongful€death€may€beÏmaintained€where€the€decedent€himself€ended€his€life€in€aÏdeliberate,€calculated,€and€voluntary€act€of€suicide;€€where€heÏhad€"an€understanding€of€the€physical€nature€and€effect€of€hisÏact,€and€.€.€.€a€wilful€and€intelligent€purpose€to€accomplish€it"?€ÏIn€such€a€case€the€decedent€himself€would€not€have€had€a€causeÏof€action€against€his€doctor€for€his€own€(the€decedent's)Ïvoluntary€act.€€€Consequently,€no€cause€of€action€would€pass€toÏthe€surviving€spouse.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€rule€is€otherwise,€of€course,€where€the€decedent€didÏnot€know€the€nature€or€consequences€of€his€act,€or€his€reasonÏand€memory€where,€at€the€time,€so€far€obscured€that€he€did€notÏknow€and€understand€what€he€was€doing€and€was€therefore€notÏa€responsible€human€agency.€€Under€those€circumstances€theÏact€of€suicide€would€not€be€a€wilful,€calculated,€deliberate€actÏthat€would€defeat€an€action€for€wrongful€death.ÌÌà8 àà àTherefore,€we€are€of€the€opinion€that€the€result€in€thisÏcase€turns€on€the€question€of€whether€there€is€evidence€in€theÏrecord€from€which€the€jury€might€conclude€that€on€the€date€ofÏhis€death€Mr.€Weathers€did€not€know€and€understand€the€natureÍof€his€suicidal€act€and,€therefore,€did€not€have€a€wilful€andÏintelligent€purpose€to€accomplish€it.Ô€ÔÌÌÌÌÓÓòòId.óó€at€78„79€(citations€omitted).ÌÌà àThe€òòWeathersóó€court€found€that€although€there€was€circumstantialÏevidence€in€the€record€of€plaintiffððs€history€of€depression,€treatment,€andÏprior€suicide€attempts,€neither€of€plaintiffððs€medical€experts€testifiedÏthat€decedent€was€bereft€of€reason€or€that€he€did€not€know€or€understandÏthe€nature€of€his€actions.€€However,€there€was€overwhelming€evidence€inÏthe€record€that€decedent€functioned€normally€and€led€an€unremarkable€lifeÏduring€the€17€days€between€defendantððs€decision€not€to€involuntarilyÏcommit€him€to€a€mental€health€clinic€and€the€suicide.€€Because€there€wasÏno€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€conclude€that€decedent€did€not€knowÏwhat€he€was€doing,€the€òòWeathersóó€court€held€that€trial€court€was€correct€inÏdirecting€a€verdict€for€defendant.€€òòId.óó€at€79.ÌÌà àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€granted€the€application€for€interlocutoryÏappeal€on€the€grounds€that€the€case€is€one€of€first€impression.€€Despite€theÏunique€and€egregious€facts€of€this€case,€the€rule€announced€in€òòLancasteróó€asÍfollowed€by€the€middle€section€of€this€court€in€òòWeathersóó€is€stillÏapplicable€to€the€facts€of€this€case.€€Although€òòWeathersóó€involved€liabilityÏfor€an€alleged€negligent€omission€to€actð"ði.e.,€defendantððs€failure€toÏinvoluntarily€commit€the€plaintiffððs€husband€prior€to€his€suicide,€the€ruleÏin€òòWeathersóó€is€still€applicable€to€the€wilful€or€negligent€commission€of€anÏact,€which€was€the€alleged€negligent€prescription€and€administering€ofÏAntabuse€to€decedent.€€We€find€that€there€is€overwhelming€evidence€in€theÏrecord€from€which€the€jury€could€find€that€defendant€was€negligent€inÏsecretly€prescribing€Antabuse€to€decedent.€€Accordingly,€the€only€factualÏissue€relevant€to€our€determination€is€whether€there€is€evidence€in€theÏrecord€from€which€a€jury€might€conclude€that€decedent€did€not€know€orÏunderstand€the€nature€of€his€suicidal€act,€or€that€the€act€did€not€resultÏfrom€a€moderately€intelligent€power€of€choice.ÌÌà àPlaintiff€submitted€the€affidavits€of€Dr.€J.€Kirby€Pate€and€Dr.€MurrayÏW.€Smith,€along€with€the€deposition€testimony€of€Dr.€Pate,€in€opposition€toÏdefendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€Dr.€Pate,€a€board€certifiedÏpsychiatrist,€stated€that€defendantððs€covert€prescription€andÏinappropriate€instructions€for€the€use€of€Antabuse€probably€causedÏdecedentððs€suicide.€€In€his€deposition,€Dr.€Pate€admitted€that,€based€on€theÍrecords€from€decedentððs€emergency€room€visit€that€he€examined€for€hisÏevaluation,€there€was€nothing€to€indicate€that€decedent€did€not€understandÏthe€nature€of€his€suicidal€act,€or€that€decedent€was€ð ðpsychotic.ðð€ÌÌà àDr.€Smith,€the€Medical€Director€of€the€Baptist€Hospital€Drug€andÏAlcohol€Recovery€Center€in€Nashville,€stated€in€his€affidavit€that€within€aÏreasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty,€the€inappropriate€prescription€andÏinstructions€for€the€use€of€Antabuse€by€defendant€caused€the€suicide€deathÏfrom€depression,€which€is€a€side€effect€of€the€Antabuse.ÌÌà àÔ€ÔNonetheless,€neither€of€these€affidavits€nor€any€other€affidavit€orÏdeposition€offered€by€plaintiff€addressed€the€pivotal€issue€in€this€caseð"ðtoÏwhat€extent,€if€any,€the€decedent€did€not€know€the€nature€or€consequenceÏof€his€act,€or€that€at€the€time€his€memory€and€reason€were€so€obscuredÏthat€he€did€not€know€and€understand€what€he€was€doing,€or€that€the€suicideÏdid€not€result€from€a€moderately€intelligent€power€of€choice.ÌÌà àWe€are€of€the€opinion€that€as€the€non„moving€party,€plaintiff€has€notÏmet€the€burden€placed€upon€her€by€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó€to€set€forth€specific€factsÏsufficient€to€overcome€defendantððs€summary€judgment€motion.Ìà à̛̜œÌ›œÌ›œÌ›à àAccordingly,€we€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€SummaryÏjudgment€is€entered€in€favor€of€defendant,€and€plaintiffððs€complaint€isÏdismissed.€œCosts›€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€plaintiff,€œfor€which›€execution€mayÏissue€if€œÌÌnecessary.Ô€Ô›à àÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à________________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àTOMLIN,€Sr.€J.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à________________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àHIGHERS,€J.à àà àà à(CONCURS)ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à________________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àFARMER,€J.€à àà àà à(CONCURS)Ì