McCullock v. Tharratt et al

Filing 47

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION of United States Magistrate Judge Regarding 37 MOTION to Dismiss Civil Rights Complaint. It is recommended that the District Judge issue an order (1) approving and adopting this Report and Recommendation; and (2) granting Defendants' Motion to Dismiss. Objections to R&R due by 12/8/2017. Replies due by 12/18/2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Louisa S Porter on 11/8/2017.(All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service)(lrf)

Download PDF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ROBERT MCCULLOCK, Case No.: 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) Plaintiff, 12 13 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE REGARDING MOTION TO DISMISS CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT v. 14 15 R. STEVEN THARRATT, et al., 16 Defendants. 17 (ECF No. 37) 18 19 Plaintiff Robert McCullock1 (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in 20 forma pauperis, commenced this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on 21 February 18, 2016, against Defendants R. Steven Tharratt, Daniel Paramo, Maryann Glynn, 22 Jin Kul Yu, Steven Roberts, and R. Walker. (ECF No. 1 (“Compl.”).) On July 29, 2016, 23 Defendants Tharratt, Paramo, Glynn, Roberts, and Walker filed a Motion to Dismiss the 24 Complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim, and 25 on the grounds of qualified immunity. (ECF No. 15.) On January 20, 2017, this Court 26                                                 27 28 1 Plaintiff’s prison records indicate Plaintiff’s name is spelled Robert McCallock. 1 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 issued a Report and Recommendation, recommending that the Honorable Larry A. Burns 2 grant Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss with leave to amend, and issue an order to show cause 3 why Defendant Jin Kul Yu should not be dismissed without prejudice for failure to 4 prosecute, as he was not served with the Complaint. (ECF No. 23.) On February 16, 2017, 5 Judge Burns adopted the Report and Recommendation and dismissed the Complaint with 6 leave to amend. (ECF No. 30.) 7 On April 5, 2017, Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) against 8 Defendants Steven Tharratt, Maryann Glynn, Steven Roberts, R. Walker, Daniel Paramo, 9 and Jin Kul Yu (collectively, “Defendants”). (ECF No. 36.) On April 12, 2017, 10 Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the FAC under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim, and on the grounds that Plaintiff is not entitled to the 12 injunctive and declaratory relief requested in the FAC. (ECF No. 37.) 13 In accordance with Civil Local Rule 72.3, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss is referred 14 to the magistrate judge for a Report and Recommendation. After a thorough review of the 15 pleadings, the parties’ papers, and all supporting documents, the Court hereby 16 RECOMMENDS that Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss be GRANTED. 17 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND 18 Plaintiff is, and was at all relevant times, a prisoner confined at Richard J. Donovan 19 Correctional Facility (“RJD”) in San Diego, California. (FAC at 11.) Plaintiff alleges he 20 had a specialist-recommended biopsy in February 2015. (Id. at 15, Exh. A(a).) On March 21 4, 2015, Defendant Dr. Yu, a primary care provider at RJD, documented in a progress note 22 that the pathology report on the biopsy was not available and stated that s/he would obtain 23 the report “and follow-up with [Plaintiff] to address this and rule out cancer.” (Id. at 12- 24 13, 15, Exh. A(a).) On March 6, 2015, Defendant Dr. Yu obtained and initialed review of 25 the pathology report. (Id.) The report allegedly noted a finding of “squamous cell 26 carcinoma at deep margins.” (Id.) However, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Dr. Yu did not 27 provide him with notice of the results or take action at that time or at subsequent 28 appointments. (Id. at 12, 15, 31, Exh. A(a).) 2 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 On April 29, 2015, a specialist seeing Plaintiff via tele-medicine for valley fever 2 reviewed the pathology report’s finding, informed Plaintiff he had cancer, and discussed it 3 in his report. (Id. at 15, 31, Exh. A(a), 35.) The specialist recommended that Plaintiff be 4 referred to another specialist. (Id. at 15, 31, 35, Exh. A(a).) On May 1, 2015, upon review 5 of the report, Defendant Dr. Yu generated a “Request for Service” for plastic surgery and 6 prioritized the referral as “routine.” (Id.) In the Request for Service, Defendant Dr. Yu 7 allegedly does not state that the pathology report finding cancer had been issued 8 approximately three months earlier. (Id.) 9 On May 14, 2015, three specimens were excised from Plaintiff. (Id. at 34, Exh. B.) 10 The specimens, taken from both clavicles and the left shoulder, were negative for cancer. 11 (Id.) The final diagnosis was mild actinic keratosis in all three specimens. (Id. at 16, 34, 12 Exh. B.) According to a Memorandum from California Correctional Health Care Services 13 (“CCHCS”), dated June 2, 2015, Plaintiff did not have to follow up with plastic surgery at 14 that time; however, he will require surveillance due to his higher risk for future malignancy. 15 (Id. at 34, Exh. B.) This will be determined by his primary care provider and dermatology, 16 if needed. (Id.) 17 Plaintiff attaches to his FAC a Training Participation Sign-In Sheet dated on or about 18 May 12, 2015, which reflects that Defendants Walker and Roberts met with Defendant Dr. 19 Yu regarding Plaintiff. (Id. at 33.) 20 Plaintiff also attaches to his FAC a June 2014 CCHCS Utilization Management 21 (“UM”) Program Policy, which was enacted to “ensure the appropriate use of limited health 22 care resources.” (Id. at 21-30.) The Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) at each institution, 23 who Plaintiff alleges is Defendant Glynn at RJD, is responsible for the implementation of 24 this policy at the local level, and the Statewide Chief Medical Executive, who Plaintiff 25 alleges is Defendant Tharratt, is responsible for the implementation of this policy at 26 Headquarters. (Id. at 11-12, 22.) In addition, Plaintiff attaches to his FAC the UM Medical 27 Services Review Procedure and the UM Inter-Rater Reliability Procedure, both dated June 28 2014. (Id. at 23-30.) 3 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 The UM Medical Services Review Procedure covers the review process for “high 2 cost, high risk, exceptional, and complex cases.” (Id. at 23.) Upon receipt of a CDCR 3 Form 7243, the “institution UM Nurse or designee” shall review all health care provider 4 service requests at the first level, and forward them to second level review for approval or 5 denial. (Id. at 23-24.) At the second level, the Chief Medical Executive (Defendant 6 Roberts) or a designee shall review and approve or deny the requested services. (Id. at 13, 7 24.) Appealed cases shall be heard by the Institutional UM Committee (“IUMC”) at the 8 third level of review. (Id.) If the request is deferred, referred to the next level of review, 9 or denied, the reason shall be documented by the Chief Medical Executive (Defendant 10 Roberts), Chief Physician and Surgeon (Defendant Walker), or a designee, and forwarded 11 to the UM Nurse for forwarding to the primary care provider. (Id. at 13-14, 24.) The 12 primary care provider shall “document the decision and provide the patient-inmate with 13 alternate strategies during the next visit, within 30 days of the deferral or denial of the 14 specialty service.” (Id.) The fourth and final level of review is performed by the 15 Headquarters Utilization Management Committee (“HUMC”), which consists of the 16 Deputy Medical Executive or designee, and Executive or Managerial representation from 17 Medical, Nursing and Mental health, if appropriate. (Id. at 27.) The process also provides 18 that the institution Chief Medical Executive (Defendant Roberts), Chief Physician and 19 Surgeon (Defendant Walker), or designee shall review all emergency consultations or 20 procedures. (Id. at 13-14, 23.) 21 The UM Medical Services Review Procedure further provides that the IUMC, 22 consisting of the Institution Chief Medical Executive (Defendant Roberts), Institution CEO 23 (Defendant Glynn), Institution Chief Physician and Surgeon (Defendant Walker), and 24 Institution Warden (Defendant Paramo), shall, among other things, ensure institutional 25 compliance with all UM program policies and procedures, and ensure that an institutions’ 26 medical staff receive training on UM policies and procedures. (Id. at 12-14, 25.) 27 In this context, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Tharratt, as statewide Chief Medical 28 Executive for CCHCS, is responsible for implementing the CCHCS UM policy, and this 4 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 policy set in motion the alleged constitutional violations. (Id. at 2, 11.) Plaintiff further 2 alleges that Defendant Tharratt was “informed of deficiencies at RJDCF via Plata (case 3 3:01-cv-01351-THE) but has acquiesced.” (Id. at 11.) Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant 4 Tharratt was deliberately indifferent to deficient performance, and “created policy or 5 custom under which unconstitutional practices occurred,” including “a violation of 6 [Plaintiff’s] protected liberty interest in bodily integrity.” (Id.) 7 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Paramo, as warden of RJD, is “legally responsible 8 for the operation” of the facility and the welfare of the inmates. (Id. at 12.) Plaintiff alleges 9 Warden Paramo was informed, and failed, and is still failing to prevent violations of 10 constitutional rights, and is a committee member of the UM Medical Services Review. 11 (Id.) 12 Plaintiff further alleges that Defendant Glynn, as the CEO of CCHCS at RJD, is 13 “responsible for implementation of policy.” (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Flynn is 14 a reviewer of requests for services as a member of the IUMC, and is responsible for medical 15 policy at RJD. (Id.) 16 Next, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Roberts, as the Chief Medical Executive at 17 RJD, is “legally responsible for all operations” of CCHCS and for the supervision and 18 training of medical staff. (Id. at 13.) Plaintiff further alleges that Defendant Roberts is the 19 chairperson of the IUMC, a reviewer of consultations or procedures, and a reviewer of 20 completed requests for services. (Id.) In this capacity, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Roberts 21 had reason to know of the alleged constitutional violation and did nothing to stop the 22 infliction. (Id.) Plaintiff also alleges that Defendant Roberts was informed of the violations 23 via CDCR complaints with Log Nos. RJD-D15-1861, RJD1503343, RJD15053445, the 24 CCHCS memorandum of June 2, 2015, and the Health Care Evaluation in Plata. (Id.) 25 Lastly, Plaintiff alleges Defendant Walker, as Chief Physician and Surgeon at RJD, 26 is “legally responsible for supervision and training of his subordinates,” as shown by the 27 training sign-in sheet Plaintiff attaches to the FAC. (Id. at 14, 33, Exh. H.) Plaintiff alleges 28 that a thirty minute training of Defendant Dr. Yu “after the fact” by Defendants Walker 5 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 and Roberts was “deficient and useless” to ensure the provision of adequate medical care. 2 (Id. at 14.) Plaintiff further alleges that Defendant Walker is a reviewer of requests for 3 services and “saw no wrong in changing RFS [request for service] from priority to routine 4 or that there was no alternative treatment strategies as set out in CCHCS policy and 5 procedures.” 6 Plaintiff’s unnecessary surgery and violated his constitutional rights. (Id.) (Id.) Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Walker’s acquiescence caused 7 On May 5, 2015, Plaintiff filed a Citizen’s Complaint. (Id. at 16, 35, Exh. D.) In 8 the complaint, he alleges that “[w]hile at an appointment with the Valley Fever Specialist, 9 I was informed I had cancer. This information should be given by ones ‘PCP,’ primary 10 care physician, not found by chance.” (Id. at 35.) Plaintiff’s complaint was rejected at the 11 First Level on May 30, 2015, and subsequently assigned to the Health Care Appeals Office 12 for response on or around June 4, 2015, and assigned Log No. RJD HC 15053445. (Id. at 13 16-17.) The appeal was denied on October 8, 2015. (Id.) 14 On May 29, 2015, Plaintiff filed a separate Patient/Inmate Health Care Appeal (Log 15 No. 15053343), alleging that he was “forced to use staff that is plaintiff’s abuser.” (Id. at 16 17.) The appeal was rejected by Defendants R. Walker and M. Glynn. (Id.) 17 On July 23, 2015, Plaintiff filed another Patient/Inmate Health Care Appeal (Log 18 No. 15053656) seeking monetary compensation for unnecessary surgery for misdiagnosed 19 squamous cell carcinoma. (Id. at 17, 36, Exh. F.) 20 Plaintiff also filed a Government Claims Form. (Id. at 17.) On August 20, 2015, 21 the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board rejected Plaintiff’s claim. (Id. at 22 17, 38, Exh. G.) 23 In his FAC, Plaintiff brings a claim against Defendants in their individual and 24 official capacities for deliberate indifference to medical needs and cruel and unusual 25 punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (Id. at 2-6, 17.) He seeks an injunction 26 preventing Defendants from keeping Plaintiff at a deficient facility that has been “deemed 27 the worst medical in the state,” and a transfer to a facility that gives competent medical 28 6 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 care. (Id. at 9, 30.) He also seeks declaratory relief, compensatory damages, punitive 2 damages, and pain and suffering, emotional distress, and scarring damages. (Id. at 9, 18.) 3 On April 12, 2017, Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 37.) On May 4 25, 2017, Plaintiff filed an opposition. (ECF No. 42.) Defendants filed a reply in support 5 of their motion on May 31, 2017. (ECF No. 43.) On June 8, 2017, Plaintiff filed a sur- 6 reply. (ECF No. 45.) 7 II. LEGAL STANDARD 8 A. 9 A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) “tests the legal 10 sufficiency of a claim.” Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001). For a plaintiff 11 to overcome a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the complaint 12 must contain “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. 13 Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). “A claim has facial plausibility when the 14 plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that 15 the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 16 (2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss 17 “Dismissal can be based on the lack of a cognizable legal theory or the absence of 18 sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.” Balistreri v. Pacifica Police 19 Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990) (citing Robertson v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 20 749 F.2d 530, 533-34 (9th Cir. 1984)). “All allegations of material fact are taken as true 21 and construed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Cahill v. Liberty Mut. 22 Ins. Co., 80 F.3d 336, 337-38 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Nat’l Wildlife Fed’n v. Espy, 45 F.3d 23 1337, 1340 (9th Cir. 1995)). The Court need not, however, “accept as true allegations that 24 are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.” 25 Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Clegg v. Cult 26 Awareness Network, 18 F.3d 752, 754-55 (9th Cir. 1994)); see also Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 27 (“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory 28 statements, do not suffice.”); Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986) (on motion to 7 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 dismiss, court is “not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual 2 allegation.”). “[T]he pleading standard Rule 8 announces does not require ‘detailed factual 3 allegations,’ but it demands more than an unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed- 4 me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555). 5 Thus, “[w]hile legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they 6 must be supported by factual allegations. When there are well-pleaded factual allegations, 7 a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise 8 to an entitlement to relief.” Id. at 679. “The plausibility standard is not akin to a 9 ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has 10 acted unlawfully.” Id. at 678. “Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent 11 with’ a defendant’s liability, it ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility 12 of ‘entitlement to relief.’” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570 (when plaintiffs have not 13 “nudged their claims across the line from conceivable to plausible, their complaint must be 14 dismissed.”)). “In sum, for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory 15 ‘factual content,’ and reasonable inferences [drawn] from that content, must be plausibly 16 suggestive of a claim entitling the plaintiff to relief.” Moss v. United States Secret Serv., 17 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir. 2009) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678). 18 Because Rule 12(b)(6) focuses on the sufficiency of a claim rather than the claim’s 19 substantive merits, “[o]rdinarily, a court may look only at the face of the complaint to 20 decide a motion to dismiss.” Van Buskirk v. Cable News Network, Inc., 284 F.3d 977, 980 21 (9th Cir. 2002). Generally, a court may not consider material beyond the complaint in 22 ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. Schneider v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. & Rehab., 151 F.3d 23 1194, 1197 n.1 (9th Cir. 1998) “A court may, however, consider certain materials— 24 documents attached to the complaint, documents incorporated by reference in the 25 complaint, or matters of judicial notice—without converting the motion to dismiss into a 26 motion for summary judgment.” United States v. Ritchie, 342 F.3d 903, 908 (9th Cir. 27 2003). 28 /// 8 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 B. 2 “In a civil rights case where the plaintiff appears pro se, the court must construe the 3 pleadings liberally and must afford [the] plaintiff the benefit of any doubt.” Karim–Panahi 4 v. L.A. Police Dep’t, 839 F.2d 621, 623 (9th Cir. 1988). The rule of liberal construction is 5 “particularly important in civil rights cases.” Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1261 (9th 6 Cir. 1992). In giving liberal interpretation to a pro se civil rights complaint, courts may 7 not “supply essential elements of claims that were not initially pled.” Ivey v. Bd. of Regents 8 of the Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). “Vague and conclusory 9 allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient to withstand 10 a motion to dismiss.” Id.; see also Jones v. Cmty. Redev. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th 11 Cir. 1984) (finding conclusory allegations unsupported by facts insufficient to state a claim 12 under § 1983). Standards Applicable to Pro Se Litigants in Civil Rights Actions 13 Nevertheless, a court must give a pro se litigant leave to amend his complaint “unless 14 it determines that the pleading could not possibly be cured by the allegation of other facts.” 15 Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (quotation omitted) (citing 16 Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1447 (9th Cir. 1987)). Thus, before a pro se civil rights 17 complaint may be dismissed, the Court must provide the plaintiff with a statement of the 18 complaint’s deficiencies. Karim–Panahi, 839 F.2d at 623-24. But where amendment of a 19 pro se litigant’s complaint would be futile, denial of leave to amend is appropriate. James 20 v. Giles, 221 F.3d 1074, 1077 (9th Cir. 2000). 21 /// 22 /// 23 /// 24 /// 25 /// 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// 9 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 III. DISCUSSION2 2 Section 1983 “is not itself a source of substantive rights, but a method for vindicating 3 federal rights elsewhere conferred.” Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 n.3 (1979). It 4 imposes two essential proof requirements upon a claimant: (1) that a person acting under 5 color of state law committed the conduct at issue; and (2) that the conduct deprived the 6 claimant of some right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Constitution or laws of the 7 United States. See 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535 (1981), 8 overruled on other grounds by Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 328 (1986); Haygood v. 9 Younger, 769 F.2d 1350, 1354 (9th Cir. 1985) (en banc). Here, there appears to be no 10 dispute that Defendants acted under color of state law in their official capacities as 11 employees of RJD or CCHCS.3 “[G]enerally, a public employee acts under color of state 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28                                                 2 Plaintiff attaches additional exhibits to his opposition regarding certain unrelated health care appeals he filed in 2016 and 2017, and an undated article on inmate health care appeals. (ECF No. 42 at 10-15.) On October 11, 2017, Plaintiff also filed a Request for Judicial Notice, asking the Court to take judicial notice of a CCHCS “Notice of Change to Health Care Regulations” regarding the administration of the health care grievance process. (ECF No. 46.) As discussed above, in ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court may consider the face of the complaint, along with documents attached thereto, documents incorporated by reference in the complaint, and material subject to judicial notice. Richie, 342, F.3d at 907-08; Van Buskirk, 284 F.3d at 980. As Plaintiff failed to attach the additional appeals and article to his FAC, and the documents are unrelated to his present claims, the Court declines to consider them in deciding the present motion. However, although Defendants did not have an opportunity to address the document attached to Plaintiff’s Request for Judicial Notice in its filings, as Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the document does not affect the Court’s findings, and the authenticity has not been disputed, the Court will take judicial notice of the document and consider it in deciding the present motion. See In re Am. Apparel, Inc. S’holder Litig., 855 F. Supp. 2d 1043, 1061 (C.D. Cal. 2012) (government publications and matters of public record are proper subjects of judicial notice). 3 Defendant Tharratt is alleged to be the Statewide Chief Medical Executive for CCHCS. (FAC at 2, 11.) Defendant Paramo is alleged to be the Warden of RJD. (Id. at 2, 12.) Defendant Glynn is alleged to be the CEO of CCHCS at RJD. (Id. at 2, 12.) Defendant Roberts is alleged to be the Chief Medical Executive at RJD. (Id. at 3, 13.) 10 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 law while acting in his [or her] official capacity or while exercising his [or her] 2 responsibilities pursuant to state law.” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 50 (1988). Thus, 3 Plaintiff’s federal claims turn on the second inquiry, namely, whether Defendants deprived 4 Plaintiff “of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws” of 5 the United States. 42 U.S.C. § 1983. 6 In the FAC, Plaintiff first alleges Defendants were deliberately indifferent to his 7 medical needs when Defendant Dr. Yu obtained and documented a pathology report stating 8 Plaintiff had “squamous cell carcinoma at deep margins,” but did not follow up with 9 Plaintiff in a timely manner or take appropriate action. (FAC at 5, 17.) Second, Plaintiff 10 alleges Defendants violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual 11 punishment by conducting an unnecessary surgery. (Id. at 6, 17.) 12 13 A. Deliberate Indifference to Serious Medical Needs 1. Applicable Law 14 The Eighth Amendment prohibits punishment that involves the “unnecessary and 15 wanton infliction of pain.” Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 103 (1976) (quoting Gregg v. 16 Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 173 (1976)). This principle “establish[es] the government’s 17 obligation to provide medical care for those whom it is punishing by incarceration.” Id. 18 The Supreme Court has noted that “[a]n inmate must rely on prison authorities to treat his 19 medical needs; if the authorities fail to do so, those needs will not be met.” Id.; see also 20 West, 487 U.S. at 54-55. 21 Prison officials violate a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel 22 and unusual punishment if they are deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs. 23 See Gamble, 429 U.S. at 104-06; Hunt v. Dental Dep’t, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir. 1989). 24 “This is true whether the indifference is manifested by prison doctors in their response to 25 the prisoner’s needs or by prison guards in intentionally denying or delaying access to 26                                                 27 28 Defendant Walker is alleged to be the Chief Physician and Surgeon at RJD. (Id. at 3, 14.) Defendant Yu is alleged to be a primary care provider at RJD. (Id. at 2, 12.) 11 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 medical care or intentionally interfering with the treatment once prescribed. Regardless of 2 how evidenced, deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious illness or injury states a cause 3 of action under § 1983.” Gamble, 429 U.S. at 104-05 (footnotes omitted). To establish 4 deliberate indifference to serious medical needs, the Ninth Circuit requires a two-step 5 inquiry. Jett v. Penner, 439 F.3d 1091, 1096 (9th Cir. 2006). 6 First, the prisoner must have a serious medical need. Id. “A ‘serious’ medical need 7 exists if the failure to treat a prisoner’s condition could result in further significant injury 8 or the ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’” McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 9 1059 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Gamble, 429 U.S. at 104), overruled on other grounds by 10 WMX Techs., Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). In making this 11 determination, courts should consider whether “a reasonable doctor or patient would find 12 [the prisoner’s condition] important and worthy of comment or treatment; the presence of 13 a medical condition that significantly affects an individual’s daily activities; or the 14 existence of chronic and substantial pain. Id. at 1059-60 (citing Wood v. Housewright, 900 15 F.2d 1332, 1337-41 (9th Cir. 1990); Hunt, 865 F.2d at 200-01). 16 Second, the prisoner must establish that prison officials exhibited deliberate 17 indifference to the serious medical need. Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096. This requirement “is 18 satisfied by showing (a) a purposeful act or failure to respond to a prisoner’s pain or 19 possible medical need and (b) harm caused by the indifference.” Id. (citing McGuckin, 974 20 F.2d at 1059). The indifference to medical needs also must be substantial; inadequate 21 treatment due to malpractice, or even gross negligence, does not amount to a constitutional 22 violation. Gamble, 429 U.S. at 106; Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1060 (9th Cir. 23 2004) (“Deliberate indifference is a high legal standard. A showing of medical malpractice 24 or negligence is insufficient to establish a constitutional deprivation under the Eighth 25 Amendment.”) (citing Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d 732, 744 (9th Cir. 2002) (“Mere 26 medical malpractice does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.”); Wood, 900 F.2d 27 at 1334 (stating that even gross negligence is insufficient to establish a constitutional 28 violation)). 12 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 The deliberate indifference standard includes a subjective intent requirement and is 2 not met “unless the official knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or 3 safety; the official must both be aware of facts from which the inference could be drawn 4 that a substantial risk of serious harm exists, and he must also draw the inference.” Farmer 5 v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). In order to show deliberate indifference, an inmate 6 must allege sufficient facts to indicate that prison officials acted with a culpable state of 7 mind. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 297-98 (1991). Courts must focus on the seriousness 8 of the prisoner’s medical needs and the nature of the defendants’ response to those needs. 9 See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059. Differences in judgment between an inmate and prison 10 medical personnel regarding appropriate medical care are not enough to establish a 11 deliberate indifference claim. Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989). 12 “Under Section 1983, supervisory officials are not liable for actions of subordinates 13 on any theory of vicarious liability.” Crowley v. Bannister, 734 F.3d 967, 977 (9th Cir. 14 2013) (citation omitted). “A supervisor may be liable only if (1) he or she is personally 15 involved in the constitutional deprivation, or (2) there is a sufficient causal connection 16 between the supervisor’s wrongful conduct and the constitutional violation.” Id. (citation 17 and internal quotation marks omitted); see also Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1207 (9th 18 Cir. 2011). In order to demonstrate a sufficient causal connection, “a plaintiff must show 19 the supervisor breached a duty to plaintiff which was the proximate cause of the injury.” 20 Starr, 652 F.3d at 1207 (quoting Redman v. Cnty. Of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1447 (9th 21 Cir. 1991)). “‘The requisite causal connection can be established . . . by setting in motion 22 a series of acts by others,’ . . . , or by ‘knowingly refus[ing] to terminate a series of acts by 23 others, which [the supervisor] knew or reasonably should have known would cause others 24 to inflict a constitutional injury.’” Id. at 1207-08 (internal citations omitted and alteration 25 in original). 26 “A supervisor can be liable in his individual capacity for his own culpable action or 27 inaction in the training, supervision, or control of his subordinates; for his acquiescence in 28 the constitutional deprivation; or for conduct that showed a reckless or callous indifference 13 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 to the rights of others.” Watkins v. City of Oakland, 145 F.3d 1087, 1093 (9th Cir. 1998) 2 (internal alteration and quotation marks omitted); see also Starr, 652 F.3d at 1207 (“[A] 3 plaintiff may state a claim against a supervisor for deliberate indifference based upon the 4 supervisor’s knowledge of and acquiescence in unconstitutional conduct by his or her 5 subordinates.”). Supervisory liability may also exist “if supervisory officials implement a 6 policy so deficient that the policy ‘itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights’ and is ‘the 7 moving force of a constitutional violation.’” Crowley, 734 F.3d at 977 (quoting Hansen v. 8 Black, 885 F.2d 642, 646 (9th Cir. 1989)); see also OSU Student Alliance v. Ray, 699 F.3d 9 1053, 1076 (9th Cir. 2012) (“Advancing a policy that requires subordinates to commit 10 constitutional violations is always enough for § 1983 liability, no matter what the required 11 mental state, so long as the policy proximately causes the harm—that is, so long as the 12 plaintiff’s constitutional injury in fact occurs pursuant to the policy.”). 13 2. Analysis 14 Defendants do not dispute, and the Court agrees, that Plaintiff’s skin cancer, or 15 suspected skin cancer, constitutes a serious medical need. Therefore, the Court now turns 16 to whether Plaintiff’s allegations are sufficient to plausibly suggest that Defendants were 17 deliberately indifferent to Plaintiff’s serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth 18 Amendment. In the FAC, Plaintiff makes two claims. The first claim arises out of 19 allegations there was a delay in medical care between the time Defendant Dr. Yu initialed 20 receipt of the pathology report finding that Plaintiff had skin cancer and the subsequent 21 referral for services. The second claim arises out of the excision of skin lesions on May 22 14, 2015 that Plaintiff deems “unnecessary” because the resulting biopsy disclosed no skin 23 cancer. 24 a. Delay in Following Up on Pathology Report 25 Defendants argue they cannot be held liable for deliberate indifference to medical 26 needs when Defendant Dr. Yu failed to immediately follow up with Plaintiff after receiving 27 the February 2015 pathology report because Plaintiff has not alleged any harm. (ECF No. 28 37-1 at 7.) Although Plaintiff alleges that a pathology report following a specialist14 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 recommended biopsy in February 2015 found that Plaintiff had “squamous cell carcinoma 2 at deep margins,” Plaintiff also alleges that as of May 14, 2015, a biopsy determined that 3 he only had “mild actinic keratosis” and no current malignancy. (FAC at 15-16, 34, Exh. 4 B.) Accordingly, Plaintiff has not alleged any harm resulting from Defendant Dr. Yu’s 5 delay in care from March 6, 2015 to May 14, 2015. 6 Deliberate indifference can be shown when “prison officials deny, delay or 7 intentionally interfere with medical treatment, or it may be shown by the way in which 8 prison physicians provide medical care.” McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1059 (citation omitted). 9 However, a mere delay in treatment does not constitute a violation of the Eighth 10 Amendment, unless the delay was harmful. Id. at 1060 (citing Shapley v. Nev. Bd. of State 11 Prison Comm’rs, 766 F.2d 404, 407 (9th Cir. 1985) (per curiam)); see also Gamble, 429 12 U.S. at 106 (“In order to state a cognizable claim, a prisoner must allege acts or omissions 13 sufficiently harmful to evidence deliberate indifference to serious medical needs”); Berry 14 v. Bunnell, 39 F.3d 1056, 1057 (9th Cir. 1994) (finding that the prisoner must establish that 15 a delay in treatment caused harm); Wood, 900 F.2d at 1335 (finding that a delay in 16 treatment does not constitute an Eighth Amendment violation if the delay does not cause 17 harm); Hunt, 865 F.2d at 200 (“[D]elay in providing a prisoner with [medical] treatment, 18 standing alone, does not constitute an [E]ighth [A]mendment violation.”). Although an 19 allegation of “substantial harm” is not required, “a prisoner can make no claim for 20 deliberate medical indifference unless the denial was harmful.” McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 21 1060; see also Jett, 439 F.3d at 1096.4 22 As Plaintiff has failed to allege any harm, his cause of action for deliberate 23 indifference to his serious medical needs against Defendants arising out of the alleged delay 24                                                 25 26 27 28 4 To the extent Plaintiff alleges the delay caused harm in the form of emotional distress, this allegation is insufficient. Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Pub.L. No. 104–134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996), a plaintiff cannot premise his or her constitutional violation solely on a mental or emotional injury. See 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e); Oliver v. Keller, 289 F.3d 623, 627-30 (9th Cir. 2002). 15 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 in responding to the February 2015 pathology report must be dismissed.5 2 b. Unnecessary Surgery 3 Plaintiff’s second claim is for “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the 4 Eighth Amendment due to “unnecessary surgery.” (FAC at 6, 17.) Plaintiff alleges that 5 he never had squamous cell carcinoma and didn’t need surgery, but that he underwent 6 surgery anyway. (Id. at 20, 36.) Plaintiff further alleges that his medical diagnosis was 7 “mild actinic keratosis” and that he was appropriately receiving treatment for this condition 8 from the skin specialist at Tri-City Medical Center. (Id. at 16.) In his opposition to 9 Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, Plaintiff clarifies that this case is “based on an unnecessary 10 surgery from a misdiagnosis.” (ECF No. 42 at 1.) 11 However, “[m]ere negligence in diagnosing or treating a medical condition, without 12 more, does not violate a prisoner’s Eighth Amendment rights.” McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 13 1059 (citation omitted). “Medical malpractice does not become a constitutional violation 14 merely because the victim is a prisoner.” Id. (citing Gamble, 429 U.S. at 106); see also 15 Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1057 (“A showing of medical malpractice or negligence is insufficient 16 to establish a constitutional deprivation under the Eighth Amendment.”). Moreover, a 17 difference of opinion between a physician and the prisoner—or between medical 18 professionals—concerning what medical care is appropriate does not amount to deliberate 19 indifference. Sanchez, 891 F.2d at 242; see also Jackson v. McIntosh, 90 F.3d 330, 332 20 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[A] plaintiff’s showing of nothing more than a difference of medical 21 opinion as to the need to pursue one course of treatment over another [i]s insufficient, as a 22 matter of law, to establish deliberate indifference.”).6 To show deliberate indifference, the 23 24 25 26 27 28                                                 5 The Court notes that Plaintiff claims in his opposition that he “never made a claim based on delay.” (ECF No. 42 at 7.) 6 Courts in the Ninth Circuit have routinely held that an allegation of unnecessary surgery is insufficient to state a claim for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. See, e.g., Merritt v. Dang, No. CVF046727OWW LJO P, 2006 WL 657125, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 14, 2006), report and recommendation adopted, 2006 WL 16 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 plaintiff “must show that the course of treatment the doctors chose was medically 2 unacceptable under the circumstances” and that the defendants “chose this course in 3 conscious disregard of an excessive risk to plaintiff’s health.” Jackson, 90 F.3d at 332 4 (internal citations omitted). 5 Here, Plaintiff alleges that he had a “specialist-recommended biopsy” in February 6 2015. (FAC at 15, 31, Exh. A(a).) On March 6, 2015, Defendant Dr. Yu allegedly received 7 and initialed the pathology report, which noted a finding of “squamous cell carcinoma at 8 deep margins,” i.e. skin cancer. (Id. at 12-13, 15, 31, Exh. A(a).) Plaintiff further alleges 9 that Defendant Dr. Yu apparently did not understand the pathology report, and certainly 10 did not follow up with Plaintiff or take appropriate action. (Id. at 12-13, 15, 31, 35, Exh. 11 A(a).) On May 1, 2015, Defendant Dr. Yu did ultimately generate a request for service for 12 plastic surgery. (Id. at 15, 31, Exh. A(a).) As a result, on May 14, 2015, biopsies were 13 conducted and three specimens were excised from both of Plaintiff’s clavicles and his left 14 shoulder. (Id. at 34, Exh. B.) The ultimate finding was that Plaintiff did not have skin 15 cancer, but mild actinic keratosis in all three specimens. 16 determined that Plaintiff “will require [ongoing] surveillance due to his higher risk for 17 future malignancy.” (Id.) In reliance on these allegations, Plaintiff claims Defendants are 18 liable because he was misdiagnosed and unnecessary surgery was performed. (Id.) However, CCHCS 19 Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff fails to state sufficient facts to raise a cognizable 20 Eighth Amendment claim. Plaintiff simply does not allege facts sufficient to show that 21 Defendants “knew of and disregarded a serious risk to his health” when he was referred for 22                                                 23 24 25 26 27 28 1085081 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 25, 2006) (finding that the plaintiff failed to allege an Eighth Amendment claim where the doctors treated him for lung cancer with surgery without first ordering a biopsy which would have revealed that surgery was unnecessary because the allegations only implied a misdiagnosis or disagreement with treatment); Villegas v. Cate, No. 1:10-cv-01917-AWI-SKO PC, 2012 WL 4863065, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 11, 2012), report and recommendation adopted, 2012 WL 5988394 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 29, 2012) (finding allegations that a spinal surgery which was later determined to be unnecessary or could possibly have been avoided insufficient to state a claim for deliberate indifference). 17 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 a biopsy, or that Defendants chose or approved a course of treatment that was “medically 2 unacceptable under the circumstances.” See Farmer, 511 U.S. at 837; Jackson, 90 F.3d at 3 332. Plaintiff appears to allege that Defendant Dr. Yu – and any Defendant who reviewed 4 the request for service – should have known that Plaintiff did not have squamous cell 5 carcinoma, and should have disregarded the pathology report, because Plaintiff did not 6 have growths that “appear as flaky, scaly areas that don’t heal” or are “darkened or gray 7 and feel hard,”7 and therefore chose a medically unacceptable course of treatment. (See 8 FAC at 16; ECF No. 42 at 1-3.) However, in light of Plaintiff’s allegations that Defendants 9 were in possession of, and aware of, a recent pathology report finding that Plaintiff had 10 skin cancer, Plaintiff’s contention that Defendants should not have referred him for a 11 biopsy to test various spots for skin cancer, but rather only treated him for actinic keratosis, 12 amounts to, at most, a difference of opinion in medical treatment between the prisoner and 13 medical staff.8 As allegations of a misdiagnosis or difference of opinion are insufficient to 14 establish that Defendants were deliberately indifferent to serious medical needs, Plaintiff 15 has failed to state a claim. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28                                                 7 Plaintiff alleges the Merck Manual of Medical Information relating to squamous cell carcinoma states: “These growths appear as flaky, scaly areas that don’t heal. They may also be darkened or gray and feel hard.” (FAC at 16.) Plaintiff further alleges the manual states that “Actinic Keratoses [sic] usually can be removed by freezing with liquid nitrogen and or ointment containing fluorouracil,” and that Plaintiff was receiving this treatment from the skin specialist at Tri-City medical center. (Id.) 8 The Court notes that pursuant to the UM Medical Services Review Procedure attached to the FAC by Plaintiff, Defendants were not required to discuss alternate medical strategies with Plaintiff prior to referral for a biopsy. (See FAC at 23-24.) Under the review procedure, Defendant Dr. Yu, as the primary care provider, was to provide Plaintiff with alternate strategies if his request for services was deferred, referred to the next level of review, or denied. (Id. at 24.) As Plaintiff underwent the biopsy shortly after the referral, there are no allegations suggesting that the original requested service was deferred or denied, thus necessitating a discussion about an alternate course of treatment under the review procedure. 18 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB) 1 For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds Plaintiff has failed to sufficiently allege a 2 deliberate indifference claim against Defendants and recommends that Defendants’ Motion 3 to Dismiss be granted for failure to state a claim. 4 IV. CONCLUSION 5 The Court submits this Report and Recommendation to United States District Judge 6 Larry A. Burns pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local Civil Rule 7 72.3. For the reasons outlined above, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that the District 8 Judge issue an order: 9 1. Approving and adopting this Report and Recommendation; and 10 2. Granting Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. 11 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that no later than December 8, 2017, any party to this 12 action may file written objections with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. The 13 document should be captioned “Objections to Report and Recommendation.” Any reply 14 to the objections shall be filed with the Court and served on all parties no later than 15 December 18, 2017. 16 The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may 17 waive the right to raise those objections on appeal of the Court’s order. See Turner v. 18 Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th 19 Cir. 1991). 20 21 22 23 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: November 8, 2017 _________________________ LOUISA S PORTER United States Magistrate Judge 24 25 26 27 28 19 16-cv-00457-LAB (DHB)

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?