Dr. Wolodzko Case Study

The plaintiff lives in Michigan with her husband and children and was undergoing marital difficulties. She had intended to file for divorce. December 6, 1963 the defendant appeared at her home and introduced himself as “Dr. Wolodzko.” He had never met the plaintiff or husband prior to the visit and he stated that the husband had called him. The plaintiff testified that the defendant told her that he was there to just ask about the husband’s back and that he never told her he was a psychiatrist. Furthermore, the defendant could not remember if he told her he was a psychiatrist. Then following a domestic fight with her husband, the plaintiff spoke to Dr. Wolodzko at the suggestion of a policewoman at which time he told her he was a psychiatrist. December 30, 1963 Dr. Wolodzko and Dr. Smyk, at the request of the husband, and with no authorization, knowledge, or consent of the plaintiff, signed a statement saying they examined her and found her to be mentally ill. This certificate was filed with the Wayne County Probate Court (January 3, 1964). Then the judge ordered the plaintiff to be admitted to Ardmore Acres and was transported there on January 4, 1964.

She was held by three nurses and an attendant and injected with medication by force. Then the plaintiff found an unlocked phone near the end of her hospitalization and made a call to her relatives in Texas. She was released by court order (January 27, 1964). Ethel Stowers filed a suit alleging false imprisonment, assault and batter, and malpractice, against the defendants. The court granted the motion as to the count of malpractice only, and allowed the counts of assault/batter and false imprisonment to go to the