The Georgia Court of Appeals had a succinct answer when asked whether a hospital can enforce an arbitration agreement a patient signed at some point in the past when that same patient failed to sign such agreements for subsequent, unrelated procedures.

“The short answer is: No,” wrote Presiding Judge Stephen Dillard in upholding a DeKalb County judge who reached the same conclusion, allowing a medical malpractice action against Emory Healthcare and several doctors to proceed.