All actions against physicians, surgeons, dentists, medical institutions, or other health care providers for liability, error, mistake, or failure to cure, whether based on contract or tort, must be commenced within two years next after the act, or omission, or failure giving rise to the claim, and not afterwards; provided, that if the cause of action is not discovered and could not reasonably have been discovered within such period, then the action may be commenced within six months from the date of such discovery or the date of discovery of facts which would reasonably lead to such discovery, whichever is earlier; provided further, that in no event may the action be commenced more than four years after such act; except, that an error, mistake, act, omission, or failure to cure giving rise to a claim which occurred before September 23, 1975, shall not in any event be barred until the expiration of one year from such date.
Moore v. Averi, 534 So. 2d 250 (Ala. 1988). (The plaintiff brought a malpractice action against a podiatrist alleging breach of contract and negligent treatment. The court found that the statute of limitations begins to run at the end of the improper course of examination and treatment.)
Tucker v. Nichols, 431 So. 2d 1263 (Ala. 1983). (Malpractice plaintiff has six months after he discovers he has a cause of action in which to institute suit, whether the time of discovery falls within the two-year limitation period or not. The case involved the failure to diagnose a fracture of the vertebra.)
Ex parte Sonnier, 707 So. 2d 635, 641 (Ala. 1998). (Misrepresentations that the plaintiff had cancer, when in fact she did not, tolled the running of the statute of limitations on a malpractice claim based on those misrepresentations.)
Horn v. Citizen's Hosp., 425 So. 2d 1065 (Ala. 1982). (Medical Liability Act bars malpractice actions brought more than four years after the negligent act or omission giving rise to the claim. Fraudulent concealment by the physician does not affect this absolute bar.)