Judgment affirmed, with costs.
In order to establish a prima facie case of medical malpractice, expert testimony is required to establish proximate cause unless the causal relationship is readily apparent to the trier of fact (Lipsius v White, 91 A.D.2d 271). In this case, it is not readily apparent that the alleged damages were caused by the alleged malpractice of defendant. Since a jury may not be permitted to speculate as to the cause of an injury, expert opinion evidence was needed in order for plaintiff to establish a prima facie case (Hirsch v Safian, 257 App. Div. 212). As none was offered, the complaint was properly dismissed. Mangano, J.P., Bracken, O'Connor and Weinstein, JJ., concur.