In Practice

Legal liability for failure to prevent pregnancy (wrongful pregnancy)

Lodewicus Charl Coetzee

Abstract


Can the conception of a child ever constitute damage recoverable in law? This article considers the liability of healthcare practitioners for failing to prevent a pregnancy. Developments leading to the recognition of wrongful pregnancy as a cause of (legal) action in South Africa (SA), are briefly outlined. The salient points of the relevant judgments by SA courts are set out to expose the rationale underlying the judgments and to highlight that recognition of liability for wrongful pregnancy resulted from an application of fair and equitable principles of general application. Conduct that could expose practitioners to liability is identified from reported cases and inferred from general principles laid down in case law.


Author's affiliations

Lodewicus Charl Coetzee, Department of Criminal and Procedural Law, College of Law, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

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Keywords

Law; Wrongful pregnancy; Wrongful conception; Liability for failing to prevent pregnancy; Vasectomy; Tubal ligation; Misrepresentation; Delict; Breach of contract; Contraception; Mukheiber v Raath; Edouard v Administrator, Natal

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2017;107(5):394-398. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i5.12073

Article History

Date submitted: 2017-04-25
Date published: 2017-04-25

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