There are many forms of negligence, and other tortious conduct, that can lead to the injury of a baby while still in the mother’s womb. Many people’s first thoughts would be to look at the potential tortious conduct of a doctor, which may have caused injury to a baby due to medical negligence. Medical malpractice attorneys have found that most courts have allowed for the recovery of damages when a child is injured while “en ventre sa mere” (meaning “in the mother’s belly”) and is born alive. This is because the negligence of a defendant has caused some sort of injury to the young baby and damages are reasonable even though the child was not yet born. A minority of courts have actually denied the recovery of damages if the child was not yet born, even though the negligence will affect the baby for years down the road.
A Startling Approach by Defense Attorneys
Some lawyers who have represented defendants in these sorts of cases have come forth with surprising, if not shocking, legal arguments to avoid liability. Some attorneys in this situation have argued that there can not possibly be negligence because that tort requires a duty and a breach of duty. The argument follows that a defendant could not have possibly had a duty of care towards a being that is not yet born. This approach is very rarely accepted because it sets forth bad public policy and it tends to disregard the values we tend to hold as a society. Negligence that harms an unborn baby is just as undesirable as any negligence that could injure any one else. Thankfully, medical malpractice attorneys agree that today, recovery of damages is generally acceptable when a baby is injured prior to birth due to some act of negligence.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If you or a family member have recently been the victim of medical negligence, it is possible that you would like to speak with our medical malpractice attorneys. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.