STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS

Transcription

1 STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS SHARON BARNES and TIM BARNES, Plaintiffs-Appellees, UNPUBLISHED March 25, 2003 v No Oakland Circuit Court DR. IVANA VETTRAINO, DR. WILLIAM LC No NH BLESSED, PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL and MICHAEL ROTH, M.D., and JANE DOE, Defendants-Appellants, Defendant. Before: Owens, P.J., and Murphy and Cavanagh, JJ. PER CURIAM. This matter is before the Court on order of the Supreme Court to consider, as on leave granted, a trial court order denying defendants motion for summary disposition. 1 We affirm. Plaintiff Sharon Barnes learned she was pregnant in the spring of She saw defendant Roth for prenatal care, and he gave her a February 25, 1999 due date. He also recommended an amniocentesis because plaintiff Sharon Barnes was thirty-six years old. Due to delays caused by medical complications, as well as defendants alleged negligence in diagnosing and reporting the test results, plaintiffs did not learn that the baby would have various birth defects until November Plaintiffs elected to have the fetus aborted, but had to travel out of state for the procedure, which was marked by complications. Plaintiffs filed this action for damages. Defendants moved to dismiss under MCR 2.116(C)(8), asserting that this Court s ruling in Taylor v Kurapati, 236 Mich App 315; 600 NW2d 670 (1999), which abolished a cause of 1 Barnes v Vettraino, 464 Mich 876; 630 NW2d 625 (2001). -1-

2 action for wrongful birth, 2 effectively eliminated any cause of action based on the negligent diagnosis and reporting of test results affecting abortion decisions. The trial court disagreed, finding that the fact that plaintiffs were not seeking damages for the life of an unwanted child was a sufficient basis on which to distinguish Taylor. Thus, the trial court denied defendants motion for summary disposition. We denied defendants request for leave. However, as noted above, our Supreme Court remanded the matter to us for consideration as on leave granted. Generally, we review de novo a trial court s ruling on a motion for summary disposition. Beaudrie v Henderson, 465 Mich 124, 129; 631 NW2d 308 (2001). The Beaudrie Court added: A motion for summary disposition brought under MCR 2.116(C)(8) tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint on the basis of the pleadings alone. The purpose of such a motion is to determine whether the plaintiff has stated a claim upon which relief can be granted. The motion should be granted if no factual development could possibly justify recovery. [Id. at ] All well-pleaded facts are accepted as true and are construed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Madejski v Kotmar Ltd, 246 Mich App 441, 444; 633 NW2d 429 (2001). The general rule in Michigan is that a plaintiff may recover civil damages for medical malpractice, assuming, of course, that the plaintiff satisfies his or her evidentiary burdens. MCL a. Thus, a plaintiff may recover by proving that a medical professional s treatment deviated from a recognized standard of care and proximately caused a compensable injury. MCL a. In Taylor, we narrowed the scope of compensable injuries by abolishing the so-called wrongful birth cause of action. Taylor, supra at We noted the difficulty in determining a proper damages award in a wrongful birth case: This rule invites the jury in wrongful birth cases to weigh the costs to the parents of a disabled child of bearing and raising that child against the benefits to the parents of the life of that child. This rule thus asks the jury to quantify the unquantifiable with respect to the benefits side of the equation. Further, to posit a specific question: how does a jury measure the benefits to the parents of the whole life of the disabled child, when the potential of that child is unknown at the time of suit? How, for example, would a hypothetical Grecian jury, operating under Michigan jurisprudence, measure the benefits to the parents of the whole life of Homer, the blind singer of songs who created the Iliad and the Odyssey? Absent the ability to foretell the future and to quantify the value of the spoken and then the written word, how, exactly, would the jury do that? [Id. at 349.] 2 The Legislature has since abolished claims for wrongful birth, wrongful life, and wrongful conception, except in cases involving an intentional or grossly negligent act or omission. MCL

3 In addition, we noted that continuing to recognize the wrongful birth cause of action could lead down a slippery slope to the logical conclusion that a defective child, once born, should not be allowed to continue living. Id. at Here, as noted above, defendants contend that the Taylor decision prohibits any cause of action based on the negligent diagnosis and reporting of test results affecting abortion decisions. Defendants contend that the duty, breach, and causation elements of plaintiffs cause of action are the same as that in wrongful birth claims. In other words, because defendants failed to provide timely information about the condition of the fetus, plaintiffs ability to make a timely reproductive decision was adversely affected. However, even accepting defendants argument, we note that the damages element alone distinguishes the instant matter from a wrongful birth cause of action. Here, plaintiffs are not asking a jury to quantify the unquantifiable. See Taylor, supra at 349. Instead, plaintiffs are seeking to recover garden-variety medical malpractice damages, including economic losses. 3 Moreover, we are not persuaded that the Taylor decision eliminates any cause of action alleging medical malpractice involving an abortion decision. Rather, it represents our reasoned conclusion that we will not invite juries to weigh the cost of a child being born against the lost benefit of the child not being born. Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not err in finding the instant matter to be distinguishable from Taylor. 4 Further, we disagree with our dissenting colleague s suggestion that our ruling recognizes a wrongful infliction of abortion cause of action. Our ruling merely establishes that the Taylor exception to general medical malpractice principles does not apply where, as here, the jury is not being asked to compensate a parent for damages based on the birth of a disabled child. The dissent s suggestion is also factually inaccurate, inasmuch as plaintiffs are not seeking to recover for a wrongful infliction of abortion. 5 Rather, they are seeking medical malpractice damages for economic and non-economic losses attributable to a medical provider s purported negligent diagnosis and treatment. That these losses arose in the context of an abortion does not prevent the plaintiffs from pursuing compensation. Indeed, if plaintiffs allegations of negligence 3 We disagree with our dissenting colleague s concern that the jury would be required to necessarily weigh and offset any pain and suffering that was avoided in not giving birth to a potentially impaired child. Plaintiffs claim presumes that, given the fetus problems, an abortion would have taken place in any event, even if defendants had not been negligent. If anything, the jury would merely be asked to weigh the difference between the pain and suffering actually incurred, and the pain and suffering that would have been incurred in connection with a much earlier abortion. We are not persuaded that weighing these damages is meaningfully different from what juries are routinely asked to do in a variety of legal claims. More importantly, unlike Taylor, this case simply does not require the jury to quantify the unquantifiable that is, the value of a human life. 4 The instant matter is also distinguishable from our Legislature s abolishment of wrongful birth, wrongful life, and wrongful conception causes of action. Here, there is no allegation that defendants purported negligence caused or contributed to either a pregnancy or birth. 5 In fact, the concept of a wrongful infliction of abortion should probably be reserved for cases where a medical provider s misfeasance improperly causes an abortion. It seems inapplicable where, as here, the patient knowingly obtained an abortion. -3-

4 involved, for example, delayed diagnosis of a kidney ailment, we would certainly not preclude an attempt to recover. In other words, we believe that the instant matter falls sufficiently within the scope of an ordinary medical malpractice claim, and sufficiently outside the scope of a wrongful birth action, to allow plaintiffs cause of action to proceed. Therefore, we affirm the trial court s decision denying defendants motion for summary disposition. 6 Finally, we note that defendants also argue that plaintiffs cause of action is somehow barred because abortion is illegal in Michigan. This issue was not raised and addressed below, and, thus, has not been preserved for appeal. Camden v Kaufman, 240 Mich App 389, 400 n 2; 613 NW2d 335 (2000). Consequently, we decline to consider it. Affirmed. /s/ Donald S. Owens /s/ Mark J. Cavanagh 6 We agree that Michigan law makes a value judgment favoring childbirth. See Taylor, supra at 347. However, we would hope that, at the very least, Michigan law also favors the prompt disclosure of medical information even where disclosing that information is contrary to the health care provider s personal interests. We further note that, if defendants argument is accepted, a health care provider could avoid liability by not informing a patient about a mistaken diagnosis until the fetus reached viability. On the other hand, there is merit to our dissenting colleague s concern that our opinion would allow a health care provider to avoid liability by not ever informing the patient about a mistaken diagnosis. Of these two concerns, we believe that the latter involves a substantially greater ethical violation that would, hopefully, be less likely to occur. Moreover, it is plausible that such conduct would fall within our Legislature s statutory exception to its abolishment of the wrongful birth cause of action as an intentional or grossly negligent act or omission. MCL Regardless, we should not be intimidated into precluding recovery based on the concern that another party may resort to unethical measures to avoid liability for similar actions in the future. -4-

5 STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS SHARON BARNES and TIM BARNES, Plaintiffs-Appellees, UNPUBLISHED March 25, 2003 v No Oakland Circuit Court DR. IVANA VETTRAINO, DR. WILLIAM LC No NH BLESSED, PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL, and MICHAEL ROTH, M.D., and Defendants-Appellants, JANE DOE, Defendant. Before: Owens, P.J., and Murphy and Cavanagh, JJ. MURPHY, J. (dissenting). I write separately to respectfully voice my disagreement with the decision of the trial court and the opinion of the majority, which, perhaps unintentionally, essentially recognize a cause of action for wrongful infliction of abortion. Such a cause of action is contrary to the public policy of this state. I would reverse the trial court s decision and grant defendants motion for summary disposition because the claim brought by plaintiffs is not one upon which relief can be granted under MCR 2.116(C)(8). It is beyond dispute that the public policy of Michigan, while limited by decisions of the United States Supreme Court, favors life and proscribes elective abortions. MCL a ( It is the policy of this state to prohibit the appropriation of public funds for the purpose of providing an abortion to a person who receives welfare benefits unless the abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. ); MCL (f) ( This state has an interest in protecting women and, subject to United States constitutional limitations and Supreme Court decisions, this state has an interest in protecting the fetus. ); Doe v Dep t of Social Services, 439 Mich 650, 678; 487 NW2d 166 (1992); Taylor v Kurapati, 236 Mich App 315, 347; 600 NW2d 670 (1999). I also note MCL and MCL , which impose criminal penalties for administering a drug or employing an instrument to procure a miscarriage or abortion if the fetus is viable, -1-

6 subject to certain limitation. See People v Bricker, 389 Mich 524, ; 208 NW2d 172 (1973). Moreover, the case law in this state supports this basic principle by prohibiting certain causes of action dealing with subjects of reproduction, contraception, and the decision to avoid or terminate pregnancy where negligence has occurred. Thus, a claim for wrongful life, a tort action brought on behalf of a child born with a birth defect in which it is alleged that but for the negligent advice to the parents, the child would not have been born, is not recognized in Michigan. Eisbrenner v Stanley, 106 Mich App 357, 366; 308 NW2d 209 (1981), abrogated in part on other grounds in Taylor, supra. Similarly, a claim for wrongful pregnancy or wrongful conception, which involves negligence relating to sterilization or contraception wherein a party seeks to recover as part of their damages the customary costs of raising and educating a normal healthy child is also not recognized. Rouse v Wesley, 196 Mich App 624, 627, 631; 494 NW2d 7 (1992). Most recently, this Court in Taylor, supra at , addressed a case wherein the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were negligent with respect to an ultrasound performed on Brandy Taylor during her pregnancy, and that had there been no negligence on the part of medical personnel, the ultrasound would have revealed that the child had gross anatomical deformities. The plaintiffs alleged that the failure to reveal the disabilities deprived [them] of their right to make a reproductive decision regarding the pregnancy. Id. at 321. The plaintiffs pursued, in part, a cause of action for wrongful birth. Id. at 318. This Court, after a thorough review of the case law concerning wrongful birth, life, and conception, noted that our jurisprudence had partially repudiated the birth-related tort of wrongful conception and totally rejected the birth-related tort of wrongful life[,]... and ha[d] continued to recognize the tort of wrongful birth. Id. at 341. The Taylor panel reconsidered pre-1990 decisions establishing the wrongful birth tort and held that, as a matter of law, it has no continued place in our jurisprudence, thereby abolishing the tort. Id. at The holding was predicated on the inherent dangers of applying the benefits rule, 1 under which a jury was asked to quantify the unquantifiable, and the Court emphasized the lack of any approval of the wrongful birth tort by the Michigan Supreme Court or our Legislature. Id. at The Taylor panel, finding that it was not required to recognize a cause of action for wrongful birth, stated: Because the state has no obligation to affirmatively aid a woman in obtaining an elective abortion by paying for it, the state similarly has no obligation to take the affirmative step of imposing civil liability on a party for failing to provide a pregnant woman with information that would make her more likely to have an elective, and eugenic, abortion. [Id. at 348.] 1 The benefits rule requires the jury in wrongful birth cases to weigh the costs to the parents of bearing and raising a child against the benefits to the parents of the life of that child. Taylor, supra at

7 I interpret this language to require us to hold that plaintiffs here would have no cause of action against defendants because the essence of plaintiffs claim is that defendants failed to provide Mrs. Barnes with accurate and timely information that would have made her more likely to have an elective abortion. I find it to be a contradiction to say in one breath that the policy of this state favors life and proscribes abortion, and in another breath rule that a party can recover civil damages through the Michigan legal system arising out of a choice to have an abortion, where no damages, in negligence actions, are recoverable for wrongful birth if the choice is to give birth. 2 The majority opinion opens the door to lawsuits for damages associated with an elective abortion decision under not only circumstances that exist here, but situations where a woman conceives through the negligence of a defendant. If plaintiffs are permitted to pursue their action and recover damages, so can any other party who alleges a negligent act that led to the painful decision to terminate a pregnancy. The majority has necessarily embraced a new cause of action for wrongful infliction of abortion, or in other words, a cause of action for damages associated with the decision to undergo an abortion. The case at bar presents a somewhat unique set of circumstances, in that the factual background does not fit cleanly under either the wrongful birth or wrongful conception scenario. Mrs. Barnes was not deprived of the opportunity to seek an abortion as in a wrongful birth case and some wrongful conception cases (physician fails to diagnose the existence of a pregnancy and the mother gives birth to a healthy child). See Taylor, supra at 323, Defendants alleged actions also did not result in causing Mrs. Barnes to conceive as in other wrongful conception cases. Id. at Rather, plaintiffs circumstances share qualities similar to both wrongful birth and wrongful conception actions. There is an alleged failure to identify abnormalities as in a wrongful birth scenario, yet an opportunity existed to make a decision between terminating the pregnancy and giving birth as in a wrongful conception scenario. Id. at 323, Plaintiffs action is predicated on the claim that Mrs. Barnes was deprived of the opportunity to undergo a regular abortion procedure as opposed to a late-term abortion procedure. However, Mrs. Barnes also had the opportunity and choice to carry the pregnancy to term and give birth. The majority opinion would allow her a civil recovery for choosing to terminate the pregnancy. This holding would necessarily allow any woman, who through an act of negligence is confronted with a decision to choose an abortion or choose birth, to recover damages for terminating the pregnancy. 3 2 My comments and thoughts closely parallel those of Judge Titone in his dissenting opinion in Lynch v Bay Ridge Obstetrical & Gynecological Associates, PC, 72 NY2d 632, ; 532 NE2d 1239 (1988). 3 I disagree with the majority s statement that it is factually inaccurate to conclude that the majority s ruling recognizes a wrongful infliction of abortion cause of action. Whether through negligence that causes a pregnancy to occur or under the circumstances that exist here, a plaintiff is confronted with an abortion decision that would not have been posed but for the negligence of a defendant. If the abortion is undergone, it can be stated that but for the defendant s negligence, in part, the abortion would not have occurred. Therefore, it is not improper to deem such cases as one seeking recovery for the wrongful infliction of abortion. I recognize that here, an abortion would have taken place regardless of any negligence; however, (continued ) -3-

8 I am sympathetic with the suffering of plaintiffs in this case; however, recognition of a cause of action for wrongful infliction of abortion is not sound in light of Michigan s public policy and this Court s decision in Taylor, which we are bound to follow. MCR 7.215(I). If Mrs. Barnes had decided not to terminate her pregnancy, she would have no right to seek recovery, under a negligence theory, for the mental anguish that she would have unquestionably felt after the birth. In allowing this case to proceed to trial, the jury will be required to place a monetary value on the suffering Mrs. Barnes experienced in undergoing the late-term abortion, but it will also be required, in assessing damages, to necessarily weigh and offset any pain and suffering that was avoided in not giving birth to a potentially impaired child. 4 This would be asking the trier of fact in my opinion to quantify the unquantifiable, which is the reason that the wrongful birth tort and the accompanying benefits rule were rejected in our jurisprudence. Taylor, supra at I cannot help but be concerned by the message that the majority sends when it allows Mrs. Barnes to recover while denying relief to similarly situated women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term. A rule creating such a preference for the decision to undergo an abortion is unquestionably inconsistent with public policy. Rewarding a woman s decision to terminate her pregnancy with an opportunity to recover for an injury that is withheld from the woman who decides to give birth requires the court to embroil itself in value judgments that it quite properly should avoid. Also, it is a troublesome concept to allow a cause of action that potentially discourages the medical profession from correcting its mistake upon discovery, ( continued) Mrs. Barnes was faced with a different and more complicated abortion procedure, not comparable to a typical abortion. It is not incorrect to state that defendants, in part, and if proven at trial, inflicted a late-term abortion on Mrs. Barnes. Thus begins a slippery slope to recognize a cause of action in any situation where negligence forced an abortion decision upon a woman, and the woman chooses to terminate the pregnancy. 4 I disagree with my colleagues that an assessment by the jury of circumstances concerning a hypothetical birth will be unnecessary on the basis that plaintiffs claim presumes an abortion would have taken place regardless of any negligence. In tort actions, [i]t is well-settled that an injured party has a duty to exercise reasonable care to minimize damages, including obtaining proper medical or surgical treatment. Klanseck v Anderson Sales & Service, Inc, 426 Mich 78, 91; 393 NW2d 356 (1986); see also M Civ JI (mitigation of damages). Here, defendants conceivably will argue that, in the face of any negligence, Mrs. Barnes could have minimized any damages by carrying the pregnancy to term, which argument will necessarily entail a decision by the jury whether giving birth would have been reasonable and thus asking a juror to place value judgments on life with a potentially impaired child versus abortion. Moreover, merely because plaintiffs would have had an abortion if there had been no negligence, it does not follow that the jury should not consider any offset for pain and suffering that was avoided in not giving birth; it remains relevant. The majority fails to recognize that besides comparing a typical abortion and a late-term abortion, giving birth was an option that must be considered in unison in assessing this case and any damages to be awarded. 5 I also note the arduous task that a jury would be called upon to undertake in delineating the pain and suffering associated with a normal abortion, which Mrs. Barnes states she would have undergone had there been no negligence, and the pain and suffering caused by a late-term abortion. This delineation will be necessary to properly determine damages if this type of cause of action is permitted. -4-

9 because to do so may expose it to liability if an abortion occurs whereas there would be no liability if the parties are not informed and the woman proceeds to give birth. Despite the temptation to provide a means to seek recompense and accountability for the negligence of medical personnel, the law cannot provide a remedy for every injury suffered. Pursuant to binding authority found in Taylor and Michigan public policy as enunciated in case law and statutory provisions, I would reverse the judgment denying defendants motion for summary disposition. I respectfully dissent. 6 /s/ William B. Murphy 6 I additionally have concerns about the apparently illegal nature of a late-term abortion under Michigan law; however, there is no need to address that matter in light of my conclusion that plaintiffs cause of action should be dismissed. See generally Orzel v Scott Drug Co, 449 Mich 550; 537 NW2d 208 (1995). -5-