Door closed on wrongful life case.(risk of congenital abnormalities not explained)

Australian Doctor,  May, 2006  by Anastasopoulos, Christina

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By Christina Anastasopoulos

THE High Court has ruled that children born with deformities undetected in utero cannot sue for damages because it could not be determined whether the alternative -- being aborted during pregnancy -- is a better or worse outcome.

Last week's verdict involved two cases, one of which followed a four-year legal battle involving 25-year-old Alexia Harriton -- born blind, deaf and intellectually disabled -- and her mother's then GP, Dr Paul Stephens.

The case centred on the alleged failure by Dr Stephens to advise Ms Harriton's pregnant mother, who ...

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