Prior to the case of McFarlane v Tayside Health Board (2000) in which a wrongful birth claim was made in respect of a healthy child being conceived following a failed vasectomy, general maintenance costs relating to bringing up the child were considered as part of the claim. However, in this case, the House of Lords eventually decided such costs could not be recovered.
The precedent set since 2000, means wrongful birth claims do not include the normal costs of raising a healthy child to adulthood, so these can no longer form not form part of any compensation settlement.
You may be able to recover specific additional costs incurred by your family, for example, if your child lives with a disability or other ongoing health problems that require expensive care and treatment.
You can also claim additional compensation if you can show that the wrongful birth removed your ability to control your family's size.