Court Opinion

ID: 9737928
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:37:09.69659+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:02.519557
License: Public Domain

Boyle, J.
(concurring). I concur in the recognition of "lost opportunity to survive” as injury for which tort law should allow recovery in proportion to the extent of the lost chance of survival, ante, p 466, provided that the negligence of the defendant *473more probably than not caused the loss of opportunity. However, I would emphasize that the Court today is called upon to decide the viability of a claim for "lost opportunity” only where the ultimate harm to the victim is death. Thus, any language in the lead opinion suggesting that a similar cause of action might lie for a lost opportunity of avoiding lesser physical harm is dicta. Whether the social and policy factors which justify compensation for a lost chance of survival would justify recovery for the loss of a chance to avoid some lesser harm is a question for another day.
Cavanagh, J., concurred with Boyle, J.