Court Opinion

ID: 9598934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:13:15.92729+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:43.410826
License: Public Domain

ROSE, Chief Justice,
specially concurring.
I agree with the conclusion reached in the majority opinion which holds that under the circumstances of this case no cause of action for “wrongful life” lies. I also agree with the majority opinion that the appellants have presented sufficient facts to state a claim which we have delineated as one for “wrongful pregnancy.” As the majority opinion observes, a failure to recognize a cause of action for “wrongful pregnancy” in Wyoming would have been contrary to the great weight of authority. See: Phillips v. United States, 508 F.Supp. 544, 549 (D.S.C.1981). I do, however, feel that by refusing to allow the parties, on remand, to present evidence relating to the cost of rearing the children as a recoverable element of damages, the majority of the court have wrongfully denied the appellants the right to recover all of their provable damages. In other words, I am of the opinion that this court should adopt the “benefit approach” with respect to recovery of the cost of rearing a child in a “wrongful pregnancy” action.
For me, the cause of action which is urged in this appeal is the same as any other medical malpractice action. That is, I would have held that the plaintiffs-appellants must first establish that an act or omission by a physician has breached the applicable standard of care and that the breach was the proximate cause of the injury or damage suffered by them. Harris v. Grizzle, Wyo., 625 P.2d 747 (1981). Simply stated, a medical malpractice action is the same as any other negligence action and, upon proof of negligence, the plaintiff should be allowed to recover for any damages proximately caused by the negligence. Vassos v. Roussalis, Wyo., 625 P.2d 768, 772 (1981). The fact that this particular claim involves some moralistic and social overtones having to do with contraception and childbirth should not be permitted to become the handmaiden for the destruction of our established notions of tort law. As in all negligence cases, a plaintiff in a “wrongful pregnancy” action should be given the opportunity to prove any damage which is a direct or proximate result of the claimed negligence. In my judgment the majority opinion, for unsound reasons, deprives the appellants of the opportunity to establish *294all of their possible damages, and I therefore file this specially concurring opinion.
To me, it is not arguable, nor does the majority opinion suggest, that the birth of the children in this case was not a proximate cause of the failed sterilization procedure. This point stands uncontested because the record reflects that all of the parties chose the tubal-ligation procedure, at least to some degree, out of a desire to control the size of their families. It is also fair to say that one of the foreseeable events to arise from the negligent performance of the operation is the unexpected pregnancy and later birth of an unplanned child. Considering the intent of the parties at the time that the tubal ligation procedure is chosen as a contraceptive measure, it follows that a direct and proximate result of the negligent performance of the operation can and most likely will be the mother’s impregnation and the consequent birth of a child. Proximate cause is that which is a natural and probable consequence of an act of negligence, Frazier v. Pokorny, Wyo., 349 P.2d 324 (1960), rather than that which is extraordinary. Here, the unexpected pregnancy of the mother is a direct and proximate result of the negligent performance of the tubal ligation and the plaintiff appellants, should, therefore, be allowed to present evidence of damage flowing from the negligent acts.
As the majority opinion observes, the principal dispute in all of the reported “wrongful pregnancy” cases has to do with proving damages and, as further discussed, the courts have settled upon four theories. The first theory, espoused by the older cases, holds that parents may not recover damages for the negligent performance of a sterilization operation which results in the birth of a child, because of the view that, as a matter of law, the benefits of having the unplanned child in the family outweigh any possible damages which the parents could conceivably experience. Shaheen v. Knight, 11 Pa.D. & C.2d 41 (1957). How-
ever, such outdated views have given way to the recognition by most courts that, upon proof of negligent performance of the sterilization procedure, the parents could recover some form of compensation as damage. The split of authority arose out of the issue with which we are here concerned, namely, the right of the parents to recover damages for the costs associated with rearing the unplanned child to majority. One line of authority, which the majority members of this court have chosen to follow, permits the parents to present evidence of damages associated with the operation, term of pregnancy and subsequent birth; however, no damages for the costs of rearing the child are permitted to be proven. See: Boone v. Mullendore, Ala., 416 So.2d 718, (1982); Coleman v. Garrison, 349 A.2d 8 (Del.Supr.1975); Wilbur v. Kerr, Ark., 628 S.W.2d 568 (1982). As a basic proposition, this theory of damages is, to some degree, bottomed in an antiquated public-policy notion which holds that the birth of a child is invariably a benefit that outweighs any economic detriment associated with raising the child to majority. On the other hand, some courts have recognized that as a matter of general tort principle the parents of unplanned children in a “wrongful pregnancy” action should be able to prove whatever damages flow from the wrongdoing including such damages as are associated with the costs of rearing the child to majority. With respect to this latter approach, two more views have arisen. The first of these permits the parents to recover all of the costs associated with raising the child to majority, without any offset for the benefits derived by the parents which inevitably result from their association with the child. See: Cockrum v. Baumgartner, 99 Ill.App.3d 271, 54 Ill. Dec. 751, 425 N.E.2d 968 (1981); Custodio v. Bauer, 251 Cal.App.2d 303, 59 Cal.Rptr. 463 (1967). The second approach allows recovery of all the costs associated with raising the child but requires an offset for the benefits derived by the parents from the parent-child relationship.1 See: Ochs v. *295Borrelli, 187 Conn. 253, 445 A.2d 883 (1982); Mason v. Western Pennsylvania Hospital, 286 Pa.Supr. 354, 428 A.2d 1366 (1981); Phillips v. United States, supra; Sherlock v. Stillwater Clinic, Minn., 260 N.W.2d 169 (1977); Troppi v. Scarf, 31 Mich.App. 240, 187 N.W.2d 511 (1971). This last-mentioned approach, as noted in the majority opinion, is sometimes referred to as the “benefit rule.”
In my opinion, considering my previous conclusion that the birth of the unplanned child is a proximate cause of a negligent sterilization operation, the proper approach to a “wrongful pregnancy” claim is to recognize the right of the parent to recover, upon proof, the costs associated with rearing the child. I also believe that the more reasoned rule is that discussed by the previously outlined opinions adopting the “benefit rule.”
As mentioned earlier, the cases adopting the “benefit rule” for allowing the parents in a “wrongful pregnancy” case to recover the rearing costs for the “unplanned child” premise their holdings on a rejection of the proffered public-policy concept which holds that the birth of a child, as a matter of law, always results in greater benefit than cost to the parents. The rationale for the benefit rule was well stated in Troppi v. Scarf, supra, 187 N.W.2d at 517:
“Contraceptives are used to prevent the birth of healthy children. To say that for reasons of public policy contraceptive failure can result in no damage as a matter of law ignores the fact that tens of millions of persons use contraceptives daily to avoid the very result which the defendant would have us say is always a benefit, never a detriment. Those tens of millions of persons, by their conduct, express the sense of the community.”
Another family-planning concept relied upon by the courts has to do with the recent development in the law recognizing that questions of family size and procreation are personal decisions protected by privacy rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 85 S.Ct. 1678, 14 L.Ed.2d 510 (1965); Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 93 S.Ct. 705, 35 L.Ed.2d 147 (1973). Thus, these courts conclude that adoption of a public-policy concept would impair the exercise of a constitutionally protected right. See Troppi v. Scarf, supra, 187 N.W.2d at 519; Ochs v. Borrelli, supra, 445 A.2d at 885. In simplified terms, these decisions recognize that current trends and developments in the areas of family planning and contraception make invalid the assertion of a “public policy” exception to recoverable damages for the negligent performance of a sterilization operation that results in the birth of unplanned children. The cases also recognize that a stronger public-policy argument can be made in favor of the need to prevent the negligent performance of operations no matter what their character. Boone v. Mullendore, supra, 416 So.2d at 725 (Faulkner, specially concurring); Troppi v. Scarf, supra, 187 N.W.2d at 517.
Likewise, these same cases reject the position taken by a majority of this court which holds that the costs and benefits associated with raising a child are so speculative that a jury is incapable of fixing damages. The Supreme Court of Connecticut, in Ochs v. Borrelli, supra, 445 A.2d at 886, said:
“Although we recognize that this balancing test requires the jury to mitigate economic damages by weighing them against noneconomic factors, we reject the defendants’ claim that such a weighing process is ‘impermissibly speculative.’ We see no basis for distinguishing this case from other tort cases in which the trier of fact fixes damages for wrongful death; * * * or for loss of consortium.” (Citations and footnotes omitted).
I agree with the Connecticut court. I must say that it seems strange to me that *296the majority of our court would suggest that Wyoming has a public policy which precludes the parents from receiving compensation for the costs of rearing the children upon proper proof. I hazard the suggestion that such a view can only be derived from the personal sensibilities of each member of the court rather than from a formulated public policy. This becomes the more obvious when it is noted that the Wyoming legislature has provided for state assistance in areas of family planning and birth control.2 Furthermore, it has always been the policy of this state and its court system to provide relief to those injured by tort-feasors and to authorize compensation for damages proximately caused by acts of negligence. To deprive the plaintiffs, in the present case, the opportunity of proving and receiving compensation for all their damages contravenes this most basic policy. Finally, I reject the majority opinion’s holding that proof of damages of the costs and benefits associated with raising the child are too speculative to permit their recognition. The law of this state already permits jury speculation to some degree when computations for damages for wrongful death,3 pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life4 are considered. I can see no meaningful difference between the damages claimed here and those which we have said may be weighed and determined by the triers of fact in other damage actions. Wyoming law does not require that damages be proved with mathematical accuracy but only with a reasonable degree of certainty, and speculative issues must be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, Douglas Reservoirs Water Users Association v. Cross, Wyo., 569 P.2d 1280 (1977); Wheatland Irrigation District v. McGuire, Wyo., 562 P.2d 287 (1977), and not by a general proscription which has the effect of defeating a party’s right even to raise the question of damages.
I would here suggest why the “benefit rule” is the most tenable solution to the damage issue structured by this case.
First off — as has been noted — the “benefit rule” is premised upon the proposition that the birth of an unplanned child can be a proximate result of a negligently performed sterilization operation. Secondly, the “benefit-rule” acknowledges that there is no sound reason for not allowing the parents to recover as an element of damage the costs associated with rearing the child to majority in a wrongful-pregnancy case. These factors are also recognized by those courts who have adopted the approach permitting the parents to recover all of the costs without any offset for the benefits received. See: Cockrum v. Baumgartner, supra. However, unlike the latter holdings, the courts adopting the “benefit rule” recognize that various tangible and intangible benefits accrue to the parents of the child and, therefore, to prevent unjust enrichment, these benefits should and can be weighed by the trier of fact in computing damages. Boone v. Mullendore, supra, 416 So.2d at 726 (Faulkner, specially concurring). In other words, through application of the “benefit rule” the courts give recognition to the philosophy that the costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an unplanned child to the family will vary depending upon the circumstances of the parents. As was stated in Troppi v. Scarf, supra, 187 N.W.2d at 519:
“The essential point, of course, is that the trier must have the power to evaluate the benefit according to all the circumstances of the case presented. Family size, family income, age of the parents, and marital status are some, but not all, the factors which the trier must consider in determining the extent to which the birth of a particular child represents a benefit to his *297parents. That the benefits so conferred and calculated will vary widely from case to case is inevitable.”
By recognizing these considerations, the “benefit rule” encourages and entrusts the trier of fact with the responsibility of weighing and considering all of the factors associated with the birth of the unplanned child in a given “wrongful pregnancy” case. For me, it is the soundest approach for dealing with the right of the parents to prove their damages caused by the unplanned birth of a child without, at the same time, uprooting the law of tort damages.
As a final note, it also occurs to me that the laundry list of damages recited in the majority opinion fails to include a number of recoverable damages recognized by the law of Wyoming. For instance, although we recognized in Mariner v. Marsden, Wyo., 610 P.2d 6 (1980) the right of a plaintiff to prove damages for loss of enjoyment of life, the majority opinion in this ease does not include this element of damage in the list of recoverable damages. It is now settled in this state that loss of enjoyment of life is a recognized element of damage in any negligence case and the plaintiffs in the case at bar should have the opportunity to claim and prove the same. Also, in Bates v. Donnafield, Wyo., 481 P.2d 347 (1971) this court recognized the common-law right of a husband to recover for loss of consortium and that the facts underlying the plaintiff’s claim should permit them to admit evidence with respect to this element of damage.5
For the foregoing reasons, I would have held that the parents are entitled, under their “wrongful pregnancy” claim, to recover damages associated with rearing the children to majority, said damage claims to be submitted to the trier of fact under the “benefit rule” discussed herein. I therefore concur in the majority opinion only insofar as a cause of action for “wrongful pregnancy” is recognized, but I would have permitted the appellants, on remand, to admit evidence of all damages proximately caused by the appellee’s alleged negligence, instead of just part of them.

. This so-called “benefit rule” has been defined by the courts through an application of Restatement (Second) Torts, § 920, p. 509 (1979), which provides:
*295“When the defendant’s tortious conduct has caused harm to the plaintiff or to his property and in so doing has conferred a special benefit to the interest of the plaintiff that was harmed, the value of the benefit conferred is considered in mitigation of damages, to the extent that this is equitable.”

. See §§ 35-14-101 through 35-14-106 for the applicable statutory provisions.

. In Coliseum Motor Co. v. Hester, 43 Wyo. 298, 3 P.2d 105 (1931) we determined that the loss of society, care and comfort of the deceased was a compensable element of damages in a wrongful-death action. Also, present § 1-38-102, W.S.1977, Cum.Supp.1982, provides that recovery can be had for companionship, society, and comfort.

.For a discussion of damages for loss of enjoyment of life see Mariner v. Marsden, Wyo., 610 P.2d 6 (1980).

. I would note that we also held in Bates that a wife at common law could not recover for loss of consortium, and, in the absence of a statute, such was not a recoverable damage in Wyoming. However, recently the United States District Court, District of Wyoming, in a learned and far-reaching opinion authored by United States District Judge Brimmer, held that such a rule was unconstitutional. Sheeler v. Trans-Chem, Inc., 520 F.Supp. 117 (D.C.Wyo.1981). Such questions as were dealt with by Judge Brimmer are not, however, presented for review in the case at bar.