Failed Vasectomy – Wife Has No Claim

James’ vasectomy did not go as planned. His wife Corrine became pregnant. They filed suit against his urologist.

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that Corrine could not file suit against the doctor because there was not a physican-patient relationship. In short, the Court ruled that Corrine did not establish that her husband’s doctor owed her a duty of care.

The dismissal of James’ claim on the ground of contributory negligence was also affirmed. (In Maryland, contributory negligence is still an absolute bar to recovery.) The basis for the claim of contributory negligence included the failure to follow doctor’s orders.

Read the opinion here.

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