Liability Related to Diagnosis and Transmission of AIDS

See, e.g., Trapp v. Metz, 28 N.Y.2d 913, 323 N.Y.S.2d 166, 271 N.E.2d 697 (1971) (admitted negligent diagnosis caused two-year delay in surgery for cancer); Chester v. United States, 403 F. Supp. 458 (W.D. Pa. 1975), aff'd 546 F.2d 415 (3d Cir. 1976) (physician's negligence in failure to order cancer tests permitted metastasis and death).

Roberts , Treatment of opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), in Ma P Armstrong D , eds., The acquired immune deficiency syndrome and infections of homosexual men, 1984: Note 26 at 314–15.

DeVita V Hellman S Rosenberg S , AIDS: Etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, 1985: Note 8 at 78–79.

See, e.g., Van Vleet V. Pfeifle, 289 N.W.2d 781 (N.D. 1980) (negligence of physician in failing to diagnose cancerous condition, thereby hastening and prematurely causing death, is basis for malpractice action, notwithstanding evidence that cancer would eventually have resulted in decedent's death even if cancer had been discovered sooner); Chappel v. Master, 255 So.2d 546 (Fla. 1972) (failure to communicate to prospective adopting parents that child was affected with fatal hydrocephalus held actionable).

See, e.g., Kaplan V. Haines , 96 N.J. Super. 242, 232 A.2d 840 (1967) (alleged erroneous diagnosis of spinal problem as herniated disc resulted in unnecessary operation); Willard v. Huston, 234 Ore. 148, 378 P.2d 966 (1963) (misdiagnosis caused erroneous treatment of child known to be suffering from hemophilia).

See, e.g., Price V. Neyland , 320 F.2d 674 (D.C. Cir. 1983) (malpractice liability for error in diagnosis and treatment of child born of parents with Rh factor blood incompatibility); Iverson v. Lancaster, 158 N.W.2d 507 (N.D. 1969) (alleged unnecessary hysterectomy caused by erroneous diagnosis of cause of high blood pressure is actionable); Lauro v. Travelers Insurance Co., 261 So.2d 261 (La. 1972) (unnecessary removal of breast resulting from misdiagnosis of cancer is actionable).

See Kraus V. Spielberg , 37 Misc.2d 29, 236 N.Y.S.2d 143 (1962).

See generally, AIDS anxiety in the “worried well” in Nichols S, Ostrow D, Psychiatric implication of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, 1984: 49–60.

Beadling V. Sirotta , 176 A.2d 546 (N.J. 1961).

See generally, Petricciani , Licensee tests for antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type III: Sensitivity and specificity, Annals of Internal Medicine 1985, 103: 726–29.

See, e.g., Dowling V. Mutual Life Insurance Co., 168 So.2d 687 (La. App. 1964) (liability for failure to notify plaintiff that he had tuberculosis); Hoover v. Williamson, 236 Md. 250, 203 A.2d 861 (1964) (failure to notify patient that he had silicosis).

James V. United States, 483 F. Supp. 581 (Cal. 1980).

Illinois AIDS Interdisciplinary Advisory Council, Preliminary report: The challenge of AIDS: The Illinois response, April 16, 1986 (reporting that positive tests have led to depression and suicide in Illinois).

See e.g., Hart V. Warren , 266 S.E.2d 53 (N.C. 1980) (cause of action for wrongful death allowed where evidence showed that the physician examined decedent for only four minutes, injected pain reliever, thus masking symptoms of patient's illness, and failed to make indicated test of serum amylase to detect pancreatitis from which patient ultimately died).

See, e.g., Ala. Code §22-11-4 (1981).

See, e.g., Davis V. Rodman , 227 S.W. 612 (Ark. 1921); Jones v. Stanko, 100 N.E. 456 (Ohio 1928).

Derrick V. Ontario Community Hospital, 120 Cal. Rptr. 566 (4th Dist. Ct. of Appeals 1975).

See, e.g., Golai V. Greater New York Health Insurance Plan, 166 N.Y.S.2d 889 (N.Y. 1957).

See, e.g., Simonsen V. Swenson, 177 N.W. 831 (Neb. 1920).

See, e.g., Pennison V. Provident Life Insurance Co., 154 So.2d 617 (La. 1963); Curry v. Corn, 277 N.Y.2d 470 (N.Y. 1966).

See generally, Miller , Potential liability for transfusion—Association AIDS, Journal of the American Medical Association 1985, 253' 3419.

See, U.C.C. §2–314 (1977).

See, e.g., Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, §2–316 (5) (defining blood and blood plasma as “medical service” and not “commodities or good subject to sale,” thus precluding a claim based on implied warranties that attach to sales).

See, Russell V. Community Blood Bank, Inc., 185 So.2d 749 (Fla. App. 1967), aff'd and modified, Community Blood Bank, Inc. v. Russell, 196 So.2d 115 (Fla. 1967). See also, Jackson v. Muhlenburg, 53 N.J. 138, 249 A.2d 65 (1969) But see, Brody v. Overlook Hospital, 296 A.2d 392 (N.J. App. 1974), aff'd, 332 A.2d 596 (N.J. 1975) (limiting liability to cases where there is a known test to ascertain presence of blood contaminant).

See, e.g., Belle Bonifils Memorial Blood Bank v. Hanson, 579 P.2d 1158 (Col. 1978); Community Blood Bank, Inc. v. Russell, 196 So.2d 115 (Fla. 1967); Reilly v. King Century Blood Bank, Inc., 6 Wash. App. 172, 492 P.2d 246 (1971).

Cunningham V MacNeal Memorial Hospital, 47 Ill.2d 443, 266 N.E.2d 987 (1970).

Restatement (Second) of Torts, §402 A comment K (1965).

266 N.E.2d 987 (Ill. 1970).

See, e.g., Brody v. Overlook Hospital, 317 A.2d 392 (N.J. App. 1974). aff'd. 332 A.2d 596 (N.J. 1975).

See, e.g., Hoder V. Sayet , 196 So.2d 205 (Fla. App. 1967); Jackson v. Muhlenberg Hospital, 53 N.J. 138, 249 A.2d 65 (1965); Samuels v. Health & Hospital Corp., 432 F. Supp. 1283 (S.D.N.Y. 1977); Villanea v. Santa Rosa Medical Center, 433 S.W.2d 622 (Tex. Civ. App. 1969).

See, e.g., Martin V. Southern Baptist Hospital, 352 So.2d 357, 354 (2d App. 1977).

Keeton W , Prosser and Keeton on tons, 1984: 164–65.

Office of Biologics, National Center for Drugs and Biologics, Food and Drug Administration, Recommendations to decrease the risk of transmitting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) from plasma donors, March 24, 1983.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (henceforth “MMWR”), March 4, 1982, at 104.

Renslow V. Mennonite Hospital, 67 Ill.2d 348, 367 N.E.2d 1250 (1977).

MMWR, Sept. 27, 1985, at 575.36a. MMWR, May 22, 1987.

See, e.g., Cal. Health & Safety Code §1603 5 (1979); Ga. Code Ann. §85–5501a (1979 & Cum. Supp. 1986); Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch. 111 1/2.

See, e.g., Sloneker v. St. Joseph's Hospital, 233 F. Supp. 105 (D. Cal. 1964); Fischer v. Wilmington General Hospital, 51 Del. 554, 149 A.2d 749 (1959).

See, e.g., Conduit v. Hewitt, 369 P.2d 278 (Wyo. 1962); Tetteus v. Frost, 145 Okla. 273, 292 P. 356 (1930).

Restatement (Second) of Torts, §60 (1965).

See, e.g., Hart V. Geysel , 159 Wash. 632, 294 P. 570 (1930); Dixon v. Samartino 163 S.W. 739 (Tex. Civ. App. 1942).

See, Keeton , supra note 32, at 123.

Klein McCue v. , 60 Tex. 168, 48 Am. Rep. 260 (1883).

Restatement (Second) of Torts §18, Comment c. See, e.g., Thomas v. Dunne, 131 Col. 20, 279 P.2d 427 (1955) (seating plaintiff on an electrified bench).

Mink V. University of Chicago, 460 F. Supp 713 (N.D. Ill. 1978).

See, e.g., Ware V. Garvey , 139 F. Supp. 71 (D.C. Mass, 1956).

See, e.g., Renslow v. Mennonite Hospital, 67 Ill.2d 348, 10 Ill. Dec. 484, 367 N.E.2d 1250 (1977) (child allowed recovery where child's mother at thirteen was negligently transfused with Rh-positive and subsequently conceived child who suffered prenatal brain damage).

MMWR, Dec. 6, 1985, at 721.

See, e.g., McKelvey McKelvey v. , 111 Tenn. 388, 77 S.W. 664 (1903); Hastings v. Hastings, 33 N.J. 247, 163 A.2d 147 (1961).

See, e.g., Goller V. White , 20 Wis.2d 402, 122 N.W. 193 (1963); Hebel v. Hebel, 435 P.2d 8 (Alaska, 1967); Williams v. Williams, 369 A.2d 669 (Del. 1976). See also, Conn. Gen. Stat. §2–572c (1977); N.C. Gen. Stats. §1–539.21 (1983).

See, e.g., Grodin V. Grodin , 102 Mich. App. 396. 301 N.W.2d 869(1981) (liability on pan of mother taking prescription drugs during pregnancy causing child's teeth to turn brown where mother was not reasonable under all the facts).

See, e.g., Bergtresser V. Mitchell , 577 F.2d 22 (8th Cir. Mo. 1978) (child alleged that as a result of negligence of physician and hospital in performing Caesarean section upon the child's mother several years prior to his birth, his mother suffered a rupture of the uterus, which necessitated his own premature emergency Caesarean delivery, during which he sustained brain damage as a result of oxygen deficiency).

See, e.g., Albala v. City of New York, 78 A.D. 2d 389, 434 N.Y.S.2d 400, aff'd 54 N.Y.2d 269,445 N.Y.S.2d 106, 429 N.E.2d 786 (1981) (prior abortion of mother resulted in perforation of the uterus, subsequently causing brain damage in fetus; nonetheless, unborn child cannot maintain action for negligence occurring prior to infant's conception).

See, e.g., Frankovitch V. Burton , 185 Conn. 14, 20, 440 A.2d 254, 259 (1981) (test of duty found in foreseeability); Brennen v. City of Eugene, 285 Ore. 401, 406, 591 P.2d 719, 722 (1979) (general rule that scope of the duty owed is governed by the concept of foreseeability).

Kathleen K. v. Robert B. , 150 Cal. App. 3d 992, 997, 198 Cal. Rptr. 273, 276 (1984).

State v. Lankford, 29 Del. (6 Boyce) 594, 102 A. 63 (1917).

29 Del. (6 Boyce) at 594, 102 A. at 64.

See Restatement (Second) of Torts, §525 (1977).

Barbara A. v. John G. , 145 Cal. App. 3d 369, 193 Cal. Rptr. 422 (1st Dist. 1983).

145 Cal. App. at 378–79, 193 Cal. Rptr. at 429.

See, e.g., Cal. Civ. Code §1710 (West 1973) (providing that deceit is the suppression of a fact by one who is bound to disclose it).

See, e.g., Ala. Code §22-16-17 (1977) (misdemeanor); Col. Rev. Stat. §§25-4-401(2)-407 (1982) (misdemeanor); Del. Code Ann., tit. 16 §§384.01, 03 (1973) (misdemeanor); Idaho Code §39–601. 607 (1977) (misdemeanor); Nev. Rev. Stat §441.290 (1981) (misdemeanor); N.Y. Pub. Health Law §2307 (McKinny 1977) (misdemeanor); Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, §1–519 (1984) (felony); Utah Code Ann. §26-6-5 (Supp. 1983) (misdemeanor). See also, e.g., Reynolds v. State, 49 Okla. Crim. 215, 292 P. 1046 (1920) (affirming a conviction of a man who infected a woman with gonorrhea with a statute making communication of a venereal disease a felony punishable by up to five years in prison).

See, e.g., McKnight Panther v. , 125 Okla. 134, 256 P. 916 (1926) (court recognized private right of action for money damages for conduct in violation of criminal statute proscribing transmission of venereal disease).

See, e.g., Azure v. City of Billings, 182 Mont. 234, 240, 596 P.2d 460, 464 (1979): Bayne v. Todd Shipyards Corp., 88 Wash.2d 917, 918, 568 P.2d 771. 772 (1977).

See, e.g., Gill v. Whiteside—Hemby Drug Co., 197 Ark. 425, 431, 122 S.W.2d 597, 601 (1938) (violation of state law merely evidence of negligence).

See, e.g., HBN 1187 (Georgia) (1-13-86) (includes AIDS in enumeration of venereal diseases); HBN 653 (Idaho) (2-19-86) (provides that AIDS shall be classified as a venereal disease).

See, e.g., N.Y. Pub. Health Law §2311 (McKinney Supp. 1983) (Comm'r of Health); Ore. Rev. Stat. §434.005(3) (1981) (Health Div. of State Dept. of Human Resources); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, §1091 (1982) (Dept. of Health).

See, e.g., Nev. Rev. Stat. §441.050(1981) (“or any other disease which can be sexually transmitted”); Tenn. Code Ann. §68-10-101 (1983) (“other venereal diseases”); Okla Stat. Ann. tit. 63, §1–517 (West 1984) (“any other disease which may be transmitted from any person to another by sexual intercourse and found and declared by medical science or accredited school of medicine to be infectious or contagious”).

Kathleen K. v. Robert B. , 150 Cal. App. 3d 992, 997, note 3, 198 Cal. App. 273, 276, note 3 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. 1984).

See, e.g., Cal. Health & Safety Code, §3353 (West 1979).

See, e.g., HB 1685 (Hawaii) (1-16-86) (includes AIDS among infectious and communicable diseases); SBN 825 (Maine) (2-28-86) (classifies AIDS as a dangerous communicable disease); HBN 1922 (Washington) (1-24-86) (classifies AIDS as a communicable or contagious disease).

See, e.g., Cal. Health & Safety Code, §3353 (West 1979) (“any person afflicted with any contagious, infectious or communicable disease who willfully exposes himself … is guilty of a misdemeanor”).

See, e.g., Iowa Code Ann. §139.31.32 (West 1972) (“any person who knowingly exposes another to infection from any communicable disease [is] guilty of a misdemeanor”).

See, e.g., Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §466–26 (West Supp. 1984); Fla. Stat. Ann §741.051 (West Supp. 1984); N.J. Stat. Ann. §37.1–9 (West Supp. 1984); N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law §13-a (McKinney Supp. 1983). See also, Note, Pre-marital tests for venereal disease, Harvard Law Review 1931, 53: 309–10 (purpose of premarital venereal test laws to prevent transmission of venereal disease to future spouse and to prospective children).

Restatement (Second) of Torts, §895F at 287–89 (App. 1982).

Restatement (Second) of Torts, §895F (1979).

See, e.g., O'Connor Windauer v. , 107 Ariz. 267, 268, 485 P.2d 1157, 1158 (1971); Apitz v. Darner, 205 Ore. 242, 287 P.2d 585 (1955); Bounds v. Caudle, 560 S.W.2d 925 (Tex. 1977).

See, e.g., O'Connor Windauer v. , 107 Ari. 267, 485 P.2d 1157 (1971); Stoker v. Stoker, §616 P.2d 590 (Utah 1980).

See, e.g., Potts O'Grady v. , 193 Kan. 644, 396 P.2d 285 (1964); Hamilton v. Fulkerson, 285 S.W.2d 642 (Mo. 1955); Pearce v. Boberg, 89 Nev. 266, 510 P.2d 1358 (1973).

See, e.g., N.C. Gen. Stat. §12. 1-20-08 (1976); R.I. Gen. laws §11-6-3 (1956); S.C. Code Ann. §16-15-60 (Law Co-Op 1977); Wisc. Stat. §9214.15 (1981).

See, e.g., Cent N.D. . Code §2. 1-20-12 (1976); Okla. Stat. tit. 21. §886 (1981).

See, e.g., N.Y. Penal Law §255.17 (McKinney 1980); N.C. Gen. Stat. §14–184 (1981); N.D. Cent. Code §12. 1–2009 (1976); Okla. Stat. tit. 21. §872 (1981): R.I. Gen. Law §11-6-2 (1956); S.C. Code Ann. §16-15-60 (Law Co-Op. 1977); Wisc. Stat. §944.15 (1981).

Barbara A. v. John G. , 145 Cal. App. 3d 369, 193 Cal. Rptr. 422 (1983); Kathleen K. v. Robert B., 150 Cal. App. 3d 922, 198 Cal. Rptr. 273 (1984).

See, Eisenstadt V. Baird , 405 U.S. 438, 453–55 (1972) (ban on distribution of contraceptives to unmarried persons is unwarranted governmental intrusion into individual's right to privacy); Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557, 564 (1969) (law regulating private possession of pornography held unconstitutional; individual has right “to be free, except in very limited circumstances, from unwanted governmental intrusions into privacy”); Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 485–86 (1965) (state law prohibiting use of contraceptives by married couples unconstitutionally intrudes on right of marital privacy).

State V. Bateman , 113 Ariz. 107, 547 P.2d 6 (1976) (en banc) offering in part and revising in part, 25 citing Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965) and Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972).

Kathleen K. v. Robert B. , 150 Cal. App. 3d 992, 198 Cal. Rptr. 273 (2d Dist. 1984).

Cal. Cir. Proc. Code §340 (Deering's 1973).

Cal. Cir. Proc. Code §343 (Deering's 1973).

Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 83 §15 (1966).

Duke V. Housen , 589 P.2d. 334, 339 (Wyo. 1979), reh'g den'd, 590 P.2d 1340 (Wyo. 1979).

See, e.g., Sanchez V. Wade , 514 S.W.2d 812 (Tax Ct. App. 1974); Christian v. Daniel Battey Manufacturing Co., Inc., 279 So.2d 214 (La. Ct. App. 1973); Rankin v. Sowinksi, 119 N.J. Super. 393, 291 A.2d 849 (1972); Matthieu v. Piedmont Natural Jar Co., 269 N.C. 212, 152 S.E.2d 336 (1967).