B v IVF Hammersmith Ltd (R, third party)

Subject Matter

DAMAGES — Contract — Breach — Male claimant and woman together obtaining infertility treatment at defendant’s clinic — Embryos frozen and stored for future implantation — Following estrangement woman forging claimant’s written consent to thaw frozen embryo — Embryo implanted and woman giving birth to healthy child — Claim against defendant for breach of contractual obligation to obtain claimant’s consent to thawing and implantation of embryo — Whether damages recoverable for costs of child’s upbringing — Whether legal policy precluding award of such damages

[2017] EWHC 2438 (QB); [2020] QB 93; [2018] 2 WLR 1223; [2018] 2 FLR 173; [2017] WLR (D) 640, QBD

[2018] EWCA Civ 2803; [2020] QB 93; [2019] 2 WLR 1094; [2019] 2 All ER 1074; [2019] 1 FLR 1317; [2018] WLR (D) 766, CA

Appellate History

Commentary

12 KWB Clinical Negligence Law
Mouldy pig nuts, forgery and an unwanted daughter – the sad case of ARB v IVF Hammersmith Ltd Case comment

Hempsons
Schrödinger’s consent: ARB v IVF Hammersmith Limited & R Case comment