Loss of Survival or Chance Doctrine Adopted in Minnesota
Loss of Chance Doctrine Supported. Based on a case called Dickhoff v. Green the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that there is a claim for loss of chance that is the lost or diminished chance of a full life expectancy. In theory his claim would apply in situations where there is a living plaintiff who has a shortened or reduced chances of full life expectancy.
Minnesota Jury Instruction Guide Now Includes New Claim
Minnesota now has a Jury Instruction under MNCIVJIG 80.11 for “Loss of Chance” which would allow for a claim for diminished or reduced chance living a full life span, had the neglect not occurred.
Doctrine Also Includes a Loss of Chance of Survival Claim
The doctrine had traditionally two types of claims one for a reduce chance of a full live expectancy. Usually a claim where the number of months or years of life is reduced due to the neglect, in theory brought by that person or their representative. The claim is where the injured party dies and they lost their chance for survival.
The claim would be brought by the next-of-kin of the deceased. An example would be a failure to respond to a change in condition including after a fall or other injury, or a failure to provide CPR.
Wrongful Death Loss of Chance as An Alternative Theory
There is a new Minnesota Jury Instruction, MN CIVJIG 80.96 titled “Wrongful Death – Loss of Chance as an Alternative Theory. Which allows a plaintiff to argue for both a traditional wrongful death claim and a survival claim. The difference would be in whether the jury believed the neglect was the “direct cause” of the death or if the negligence in providing care and treatment was a direct cause of the reduction in the chances of survival. The jury would then be asked to determined what the reduced or diminished chances of survival were and apply a proportionate formulation to the damages.
For a free consultation with Kenneth LaBore an experienced medical malpractice, and wrongful death attorney call 612-743-9048 or 1-888-452-6589. Mr. LaBore is willing to travel to you if needed and serves the entire state of Minnesota. You can also email Ken LaBore at KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.