Harriton v Stephens

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New South Wales v Commonwealth
High Court of Australia
Full case name	Alexia Harriton (by her tutor George Harriton); Appellant v Paul Richard Stevens; Respondent
Date decided	May 9, 2006
Citations	(2006) 226 CLR 52; [2006] HCA 15; (2006) 226 ALR 391
Judges sitting	Glesson CJ, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Callinan, Heydon & Crennan JJ
Case history
Prior actions:	Harriton v Stephens (2004) 59 NSWLR 694 - Supreme Court of New South Wales (Court of Appeal) Harriton v Stephens [2002] NSWSC 461 - Supreme Court of New South Wales (Studdert J)
Subsequent actions:	none
Case opinions
(5:1) The doctor did not owe the child a duty of care. (per Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Callinan, Heydon & Crennan JJ; Hayne J not deciding; Kirby J dissenting) (6:1) The common law test for damages for negligence is incapable of application to a a situation where the comparison is between life with disabilities and a state of non-existence. (per Gleeson CJ, Gummow, Hayne, Callinan, Heydon & Crennan JJ; Kirby J dissenting)

Harriton v Stephens [2006] HCA 15; (2006) 226 CLR 52; (2006) 226 ALR 391 was a decision handed down in the High Court of Australia on 9 May 2006, which considered whether damages were claimable for medical negligence resulting in "wrongful life". The High Court, by a 6:1 majority, rejected such a claim.