Harriton v Stephens

Infobox Court Case
name=New South Wales v Commonwealth
court=High Court of Australia


date_decided=May 9 2006
full_name= Alexia Harriton (by her tutor George Harriton); Appellant v Paul Richard Stevens; Respondent
citations= [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2006/15.html (2006) 226 CLR 52] ; [2006] HCA 15; (2006) 226 ALR 391
judges=Glesson CJ, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Callinan, Heydon & Crennan JJ
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
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.