In an Oklahoma case, Goforth v. Porter Med. Assoc., Inc., 755 P.2d 678, Okla. in 1988, a physician assured his patient that she was sterile after he performed a sterilization procedure in August 1980. The patient subsequently became pregnant and delivered a baby in October 1981.
What are the ethical and legal issues pertaining to this case? What was the outcome of the legal battle between Goforth and Porter Medical Association? Do you agree with the final court's decision? Explain your answer.
The main ethical issue here being the pregnancy after a sterilization peocedure. Poor knowledge the chance of pregnancy is still possible after sterlization. The legal issue being suing the hospital and the physician for doing an ineffective procedure and lack of information provided to the patient after a sterlization procedure by the physician .This can be categorized into medical negligence and malpractice.
The outcome of legal battle between Goforth and Porter Medical association gave a verdict that the appellant (Goforth) was not permitted any financial recovery due to delivery of a healthy normal baby .The mother didn't state any complications during or after pregnancy suffering physical or emotional illness.The court permitted only $2000 for the unexpected or unplanned pregnancy
This decision is agreeable .In case if the court has given a decision that the Goforth deserve to get compensation for the happening (where an healthy normal baby is born ) it can be a wrong guidance and can be misused by other couples in future for getting monetary gains.
In an Oklahoma case, Goforth v. Porter Med. Assoc., Inc., 755 P.2d 678, Okla. in 1988,...