Opinion
No. 8526SC1015
Filed 1 April 1986
Death 3 — unborn fetus — no wrongful death action There is no right of recovery under the North Carolina wrongful death statute for the death of an unborn fetus. Rather, a child must be born alive to be recognized as a "person" within the meaning of the wrongful death statute. N.C.G.S. 28A-18-2.
APPEAL by plaintiff from Grist, Judge. Judgment entered 17 July 1985 in Superior Court, MECKLENBURG County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 6 February 1986.
James, McElroy Diehl, by Gary S. Hemric, for plaintiff-appellant.
Golding, Crews, Meekins, Gordon Gray, by John G. Golding and Andrew W. Lax, for defendant-appellees.
Judge PHILLIPS dissenting.
This is an action for wrongful death and wrongful deprivation of life, brought by plaintiff on behalf of Joseph Edward DiDonato, who died prior to birth.
The undisputed facts are that Norma DiDonato became pregnant in 1982, when she was 36. She had a family history of diabetes. Norma DiDonato received prenatal care from defendants, who monitored her vital signs and those of the developing fetus. Delivery was due in early October 1982. A test on 26 October 1982 showed the fetus to be alive and healthy. On 30 October 1982, however, no fetal heartbeat could be detected. A 12 pound 11 ounce stillborn fetus was delivered by Caesarean section.
Plaintiff alleged that because of the family history of diabetes and the presence of increased levels of blood sugar in Norma DiDonato's blood, defendants should in the exercise of reasonable care have diagnosed the diabetic condition and delivered the baby before it outgrew its blood and oxygen supply as a consequence of the high blood sugar level. Their failure to do so resulted in the wrongful death of plaintiff's intestate, triggering this action.
Defendants moved to dismiss on the ground that there is no right of recovery under the North Carolina wrongful death statute for the death of an unborn child. The court allowed the motion, and plaintiffs appealed.
The only question presented by this appeal is whether a viable child en ventre sa mere who dies as a result of a third party's negligence may obtain civil redress under our wrongful death statute, G.S. 28A-18-2. On appeal, plaintiff has apparently abandoned his analogous non-statutory claim for "wrongful deprivation of life."
The Supreme Court has not passed directly on the question before us. In Gay v. Thompson, 266 N.C. 394, 146 S.E.2d 425 (1966), the court reserved the question, but held that the speculative nature of damages required dismissal of plaintiff's action. The court has apparently recognized that a physician rendering prenatal care owes some duty of care to a fetus in utero, provided there is a live birth. Azzolino v. Dingfelder, 71 N.C. App. 289, 297, 322 S.E.2d 567, 574 (1984) [explaining Stetson v. Easterling, 274 N.C. 152, 161 S.E.2d 531 (1968)], aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 315 N.C. 103, 337 S.E.2d 528 (1985), reh'g denied, ___ N.C. ___, ___ S.E.2d ___ (1986). In reversing in Azzolino, the Supreme Court simply assumed arguendo that this duty existed, over dissent. Id. (Martin, J., dissenting in part). As in Gay, the Azzolino decision turned chiefly on the speculative nature of damages, not the legal definition of "person."
In Cardwell v. Welch, 25 N.C. App. 390, 213 S.E.2d 382, cert. denied, 287 N.C. 464, 215 S.E.2d 623 (1975), this court expressly held that a child must be born alive to be recognized as a "person" within the meaning of G.S. 28-173, now G.S. 28A-18-2. We did so upon careful review of the legislative history and authority of other jurisdictions, holding that creation of a right of action for wrongful death of an unborn fetus was an appropriate subject for legislative action, not judicial construction. We followed Cardwell in Yow v. Nance, 29 N.C. App. 419, 224 S.E.2d 292, disc. rev. denied, 290 N.C. 312, 225 S.E.2d 833 (1976). But see Perry v. Cullipher, 69 N.C. App. 761, 318 S.E.2d 354 (1984) (rejecting contention that no right of action exists for desecration of grave of stillborn fetus). In Stam v. State, 47 N.C. App. 209, 267 S.E.2d 335 (1980), aff'd in relevant part, 302 N.C. 357, 275 S.E.2d 439 (1981), we held that, even upon a liberal construction, a fetus was not a "person" enjoying unlimited protection under N.C. Const. Art. I, Section 1 and Section 19. Reviewing the common law in Stam, we noted that property rights accorded to the unborn were always subject to live birth as a condition precedent. We are also advertent to the United States Supreme Court's ruling that the word "person" in the Fourteenth Amendment does not include the unborn. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 35 L.Ed.2d 147, 93 S.Ct. 705, reh'g denied, 410 U.S. 959, 35 L.Ed.2d 694, 93 S.Ct. 1409 (1973). These precedents are persuasive.
We do not have authority to overrule our Supreme Court. Cannon v. Miller, 313 N.C. 324, 327 S.E.2d 888 (1985). We therefore must hold, on the authority of Gay v. Thompson, supra, and following Cardwell, Yow, and Stam, that the trial court correctly dismissed plaintiff's action.
The issue is properly a subject for legislative attention and ought not be the subject of judicial intervention. We note that the General Assembly recently considered a bill that would have made it a crime to knowingly or recklessly cause the death of a viable fetus. H.B. 1276, 1985 General Assembly. While not directly on point in the instant case, the fact that this bill failed to pass seems to suggest a continuing legislative refusal to expand the concept of "person" beyond the current state of the law. The judiciary should not assume a more active role on what is essentially a legislative issue.
We are aware of the conflicting policy considerations raised by this case, including strong arguments for changing existing law. However, this Court is not the proper forum for making these changes. The decision of the trial court is therefore
Affirmed.
Judge ARNOLD concurs.
Judge PHILLIPS dissents.