Abstract
When an unborn child is injured by its mother, and subsequently born alive, who should be protected? The Court of Appeals of Texas, in Chenault v. Huie, feared the slippery slope, and gave deference to the mother when it denied the existence of a legal duty between mother and fetus. Few cases have directly addressed a child’s tort action against her mother for prenatal substance abuse that resulted in injuries sustained while en ventre sa mere.
This Note discusses the general background of a child’s right to sue for fetal injury and the liability of the individuals that cause the fetal harm. Specifically, this Note focuses on the fallacy of the Texas court’s refusal to establish a legal duty arising from the relationship of a mother to her unborn child.
Recommended Citation
Sylvester, Edward
(2000)
"Chenault v. Huie: Denying the Existence of a Legal Duty Between a Mother and Her Unborn Child,"
Akron Law Review: Vol. 33:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/akronlawreview/vol33/iss1/5