Damages for loss of the chance of extended life span are recoverable in medical negligence where delayed diagnosis of cancer reduced the plaintiff's survival prospects, applying [name withheld] v [name withheld] and [name withheld] v Adelaide Petroleum. The principle that general damages for loss of expectation of life should be modest ([name withheld] v [name withheld]) applies to unconscious plaintiffs; where the plaintiff is acutely aware of her condition, the award should reflect her pain and suffering including emotional responses to awareness of the loss. The standard of care for a physician examining breast lumps requires application of the triple test (clinical examination, imaging, and fine needle aspiration) to all suspicious areas, not merely the most obvious lump.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 2 later cases that cite this judgment.