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Olejniczak v. Whitten
605 S.W.2d 142
Mo. Ct. App.
1980
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CLEMENS, Senior Judge.

Action by husband and wife for the wrongful death of their unborn child, allegedly caused by defendant doctor’s negligence. On defendant’s motion the trial court dismissed the petition for failure to state a cause of action. Plaintiffs appeal; we affirm.

Our wrongful death statute, Section 537.-080, RSMo. 1969, provides recovery for wrongful death of a person. State ex rel. Hardin v. Sanders, 538 S.W.2d 336 (Mo. banc 1976), like the case before us, was an action for wrongful death of an unborn child, dismissed for failure to state a claim. In affirming the supreme court reasoned at l.c. 338 that a fetus is not a person and in upholding the trial court’s dismissal squarely ruled: “We hold that a wrongful death action may not be maintained for the death of an unborn child.” So it is here.

DOWD, P. J., and REINHARD and CRIST, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Olejniczak v. Whitten
Court Name: Missouri Court of Appeals
Date Published: May 20, 1980
Citation: 605 S.W.2d 142
Docket Number: No. 41898
Court Abbreviation: Mo. Ct. App.
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