Chapter 4.D.1: Loss of Chance

For a state-by-state survey of loss of chance as a theory of recovery, see Lauren Guest, David Schap, Thi Tran, The "Loss of Chance" Rule As A Special Category of Damages in Medical Malpractice: A State-by-State Analysis, 21 J. Legal Econ. 53 (2015).

For general discussion of loss of chance doctrine, see Steven L. Koch, Comment: Whose Loss is it Anyway? Effects of the “Lost Chance” Doctrine on Civil Litigation and Medical Malpractice Insurance, 88 NC L. Rev. 595 (2010); Joseph H. King, Jr., “Reduction of Likelihood” Reformulation and Other Retrofitting of the Loss-of-a-Chance Doctrine, 28 U Mem. L. Rev. 491 (1997) ; Joseph H. King, Causation, Valuation, and Chance in Personal Injury Torts Involving Preexisting Conditions and Future Consequences, 90 Yale L.J. 1353 (1981)

For a critical perspective on loss of chance doctrine, see Michael C. Mims & Richard S. Crisler, Properly Limiting the Lost Chance Doctrine in Medical Malpractice Cases: A Practitioners' Rejoinder, 81 La. L. Rev. 863 (2021).

For discussion of whether loss of chance should be applied beyond the context of medical malpractice, see David A. Fischer, Tort Recovery for Loss of a Chance, 36 Wake Forest L. Rev. 60 (2001).

Notes: Loss of Chance

Note 6. Purely Emotional Harms

For discussion of fear of disease cases and recovery for emotional harm, see S. Lochlann Jain, Fear of Cancer, 44 Loyola L.A. L. Rev. 233 (2010); Andrew R. Klein, Fear of Disease and the Puzzle of Futures Cases in Tort, 35 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 965 (2002).

Note 7. Medical Monitoring

For a state-by-state survey of the medical monitoring theory of recovery, see D. Scott Aberson, Note: A Fifty-State Survey of Medical Monitoring and the Approach the Minnesota Supreme Court Should Take When Confronted with the Issue, 32 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 1095 (2006)

Analyzing various perspectives on medical monitoring recovery, see Mark Geistfeld, The Equity of Tort Claims for Medical Monitoring, Southwestern U. L. Rev. (forthcoming 2024); Herbert L. Zarov et al, A Medical Monitoring Claim for Asymptomatic Plaintiffs: Should Illinois Take the Plunge?, 12 DePaul J. Health Care L. 1 (2009); Victor E. Schwartz, Leah Lorber, and Emily J. Laird, Medical Monitoring: The Right Way and the Wrong Way, 70 Mo. L. Rev. 349 (2005); Mark Geistfeld, The Analytics of Duty: Medical Monitoring and Related Forms of Economic Loss, 88 Va. L. Rev. 1921 (2002); Victor E. Schwartz et al., Medical Monitoring: Should Tort Law Say Yes?, 34 Wake Forest L. Rev. 1057 (1999); 

For critical perspectives on the medical monitoring cause of action, see Mark A. Behrens & Christopher E. Appel, American Law Institute Proposes Controversial Medical Monitoring Rule in Final Part of Torts Restatement, 87 Def. Couns. J. 1 (2020); James A. Henderson, Jr. & Aaron D. Twerski, Asbestos Litigation Gone Mad: Exposure-Based Recovery for Increased Risk, Mental Distress, and Medical Monitoring, 53 S.C. L. Rev. 815 (2002)