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13-1635. Loss-of-a-chance injury; definition; burden of proof.

            A party is liable for negligence resulting in another's lost chance for [a better outcome to] [survival from] a preexisting condition. This lost opportunity is an injury in itself. For __________________ to recover on this claim a medical expert must have established that, as a result of __________________'s negligence, __________________ lost a measurable opportunity to avoid [loss of limb], [loss of life] [__________________ (other)].

 

USE NOTES

            This instruction should be given when plaintiff alleges that the defendant's negligence resulted in the lost opportunity to obtain a better outcome from a preexisting condition. The instruction must be given with UJI 13-1802A NMRA which sets out the appropriate measure of damages for loss of a chance.

[Approved, effective March 20, 2000.]

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