Border parents sue doctors, say they would have terminated son

The pair say had the defects been discovered, they would have terminated the pregnancy.

The boy is now 13 and the couple say they have been left with expenses to deal with the teen's issues, including with his heart, motor coordination problems, autism, a language disorder, and behavioural issues.

They say because the pregnancy wasn't aborted, they've been left with costs to raise the child.

An application to bring a medical negligence claim in the Supreme Court was recently granted.

Claims against Albury Wodonga Health were dismissed in April, with doctors Richard Escott, Vincent Harold Thomas and Ruth Mitchell, and Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Limited, still listed.

The claims are denied.

The family, which The Border Mail has chosen not to name to avoid identifying the teenager, say they were not notified of significant abnormalities in the fetus, and should have been.

"By virtue of his disability, he has required significant care to date and is likely to require significant care for the remainder of his life," their statement of claim said.

"(He) has required significant medical, psychological and associated treatment and is likely to require such medical, psychological and associated treatment for the remainder of his life.

"By virtue of his disability, it is unlikely that (he) will ever be able to work."

Scans were conducted in 2007, including on March 7, 19, on or about March 22, and on May 17.

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The parents say the March 19 nuchal translucency scan, which was examined and reported on by Dr Escott, identified significant abnormalities they weren't told of.

It's claimed Victorian Clinical Genetic Services applied an incorrect measurement to a test, with a report then indicating the pregnancy was low risk.

"At the time of the undertaking of the nuchal translucency scan, the pregnancy was not a low risk pregnancy," the statement of claims says.

"(The fetus) was suffering from significant cardiac and other abnormalities."

The parents say they will provide details about child rearing costs.

The defendants have made denials of the allegations.

The four defendants have lodged documents with the court outlying their defence to the claims.

The matter will return to court on June 25 for directions.

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