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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
February 9, 2022 - Introduced by Senator Johnson, cosponsored by Representative
Sinicki. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB954,1,3 1An Act to amend 655.007; and to create 655.0165 of the statutes; relating to:
2claims for loss of society and companionship resulting from medical
3malpractice.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill adds adult children to the list of relatives that are entitled to sue for
wrongful death resulting from medical malpractice. Under current law, as stated in
Czapinski v. St. Francis Hospital, Inc., 236 Wis. 2d 316 (2000) and Lornson v.
Siddiqui
, 302 Wis. 2d 519 (2007), an adult child does not have the right to recover
for the loss of society and companionship of a parent who dies as the result of medical
malpractice.
This bill provides that both minor and certain adult children have the right to
recover for loss of society and companionship and other damages if the parent is
injured or dies as the result of medical malpractice. Under the bill, an adult child
is entitled to bring an action if 1) the adult child has a disability and was, prior to the
parent's injury or death, dependent on the deceased parent for custodial, financial,
or emotional support for managing the basic or instrumental activities of daily living;
2) at the time of the parent's injury or death, the adult child was enrolled in a
post-secondary education program, was dependent on the deceased parent for
financial support, and, following the parent's injury or death, lacks the independent
means to support himself or herself without financial support from the parent that
is no longer available as a result of the parent's injury or death; or 3) the adult child
incurred out of-pocket costs to pay for expenses incurred as a result of the medical

malpractice, including medical or custodial care expenses or funeral or legal
expenses.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB954,1 1Section 1 . 655.007 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB954,2,5 2655.007 Patients' claims. On and after July 24, 1975, any Any patient or the
3patient's representative having a claim or any spouse, parent, minor sibling, or adult
4or minor
child of the patient having a derivative claim for injury or death on account
5of malpractice is subject to this chapter.
SB954,2 6Section 2 . 655.0165 of the statutes is created to read:
SB954,2,12 7655.0165 Claim by minor or adult child for injury or death. (1) If a
8parent is injured or dies as the result of medical malpractice, an adult child of the
9parent for which any of the following is true or a minor child of the parent has a cause
10of action for damages for loss of society and companionship and other damages
11incurred by the minor or adult child against the person who committed the medical
12malpractice:
SB954,2,1613 (a) The adult child has a disability and was, prior to the parent's injury or death,
14dependent on the deceased parent for custodial, financial, or emotional support for
15managing the basic or instrumental activities of daily living, which the parent can
16no longer provide.
SB954,3,217 (b) At the time of the parent's injury or death, the adult child was enrolled in
18a post-secondary education program, was dependent on the deceased parent for
19financial support, and lacks the independent means to support himself or herself

1without financial support from the parent that is no longer available as a result of
2the parent's injury or death.
SB954,3,43 (c) The adult child incurred out of-pocket costs to pay for expenses resulting
4from the medical malpractice, including any of the following:
SB954,3,65 1. Medical or custodial care expenses for the injured or deceased parent
6beginning from the time of the medical malpractice.
SB954,3,87 2. Funeral or legal expenses incurred as a result of the injury or death of the
8parent.
SB954,3,9 9(2) This section does not affect any other claim available under this chapter.
SB954,3 10Section 3 . Initial applicability.
SB954,3,1211 (1) This act first applies to acts or omissions occurring on the effective date of
12this subsection.
SB954,3,1313 (End)
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