Wrongful Pregnancy Definition: A tort claim alleging that the defendant's negligence has caused an unwanted pregnancy and birth. Related Terms: Wrongful Birth, Wrongful Life Sometimes also referred to as wrongful conception. In Kealey v Berezowski, Justice Lax of the Ontario Court of Justice wrote: "This is a case of wrongful pregnancy. Unlike wrongful birth and wrongful life cases, the act here complained of is always pre-conception. The claimants are parents who allege that the defendant's negligence has caused an unwanted pregnancy and birth. The negligence often occurs through a failed sterilization or through the preparation or dispensing of a contraceptive medication. The claim has been advanced for children born healthy and for those born unhealthy. In either case, the child is unplanned. Courts have recognized the viability of this claim which may be advanced in contract or tort, although it is more usually advanced in tort." REFERENCES: Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Wrongful Birth Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Wrongful Life Kealey v. Berezowski, 30 O.R. (3d) 37, 136 D.L.R. (4th) 708, 31 C.C.L.T. (2d) 143 and at 1996 CarswellOnt 2320 Categories & Topics: Medical-Legal Dictionary Tort and Personal Injury Law Dictionary Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!