AKA v. Jefferson Hosp. Ass'n, Inc.

W.H. “Dub” Arnold, Chief Justice.

The Court of Appeals certified this first-impression case for us to consider appellant’s arguments urging the reversal of precedent. Specifically, appellant asks this court to overrule our holding in Chatelain v. Kelley, 322 Ark. 517, 910 S.W.2d 215 (1995), that a viable fetus is not a “person” within the meaning of Arkansas’s wrongful-death statute. See Ark. Code Ann. § 16-62-102 (1987 & Supp. 1999). Our jurisdiction is authorized pursuant to Ark. R. Sup. Ct. 1-2(a)(1), 1-2(b)(3) and (4), and 1-2(d) (2000). We find merit in appellant’s arguments, and we…