The Archive · 1922

MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY

The law on the subject of medical responsibility is very clearly stated in Halsbury. Vol. 20. pages 331, 332 and 333. A medica] man is responsible if "either through negligence or ignorance he causes injury to a patient." No general rule as to the degree of skill or knowledge so required can be laid down and the question in each case must depend upon the particular circumstances which surround it. Erle. {Rich. et Uxor and Pierpont F.

Vol. TI. p. 40) A medical man was certainly not answerable merely because some other practitioner might possibly have shown greater skill and knowledge; but he was bound to have that degree of skill which could not be defined, but which, in the opinion of the jury, was a competent degree of skill and knowledge.

It was not enough to make (the medical mam) liable that some man of far greater experience and skill might have used a greater degree of skill nor that even he might possibly have used some greater degree of care.

As Halsbury also states Vol. 20. p.334—Professional negligence in the treatment of a case, if proved is sufficient answer to a claim by the practitioner for his fees. But

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