Treating the injured: a privilege conferred by both patient and wider society.

Britten, S.

Treating the injured: a privilege conferred by both patient and wider society.

All Authors

Britten, S.

LTHT Author

Britten, Simon

LTHT Department

Orthopaedics

Publication Date

2024

Item Type

Journal Article

Abstract

Two discrete legal factors enable the surgeon to treat an injured patient the fully informed, autonomous consent of the adult patient with capacity via civil law; and the medical exception to the criminal law. This article discusses current concepts in consent in trauma; and also considers the perhaps less well known medical exception to the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which exempts surgeons from criminal liability as long as they provide 'proper medical treatment'.