ABSTRACT
The Medical field is one of the most referred and reverenced profession in that it deals with the lives of human beings and in the course of their dealings with patients, these patients go through tests, operations, diagnosis to mention but a few.
The Medical professionals in the course of discharging their duties are sometimes Negligent as regards adhering strictly to their professional Code of Conduct. For instance where a doctor leaves operating instruments in the abdomen of a patient. In Nigeria there exists a countless catalogue of Negligent cases in which the involved Medical Personnel go scot free because their victims are ignorant of their rights let alone enforcements of such rights.
The peculiarities imposed on the practice of Medicine in Nigeria by our Culture and Environment have been examined. The laxity or absence of policing of drugs and food in Nigeria has been highlighted. It is clear from this that some Nigerian laws which relate to many aspects of Medicine are outmoded and inadequate. This particular point is emphasized especially in matters of abortion an mental illness.
This Negligent act can be described as the breach of duties, standard, care and diligence required by the Medical Profession. The main focus of this long Essay is to discuss the Legal Implications of the breach of Duty in the Medical Profession. As regards this, solutions would be proferred to curb all acts which might later occur in the nearest future.
This work is divided into five chapters, chapter one deals basically with the general introduction. Chapter two gives us an insight into Medicine as a whole, how it evolved in Nigeria and how we received it. Chapter three gives us a proper understanding of the concept, Duty of Care and Medical Negligence, Chapter four avails a Medical Practitioner the opportunity to be free from liability in essence, they have defences they can rely on. Lastly, Chapter five deals with the general conclusion.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CASES
TABLE OF STATUTE
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0.0: INTRODUCTION
1.1.0: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.2.0: OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.3.0: FOCUS OF THE STUDY
1.4.0: SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.5.0: METHODOLOGY
1.6.0: LITERATURE REVIEW
1.7.0: DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.8.0: CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 2
MEDICINE IN PERSPECTIVE
2.0.0: INTRODUCTION
2.1.0: EVOLUTION OF MEDICINE IN NIGERIA
2.2.0: AN OVERVIEW OF THE MEDICAL & DENTAL
PRACTITIONERS ACT
2.3.0: NATURE AND SCOPE OF MEDICAL ETHICS
2.4.0: NATURE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
2.5.0: CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 3
NEGLIGENCE AND DUTY OF CARE
3.0.0: INTRODUCTION
3.1.0:MEANING OF PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
3.2.0: ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE TORT OF NEGLIGENC
3.3.0: DUTY OF CARE
3.4.0: CONSEQUENCES OF BREACH OF DUTY
3.5.0: DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF BREACH OF DUTY
3.6.0: CRIMINAL LIABILITY IN NEGLIGENCE
3.6.1.0: MURDER OR CULPABLE HOMICIDE PUNISHABLE WITH
DEATH
3.6.1.1: MANSLAUGHTER OR CULPABLE HOMICIDE NOT
PUNISHABLE WITH DEATH
3.7.0: BURDEN OF PROOF: RES IPSA LOQUITOR
3.8.0: VICARIOUS LIABILITY IN NEGLIGENCE
3.9.0: CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 4
DEFENCES TO BREACH OF DUTY
4.0.0: INTRODUCTION
4.1.0: CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
4.1.1.0: REMOTENESS OF DAMAGE
4.1.1.2: DEFENCE OF CONSENT
4.1.1.3: DEFENCE OF ACCIDENT
4.1.1.4: DEFENCE OF EMERGENCY
4.2.0: CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 5
GENERAL CONCLUSION
5.0.0: CONCLUSION
5.1.0: RECOMMENDATION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET
BOOKS
NEWSPAPER REPORTS
TABLE OF CASES.
AUSTRALIA
• Crossman v Steward (1977) 5 C.C.L.J 45.
• R v Hughes (1952) 84 C.L.R 170.
NIGERIA
• Aliyu v Aturu (1999) 7 NWLR Pt 612 Pg 536
• Anyah v Imo Concord Hotel (2002) 12 S.C 77 Pg 85
• Amusa v State (1985) 3 NWLR Pt 30
• Archibong Effang v State (1969) 1 NMLR 186
• Denloye v Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (1968) ALLNLR 308.
• Dickson Ibekwe v UCH Board of Management (1961) WNLR 173.
• FBN v Associate Motors Ltd (1998) 10 NWLR (Pt 570) 44.
• Kim v State (1992) 4 NWLR (Pt 233) 175.
• Koya v UBA (1997) 1 NWLR (Pt 481) 251 Pg 291.
• Mohammed v State (1997) 9 NWLR (Pt 520) 169.
• Ndubuisi v Olowoake (1997) 1 NWLR (Pt 512) Pg [email protected]
• Nepa v Role (1987) 2 NWLR Pt 5 179
• Ojo v Gharoro (2005) 25 NSCQR 712 @ 771
• Okin Biscuit Ltd v Osho (2004) FWLR (Pt 188) 1094
• Okoro v State (1988) 5 NWLR Pt 255
• R v Akerele (1941) 7 WACA 56
• R v Lawanta (1961) WNLR 133.
• R v Oledima (1940) 6 WACA 202.
• R v Ozegbe (1957) WNLR 152
• Stagbag Construction Nigeria Ltd v Ogerekpe (1991) 1 NWLR (Pt 170)
733
• State v Okechukwu (1965) 9 ENLR 91
• State v Okezi (1972) 2 ECSLR 419
• Ukoh v State (1971) NMLR 140
• Yaro Paki v R (1955) 21 NLR 63.
UNITED KINGDOM
• Ashton v Rowley (1980) 3 ALL E.R 1145 @ 1148
• Barnett v Chelsea and Kensington Hospital Management Committee (1968) 2 WLR 422, (1968) ALL E.R 1068.
• Blyth v Birmingham Water Works & Co (1856) ALL E.R REP 478.
• Bolam v Fern Hospital Management Committee (1957) 1 WLR 582.
• Bolton v Stone (1951) A.C 850.
• Bourater v Rowley Reign Corp (1944) K.B 477
• Brich v Thomas (1972) 1 WLR 294.
• Buckpith v Oates (1968) 1 ALL E.R 1145 @ 1148
• Cassidy v Minister of Health (1951) 2 K.B 343.
• Coles v Reading and District Hospital Management Committee (1963) 107 S.J 115.
• Collins v Hertfordshire C.C (1947) K.B 598.
• Donoghue v Stevenson (1938) A.C 532.
• Doughty v General Dental Council (1988) A.C 104 or (1987) 3 ALL
E.R 43
• Fish v Kapur (1948) 2 ALL E.R 176.
• Gerber v Pines (1933) 79 S.J 13.
• Lister v Romford Ice and Cold Storage Co. Ltd (1957) A.C 55.
• Mahon v Osborne (1939) 2 K.B 14.
• R v Smith (1959) 2 ALL E.R 193.
• Roe v Minister of Health (1954) 2 Q.B 66.
• White v Board of Governors (1965) A.C 656.
TABLE OF STATUTES
• Civil Liability (Miscellaneous Provision Act) 1961.
• Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. Section 33.
• Criminal Code Section 319.
• United Kingdom and America Legal Service Act 1990.
• Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
• Penal Code Section 221
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
• A.C: Appeal Cases
• ALL E.R: All England Report • ALL N.L.R: All Nigerian Law Report
• C.A: Court of Appeal Cases.
• C.C: Criminal Code
• C.L.R: Criminal Law Review
• E.N.L.R: Eastern Nigerian Law Report
• E.R: English Report
• E.C.S.L.R: Eastern Central States Law Report
• F.S.C: Federal Supreme Court
• F.W.L.R: Federal Weekly Law Report
• K.B: King’s Bench
• M.D.P.D.C: Medical & Dental Practitioner Disciplinary
Committee
• N.L.R: Nigerian Law Report
•