Revisiting the maxim imperitia culpae adnumeratur in context of medical negligence - can the Maxim be extended to include the application of luxuria?

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Authors

Carstens, Pieter Albert, 1960-

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Publisher

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Law

Abstract

In any given context, negligence means that the defendant or the accused failed to foresee the possibility of harm (bodily/mental injury or death) occurring to another in circumstances where the reasonable person (diligens paterfamilias) in the defendant’s or accused position would have foreseen the possibility of harm occurring to another and would have taken steps to avoid or prevent it. The generic test for negligence is thus one of foreseeability and preventability. Although the test for negligence is fundamentally objective, it does contain subjective elements when the negligence of an expert is assessed.

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Keywords

Medical negligence, Maxim imperitia culpae adnumeratur, Conscious negligence (luxuria), Civil law, Criminal law, Medical practitioner

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Carstens, P. 2017, 'Revisiting the maxim imperitia culpae adnumeratur in context of medical negligence - can the Maxim be extended to include the application of luxuria?', Obiter, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 613-622.