Medical Jurisprudence, Volume 3 (of 3)Paris, John Ayrton
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Medical Jurisprudence, Volume 3 (of 3)
Paris, John Ayrton
Medical laws and legislation -- Great Britain
for the defendant, much to the Judge’s satisfaction; who intimated that
the vaunting language of the witness _Kingston_ must have diminished his
credit with the jury.
_Shepherd_ Serjt. and _Espinasse_ were now to have shewn cause: but
though all the Court seemed to be satisfied, as well now as when the
rule was moved for, that the action well lay for unskilfulness in the
profession of a surgeon; yet upon a revision of the evidence as
reported, they asked of the plaintiff’s counsel what evidence there was
of _want of skill_ in the defendant; _Kingston_, the surgeon, only
imputing to him _negligence_ and _carelessness_; which the learned Judge
had stated to be a ground of action, and had left to the jury for their
consideration; but which the jury had negatived; as indeed the evidence
well warranted them in doing.
_Gurney_, in support of the rule, said, that it was to be collected from
the whole of _Kingston’s_ evidence that he imputed want of skill to the
defendant; and that was shewn by the expression used by him, that an
apprentice boy might have known better. That so much skill at least was
required of a surgeon as to be able to tell whether or not an arm was
broken, or an elbow dislocated. But it was enough that the question of
want of skill was wholly withdrawn from the consideration of the jury.
Lord _Ellenborough_ C. J. The surgeon who was examined specifically
imputed the failure of the cure to _negligence_ and _carelessness_,
whatever other expression he may have used in the manner of giving his
evidence, upon which the learned Judge has commented. Therefore, however
we may differ from the learned Judge, as I certainly do, in thinking
that an ordinary degree of skill is necessary for a surgeon who
undertakes to perform surgical operations; which is proved by the case
in _Wilson_, and indeed by all analogous authorities; in the same manner
as it is necessary for every other man to have it in the course of his
employment; as the farrier who undertakes to cure any horse must have
common skill at least in his business, and that is implied in his
undertaking: and although I am ready to admit that a surgeon would be
liable for _crassa ignorantia_, and would be justly responsible in
damages for having rashly adventured upon the exercise of a profession,
without the ordinary qualification of skill, to the injury of a patient:
yet the question did not arise upon the evidence in this case; for no
want of skill was imputed to the defendant: and therefore the opinion of
the learned Judge upon that point does not affect the merits of the
verdict upon the evidence in the cause.
The other Judges concurred; and _Grose_ J. referred to 3 _Blac. Com._
(_ch._ 9. _p._ 163, 4.) as confirming the general doctrine.
Rule discharged.
APPENDIX.
PART II.
_Mich. Term. 1821, C. B._
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