R v Smith (Thomas Joseph)

R. v. Smith (Thomas Joseph) [1959] 2 QB 35, [1959] A.C. is an English criminal law case, dealing with causation and homicide. The court ruled that negligence of medical staff does not break the chain of causation in murder cases.

The victim was stabbed, but the attending doctor did not realise the full extent of his injuries, causing death.

The court said that the stabbing was still the 'operating' cause of death, and therefore the defendant is guilty.

See also

R v Cheshire (1991)

References

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