Medico-legal aspects of surgical practice

Abstract

The following paper was read at a meeting of "The Association of Surgeons and Physicians of Malta", held under the Chairmanship of The Hon. Mr. Justice Richard Farrugia. New medico-legal points of major interest to a surgeon are hereby discussed. One of the most common problems that have to be faced is to decide whether bodily harm in any particular patient is grievous or slight. For instance, severe bodily harm can give rise to loss of life, permanent disability of any organ of the body, permanent mental infirmity, deformity, and physical and mental infirmity. It can also prevent an injured person to return to his normal occupation. It can also induce premature delivery of a pregnant woman. Another noteworthy aspect is the case of a death certificate, for which the primary cause of death may differ from a postmortem report. Though the consent of the deceased's relatives for a post-mortem examination is not legally necessary, it has become customary to ask for it and it is most welcome to the clinician.