MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Karen Yeung
Professor of Law
Centre for Technology, Ethics Law & Society
King's College London
London WC2R 2LS
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Professor Yeung: This study found a gap in existing legal regulation of healthcare quality in the UK. While patients receiving treatment under mental health legislation are protected by the criminal law against wilful neglect or ill treatment, other patients are not subject to the same level of protection, although many such patients are just as vulnerable as those who are mentally incapacitated. Hence we argue that a new criminal offence of 'wilful neglect or ill treatment' of patients in the healthcare sector is needed.
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Karen Yeung
Professor of Law
Centre for Technology, Ethics Law & Society
King's College London
London WC2R 2LS
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Professor Yeung: This study found a gap in existing legal regulation of healthcare quality in the UK. While patients receiving treatment under mental health legislation are protected by the criminal law against wilful neglect or ill treatment, other patients are not subject to the same level of protection, although many such patients are just as vulnerable as those who are mentally incapacitated. Hence we argue that a new criminal offence of 'wilful neglect or ill treatment' of patients in the healthcare sector is needed.