Causal Relationship in Cases Related to Compensation for Harm Caused by Improper Provision of Medical Services

Abstract

The paper studies some peculiarities of establishing by the court of a causal relationship between the unlawful action (inaction) of the tortfeasor and the resulting harm in considering compensation cases for harm caused due to improper provision of medical services. Having analyzed the judicial practice, the author considers the way the court classifies a legally significant causal relationship. The author raises a question about the significance and assessment by the court of a forensic medical expert opinion in establishing a causal relationship between defects in the medical service provided and the resulting harm. The experience of establishing a causal relationship in the litigation of England and Germany has been studied. The use of the doctrines of res ipsa loquitur, сondicio sine qua non, «fully managed risks» in the process of establishing a causal relationship when considering this category of cases, taking into account the specifics of the organization of medical activity, including in complex clinical cases, is considered.