When accepting a gift can be theft

Abstract

At this time of year, gifts are often given as tokens of gratitude by grateful patients, past and present, to the healthcare staff who provide their care and treatment. Accepting a gift appears to be an entirely innocent way of acknowledging a patient's gratitude, and certainly boosts the morale of the staff concerned. However, there are circumstances in which the courts have held that accepting gifts, large or small, from vulnerable people is dishonest and amounts to theft. It is essential, therefore, that healthcare managers are aware of these circumstances and have a policy in place that clearly spells out the appropriateness of accepting a gift from patients. This article examines the cases in health and social care that illustrate when accepting a gift can amount to theft.