Abstract
This chapter explores selected medico-legal issues within the Malaysian legal landscape. The first issue relates to a medical practitioner's duty of care and whether such a duty ought to extend to a third party, in circumstances where a patient is dependent on a spouse in arriving at a decision or where decisions are made jointly by both spouses, in respect of treatment for one of the spouses. The second issue involves institutional liability within the public and private sectors. Recent developments, within the public sector, dictate that a director of a public healthcare facility may be held personally liable for the negligent act or omission of his/her staff notwithstanding that the tortfeasor is an employee of the Government of Malaysia. With regard to the private sector, the Malaysian apex court has shed judicial light and held that the doctrine of non-delegable duty of care may be imposed on private healthcare facilities in circumstances where the requisite features are met. The third issue deals with aggravated damages and the purpose of such an award in medical negligence suits.
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Notes
- 1.
World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific (2012).
- 2.
World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific (2012).
- 3.
Merican and Yon (2002).
- 4.
Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586).
- 5.
For an overview of the Act and a discussion of its impact on private healthcare providers, see Nik Rosnah and Lee (2011).
- 6.
Medical Act 1971 (Act 50).
- 7.
Medical Act 1971, s 29.
- 8.
Medical Act 1971, s 30.
- 9.
Ng and Jacobson (2017).
- 10.
Ng and Jacobson (2017).
- 11.
Hambali and Khodapanahandeh (2014). at 76.
- 12.
Zainuddin (2019).
- 13.
[1990] 2 AC 605.
- 14.
The Caparo test was affirmed in the case of Uniphone Sdn Bhd v Chin Boon Lit [1998] 6 MLJ 441.
- 15.
[2013] 10 MLJ 34.
- 16.
The insertion of a Ryle’s tube to pump out stomach fluid before surgery reduces the risk of aspiration during the induction of anaesthesia.
- 17.
[2013] 10 MLJ 34, at 40.
- 18.
[2013] 10 MLJ 34, at 53.
- 19.
[2012] 4 MLJ 260.
- 20.
[2013] 10 MLJ 34, at 53.
- 21.
See the following cases: ABC v St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust [2020] EWHC 455 (QB), Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust [2020] EWHC, Taylor v A Novo (UK) Ltd [2013] EWCA Civ 194, North Glamorgan NHS Trust v Walters [2002] EWCA Civ 1792.
- 22.
Abdul Razak bin Datuk Abu Samah (claimed as a widower to Fatimah @ Rohani bt Zainal, on behalf of the deceased) v Raja Badrul Hisham bin Raja Zezeman Shah & Ors [2013] 10 MLJ 34, at 50.
- 23.
The Federal Court is the s the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia.
- 24.
Foo Fio Na v. Dr Soo Fook Mun & Anor [2007] 1 MLJ 593.
- 25.
[2017] 8 CLJ 605.
- 26.
[2017] 8 CLJ 605.
- 27.
[1957] 1 WLR 583.
- 28.
[2017] 8 CLJ 605 at 642, paragraph 95.
- 29.
B [1996] 4 All ER 771.
- 30.
Dr Hari Krishnan & Anor v. Megat Noor Ishak Megat Ibrahim & Anor And Another Appeal [2018] 3 CLJ 427 at 455.
- 31.
[2016] MLJ 227.
- 32.
[2016] MLJ 227 at 262.
- 33.
[2019] 5 MLJ 95.
- 34.
[2019] 5 MLJ 95 at 106, referring to Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority [1988] AC 232.
- 35.
[2019] 5 MLJ 95 at 106, referring to Rogers v Whitaker [1993] 4 Med LR 79.
- 36.
[2019] 5 MLJ 95 at 106, referring to Naxasis v Western General Hospital (1999) 197 CLR.
- 37.
[2019] 5 MLJ 95 at 107, referring to Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11.
- 38.
1993] 4 Med LR 79.
- 39.
Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11.
- 40.
Hii Chii Kok v Ooi Peng Jin London Lucien and another [2017] SGCA 38.
- 41.
[2012] 5 MLJ 679.
- 42.
Government Proceedings Act 1956 (Act 359).
- 43.
Healthcare sector sees positive long-term growth prospects, says AmInvestment, The Star, 2019, https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2019/07/15/healthcare-sector-sees-positive-long-term-growth-prospects-says-aminvestment
- 44.
[2018]1 MLJ 685.
- 45.
[2014] AC 537.
- 46.
The application of this doctrine to private hospitals would fall under the second category of cases.
- 47.
- 48.
[1964] 1 All ER 367 at 407.
- 49.
Law Commission No. 247, Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages, 1997.
- 50.
Ibid.
- 51.
[2018] 3 CLJ 427.
- 52.
[2019] 12 MLJ 741.
- 53.
[2019] 8 MLJ 331.
- 54.
[2019] 8 MLJ 331 at para 88.
- 55.
[2019] 8 MLJ 331 at para 111.
- 56.
Sambaga Valli a/p KR Ponnusamy v Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur & Ors and another appeal [2018] 1 MLJ 784 at 799.
- 57.
Law Commission No. 247, Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary Damages, 1997.
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Kaur, S., Chin, C.A., Aziz, M.F.b.A. (2022). ‘Medical Negligence in Malaysia: Selected Issues of Liabilities and Damages’?. In: Raposo, V.L., Beran, R.G. (eds) Medical Liability in Asia and Australasia. Ius Gentium: Comparative Perspectives on Law and Justice, vol 94. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4855-7_10
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