Patients’ property: loss or damage

Abstract

Claims may be made by patients and others in respect of valuables and other belongings which have been lost or damaged on hospital premises. The legal principles applicable to these two types of situation are examined separately, given that they differ. No liability is incurred if goods which are deposited are damaged, destroyed or stolen without negligence on the part of the hospital or its staff. What is proper care depends on all the circumstances of each case. It is clear that the lowest duty that might be imposed is to look after property as if the hospital were itself the owner. In such a case, no liability would be incurred where loss was suffered through dishonesty of an employee so long as there were no grounds for suspecting wrongdoing.