QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
To win a claim for clinical negligence, the claimant must prove that a duty of care existed, that this duty was breached and that harm was caused by the breach. As there is no legal duty of care in this situation, the doctor is not at risk of a negligence claim. The doctor should still offer help though, but because there is a professional duty to do so.
10004718
c
The doctor should offer to help as he is at risk of a negligence claim if he does not
QuestionChoice
GMC guidance states that doctors have a professional duty to offer assistance, taking into account their own safety, competence and availability of other options for care.
10004720
e
The doctor should not offer to help as there is no duty of care
QuestionChoice
There is no Good Samaritan law in the UK, and therefore there is no legal duty of doctors to help injured or ill people in situations like this. If, for example, the doctor was a GP and the collapse happened inside the GP surgery when he was working, there would be a legal duty for the doctor to offer assistance.
10004717
b
The doctor should offer to help as there is a legal duty to do so
QuestionChoice
Although there is indeed no Good Samaritan law in the UK, and therefore there is no legal duty of doctors to help injured or ill people, GMC guidance states that doctors have a professional duty to offer assistance.
10004719
d
The doctor should not offer to help, as there is no Good Samaritan law in place in the UK
QuestionChoice
GMC guidance states that doctors have a professional duty to offer assistance, taking into account their own safety, competence and availability of other options for care. Failure to offer assistance in an emergency could prompt disciplinary action by the GMC.
10004716
a
The doctor should offer to help as there is a professional duty to do so
Concept
Chapter
2693
4323
Legal Duty of Care
Topic
184
Ethics and Law
13490
A doctor is enjoying a celebratory dinner out with his family when a call goes out for medical assistance as a person in the restaurant has just collapsed.

Which of the following best describes the duty of care of the doctor at this moment?
a