INTRODUCTION TO LAW: HEALTH AND THE LAW Flashcards
Why do I have to consider Health Law?
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: (5)
- When should it be decided to withdraw efforts to save a patient’s life and give only comfort care?
- Should an expectant mother be restrained from taking drugs / smoking / consuming alcohol?
- Should a physician respect a patient’s confidentiality if this would put his partner’s life at risk?
- Who should receive the life-saving organ transplant?
- Should we be allowed to edit genes?
What is the law?
What is the relationship between state and subject in public law?
What is the relationship between state and subject in private law?
What is substantive law?
Tells us what the law actually is. Substantive law is the set of laws that governs how members of a society are to behave.
What are the types of Substantive law? (2)
Public law and Private law
What are the types of public law? (3)
- Constitutional Law
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
What are the types of private law? (5)
- Law of Patrimony
- Law of Persons
- Family Law
- Law of Personality
- Indigenous Law
What is Adjectival/Procedural Law?
Mechanism of enforcing substantive law.
What are the types of Adjectival/Procedural Law? (4)
- Law of Criminal Procedure
- Law of Civil Procedure
- Law of Evidence
- Legal Interpretation.
What are the types of law of patrimony? (4)
- Law of obligations
- Property Law
- Law of Succession
- Law of Intellectual Property
What are the types of the law of obligations? (2)
Law of Contract
Law of Delict (negligent behaviour eg. medical practice)
What is the South African law of delict?
The South African law of delict engages primarily with ‘the circumstances in which one person can claim compensation from another for harm that has been suffered’.
Criminal case:
WHEN?
A wrong against the state has been committed
Criminal case:
PURPOSE?
The STATE wants to punish / prosecute or charge the ACCUSED
Criminal case:
OUTCOME?
ACCUSED is found guilty or not guilty
Criminal case:
PROOF?
Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt (high standard of proof)
What is a crime?
A CRIME IS A WRONG AGAINST THE STATE FOR WHICH THE WRONGDOER IS PUNISHED BY THE STATE.
Civil case:
WHEN?
An individual’s rights have been infringed by another
individual / parties cannot come to an agreement
Civil case:
PURPOSE?
To claim damages / compensation for injuries / damages suffered
Civil case:
OUTCOME?
Remedies are granted / compensation is provided
Civil case:
PROOF?
On a balance of probabilities (the facts given should be
more true than not true)
What is a civil wrong?
A CIVIL WRONG IS A WRONG AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WHICH THE WRONGDOER MUST PAY COMPENSATION TO THE INJURED PERSON
What are primary sources?
All legal research starts with primary sources Primary sources are binding.
What are secondary sources?
Secondary sources are merely persuasive Secondary sources are not binding.
PRIMARY SOURCES:
Where do I find the law? (6)
SECONDARY SOURCES:
Where do I find the law? (3)